whats softer hay or straw

You sure will Katie! It's such a faff but they're worth it.

I'd say hay is softer but straw is warmer because it's a better insulator. I give my two loads of hay so they can snuggle deep in it and be encouraged to eat a lot of it.

Hay is softer. I only use straw in the winter when I use it with the pigs as they are outside.

Dont know if should try to make room for a bail of straw or just get a few bags from p@h, I only put it at one end where they snuggle up to sleep the other end has straw (used shavings before where they pee) cant fit a litter tray in woud use the wood pellets where they pee like do with charlie, soooo hurry up n finish house hubby.

I always used hay. Buying a bale and cutting the strings I'd take 4 "slices" and that would make a lovely nest (floor, side and back walls)... you do need a good sized hutch to do this.

I wouldn't use straw as it tends to flake and I once had a GP with a sharp bit in her eye. It's not good for burrrowing in. Never bought straw after that.

Mine have hay for eating and straw for bedding. They will eat hay over straw any day given the choice and if they do eat straw it won't harm them, it just has minimal nutritional value.

If you use straw make sure it is Barley Straw which is much softer. The coarse stuff farms often sell baled can cause damage to delicate eyes.

Not sure what type it was in pets at home it was a big bag for a fiver, half was used the rest got soaked, not sure if it will dry out. There only in cages at moment, and this lboody wind is not helping finish the house for them, plus not sure how going to get them in the house before there bonded, dont like idea of putting 1 in with the space and leaving the other in the cage beside him/her, feel thats really not fair but not sure what to do.

Hay is softer. It is harvested while it is still growing and remains slightly green. Straw is baled after the grain has been harvested and it is left for a time to 'harden'. They want straw to be DRY so it can be used for bedding, insulation etc.

Hay stays green and still has nutrients flowing. Straw does not because the grain has already been harvested or has been left to reseed.

I hope I made sense. It's been about 4 decades or more since I've been on a farm.

The P@H straw is barley straw and fine to use.
However if it has been wet for an extended period of time (I'd say more than 24 hours) and is still damp you shouldn't use it due to the risk of mycotoxins forming.

I unfortunately lost a whole bag of hay last week because of the weather opening my storage box up.

I will stick the wet bag in the bin, highly doubt it would have dried out quickly. Got a new bag at front door, will need to put some out tonight probs. Checked on them early this morning, its cold outside but nice and cosey in the house, the insulations stuff really works.