The hay is to let them chew on for fiber and to help wear down their teeth. Crazymouse has some gerbils for adoption, why not a adopt a few? But probably got a bit of screening.

Hahaa... Not yet sleep. Yea, you can get the hay from petshop. There are different types of hay. Got alfalfa, timothy, bermuda grass and barley & oats. Most common and inexpensive ones are timothy and alfalfa.

Personally I don't recommend pine shavings. A budget choice will be delikate shavings. Though we don't really know what wood is it, it doesn't smell strongly of pine.

Delikate is the brand. Pine is toxic because of the chemical that gives it the pine smell. So if the shavings smell less of pine, means got less of these chemicals.

Rest In Peace Buta.

Not really, only that they're all rodents.