barely straw has soft stalks, compared with wheat straw which is sharp and brittle and may cause harm to your small animal’s eyes. It is less likely to cause eye injuries and infections because its stalks are softer. Wheat Straw is known to be sharper and brittle and much more likely to cause eye problems. Once again the straw is harvested when it is golden in colour and at its driest and stored in barns. It is left in longer strands for a more natural burrowing material.