Substrates: How about hay?

I recently picked up a yearling (almost yearlings) pair of Herman’s torts. I am keeping them indoors with visits to a sunny spot in the yard. I have the diet, lighting, heating, and watering down pretty good; however, I do have a substrate question.

I have been using dried Alfalfa and Timothy Hay. Anyone have any thoughts on those as substrates?

I also would like to hear some ideas on excellent substrates for them, and by excellent I mean: good for them, absorbent, relatively inexpensive, and fairly easy to clean. Right now I find the hay is all of these, but I am uncertain as to any possible drawbacks of using the hay besides they may eat it if hungry and therefor may eat their own turds - but I guess they could eat the stink pickles off of any substrate.

Sure I know this is a beginner's question, but I have not kept a tortoise in over 20 years, back then I probably used gravel (did I just admit to that).

Thanks for the help.

best regards,
Glenn B

I have a pair of Russian Tortoises and a male eastern box turtle. I use dirt mix with sand and it works good!

I keep greeks,which are very similar to Hermans.I use a 50/50 mix of peat ans sand.I add a little river rock to give it that homey appeal.I ve otten a few eggs,but nothing fertile yet.The cool thing is using a shop-vac to suck out the clumps of excrement.

I have been thinking of going to Sears lately for a shop vac for just that purpose.