Alfalfa

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

I know it's bad to feed adults too much as it's high in calcium my boys are 6 months only and someone told me today as they are young still I should give them some? How much is some? If I need to feed it at all? They have good grade Timothy Hay unlimited and Burgess excell with mint nuggets and their cup of veggies a day... advice please

 

[Briony_S]

Piggies do not need alfalfa. It is beneficial to pregnant pigs but is not needed for pigs of 6 months unless pregnant. It has a lot of calcium but pigs will be getting more than enough if on a good diet of timothy or neadow hay, pellets and veggies. Too much calcium can cause bladder issues so personally I wouldn't use it on your particular pigs.

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

As I thought! Thanks Briony

 

[madguinealady]

mine dont get alfalfa , even my bebies just ulimited pellets, veg and meadow hay (wont eat timothy hay)

 

[Jerrybelly]

As already said - timothy/meadow hay is absolutely fine. Alfalfa is really only beneficial for newborns and pregnant mums.

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

I just bought them some meadow hay today and made some nest boxes with it in.They are loving it and burrowing, eating it ect. These are under the hayracks with the Timothy so now have the best of both worlds!

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

Also, I haven't had an allergic reaction to the meadow like I do with the Timothy. When I touch timothy I get hives on my hands...the meadow hay is alot softer... maybe this is why. Def smells sweeter too but didn't make me sneeze!

 

[Wiebke]

Most widely available pellets in the UK and US are alfalfa based, so with feeding unlimited pellets for for the first 4-8 months until the initial growth spurt is slowing down, you provide your piggies with all the extra calcium, protein and vitamin C! The extra amounts needed are frankly very small anyway. For fully grown mature piggies from ca, 15 months old, you only give about half to a handful of pellets daily; that is all they need for a stable weight. The reduction from baby to adult amounts should be very gradual to prevent riots and is ideally linked to the weekly weight gain, as youngsters on a very rich diet stop growing fast sooner than those on a more modest one.

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

Most widely available pellets in the UK and US are alfalfa based, so with feeding unlimited pellets for for the first 4-8 months until the initial growth spurt is slowing down, you provide your piggies with all the extra calcium, protein and vitamin C! The extra amounts needed are frankly very small anyway. For fully grown mature piggies from ca, 15 months old, you only give about half to a handful of pellets daily; that is all they need for a stable weight. The reduction from baby to adult amounts should be very gradual to prevent riots and is ideally linked to the weekly weight gain, as youngsters on a very rich diet stop growing fast sooner than those on a more modest one.

Brilliant. I feed burgess excell. They get a handful twice a day ( I will increase this to unlimited until they are approx 15 months) and a cup of veggies every morning and unlimited ( constant supply) of hay come bedtime they still have around 10 pellets left which then are empty come morning. Still wheek for veggies however when I say goodnight! Lol

 

[Wiebke]

Brilliant. I feed burgess excell. They get a handful twice a day ( I will increase this to unlimited until they are approx 15 months) and a cup of veggies every morning and unlimited ( constant supply) of hay come bedtime they still have around 10 pellets left which then are empty come morning. Still wheek for veggies however when I say goodnight! Lol

Your boys are actually pretty much at the age when you can start to slowly limit the pellets down to the handful they will need as fully grown adults from 12-15 months; please don't up the pellets. Even 40g (which is about 2 handfuls) is plenty when it comes with daily veg!

 

[GloriousGuineaGirl]

Your boys are actually pretty much at the age when you can start to slowly limit the pellets down to the handful they will need as fully grown adults from 12-15 months; please don't up the pellets. Even 40g (which is about 2 handfuls) is plenty when it comes with daily veg!

Brilliant thanks

 

[PiggyOinkOink]

I bought Mini Alfafa Bales from Pets at Home but pregnant, babies or not, none of my piggies are interested in them. They might nibble a little if I hand feed it but then just ignore it. Leaving it in the cage/bowl/hidey places does not forge any interest. Am glad I just bought the bales rather than a bag since it it much more expensive than normal hay and you get much less for the price.