Confused about diet?

[Chunky_Pig]

So today we just picked up our new piggy from the petstore to bond with my adult skinny pig, she's only a few weeks old and tiny. It's been awhile since i've had a baby piggy- Do I need to get alfalfa hay and young guinea pig pellets? or is she good with timothy hay and adult pellets? And what about treats? I'm a little lost..

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

She's very cute Have you weighed her so you have a baseline figure for health monitoring?

Once they are weaned, babies should have the same foods as adults, they don't need special versions of pellets or alfalfa. (Those things are not essential even before weaning for healthy pigs really). Alfalfa is best avoided as it is so high in calcium and isn't a true hay. If you can get pellets made with hay only, no alfalfa or grains, that is best for all guinea pigs.

 

[Roselina]

So today we just picked up our new piggy from the petstore to bond with my adult skinny pig, she's only a few weeks old and tiny. It's been awhile since i've had a baby piggy- Do I need to get alfalfa hay and young guinea pig pellets? or is she good with timothy hay and adult pellets? And what about treats? I'm a little lost..

She looks very sweet ….and you are sure she is a girl ?
@Qualcast&Flymo has given you great advice
If you want to change her pellets over ( if she has any) do it in moderation over 10 - 14 days
Also go slowly with introducing veggies as it can cause tummy upset in piggies
We look forward to seeing more pigtures …and of both your girls

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

When it comes to treats, most treats sold in pet shops aren't actually good for guinea pigs. The best things are their favourites from their usual veg portion, or forage (fresh or dried).
The baby will learn what is safe and good to eat from your adult - watching smelling and sometimes stealing it. Once you know what she likes, you can use it to get her used to you and to know that you are a friend not a predator, by offering it to her by hand.
I used to give my piggies most of their pellets as "treats" when they inevitably begged for food every time I passed their cage...

 

[Chunky_Pig]

She looks very sweet ….and you are sure she is a girl ?
@Qualcast&Flymo has given you great advice
If you want to change her pellets over ( if she has any) do it in moderation over 10 - 14 days
Also go slowly with introducing veggies as it can cause tummy upset in piggies
We look forward to seeing more pigtures …and of both your girls

Heres some more photos during the introduction! Turbo (our adult skinny pig) isn't exactly sure what to do with the baby, but isnt exactly opposed. They've been warming up slowly, so far the baby has pretty much accepted turbo! We did make sure she is female, and I'll make sure to weigh her tomorrow since it's late and she's settled down a bit now! I do plan on setting up a vet appt soon for a general check up to make sure she's in good health.

 

[CTWC]

So sweet

 

[Roselina]

Lovely to see them together

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Baby will pick up her cues from her elders. Any extra nutritional needs are truly minute and are covered by a good balanced diet with only a modicum of normal pellets. Baby pellets for guinea pigs are basically a sales gimmick.
Please be aware that vegetables, fresh and dry forage and herbs, pellets and any treats all together replace the supplementary role of wild forage in the grass/hay based diet guinea pigs evolved on. You can sprinkle your fresh veg with a small pinch of dry herb mix once day or every few days if it makes you feel better.

My little surprise baby Tegan in my avatar on the left never had any special diet and lived a very healthy long life nevertheless (2011-19); the same as the little freshly rescued playmate I adopted for her after Hedydd's mum promptly gave birth to a litter of 6 more girls.