Confused About Grass

[PiggySmitten]

Our piggies have unlimited access to hay and are given fresh veggies every day. In addition to the hay and veggies, we are putting them out in runs on grass as much as the weather allows during the day so this confusion is, hopefully, of no massive consequence.

I am just confused as to what grass counts as. Is it part of their hay diet, part of their veggie diet or neither of these? If it isn't either of these, is grass essential too?

 

[Holly_Bramble]

I always count it as part of the Veggie count, purely because there is a lot of water in grass so giving Grass on top of the daily vegetables can sometimes lead to stomach upset. Hay is great for digestion and teeth but it's dried so I guess thats the difference. Thats how I look at it. I know when brambles had to much Grass she sometimes has lots of wee and poo in her toilet area.

 

[PiggySmitten]

What other veggies does it best balance with then to ensure the piggies get the nutrients they need? Eg how much vit c is there in grass?

Our piggies have excel nuggets which have vit c in but the group of 4 don't eat many I've noticed on days when they've been out on the grass (our other pairs do still eat the pellets too). Due to age/weight all our piggies except 2 are still allowed unlimited pellets but that won't be for too much longer for most of them.

 

[katie-elizabeth]

I researched this info when I first put my boys out on the grass, and found that it's part of both of their veggie and hay diet, about half and half depending on the time of year. Autumn and spring grass has more nutrients so counts more as veg, whereas summer/winter grass counts more as hay as it's not as rich. I just give mine less watery veg (like cucumber or lettuce) when they have grass x

 

[PiggySmitten]

That would explain a bit then perhaps why some of our piggies are not eating as much hay at the moment.

I don't really have any way of telling how much grass they are eating as they are grazing the lawn so I am just giving them as much veggies as I'd give them if they weren't going out on the grass.