Confused about what and how much I should feed

[sheenalarae]

Bandit's favorite food is fresh parsley. I have been feeding him parsley with his morning and afternoon salads for going on two or three weeks now. Is that hurting him? I just read that too much calcium is actually bad for him. I'm not sure how much is good for him and how much is bad for him. I tried to make sense out of it from the calcium thread, but ended up even more confused and concerned. Bandit is going on 13 weeks old. He also isn't eating much if any of his pellets. I'm very concerned about my little Bandit. Any help understanding will be so greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much!

 

[piggieboys]

I feel the same as well I'm getting confused as your suppose to give them fresh veg everyday but most things they should not have everyday, ive always given my boys carrots and romaine lettuce everyday but your not suppose to so I'm just wondering what fresh veg you can get away with feeding them each and every day.

 

[Wiebke]

How much veg are you feeding? About 1 cupful (ca. 50g or a bit over) per piggy per day is enough (in as many servings as you like).
Up to 80% should be hay. Pellets should make the smallest bit of the diet. Guinea pigs in other countries like Germany for example are often without pellets and still live long, healthy lives on a good diet.

You can replace the parsley with fresh cilantro (coriander); that is the herb that can be fed daily. I give parsley or dill when I have it every few days. Basil and mint are other herbs you can feed.

 

[sheenalarae]

I also wanted to add that aside from the parsley he is eating brussel sprouts about 2 once or twice a week, red bell pepper at least once a day (it's another one of his favorites) one strawberry per week, and kale about once a day or every other day. I am still slowly introducing more veggies to him (one per week, so I can watch for any reactions he may have to a new veggie). I introduced cilantro to him last week and it was a massive fail, he despised it to the point that he wouldn't eat anything in there with it. What are your thoughts on carrots, that is what I thought of introducing this week...

 

[sheenalarae]

How much veg are you feeding? About 1 cupful (ca. 50g or a bit over) per piggy per day is enough (in as many servings as you like).
Up to 80% should be hay. Pellets should make the smallest bit of the diet. Guinea pigs in other countries like Germany for example are often without pellets and still live long, healthy lives on a good diet.

You can replace the parsley with fresh cilantro (coriander); that is the herb that can be fed daily. I give parsley or dill when I have it every few days. Basil and mint are other herbs you can feed.

I am feeding him 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. He munches on his hay a little all day, but it seems that he doesn't want anything but fresh veggies.

So it would be safe to give him the parsley about every three days or so? Have I put his health in danger by feeding to him this much already?

 

[Connie]

I too find it all very confusing but Parsley should not be fed every day, as it is very high in calcium. (twice a week is the rough rule) (a good replacement that can be fed daily is corriander.)

 

[piggyfan]

Parsley should not be fed more then once a week. Try him with broccoli,bell peppers,romaine lettuce,celery,spring greens. I fed my girls twice a day a handful of vegetables. Do not worry about him not eating much pellets. The most important food he can have is hay. He should be grazing on it all day long.

 

[Wiebke]

I would leave sulfur containing Brussels sprouts off and feed kale only occasionally. Rather go for green leafy cabbages like sweetheart, spring greens, savoy or green cabbage; those cabbages also contain vitamin C but they are only medium high in calcium. Broccoli (all bits) and cauliflower leaves are also good - broccoli is high in vitamin C and can be fed 2-3 times a week in rotation with parsley. A slice of pepper of any colour can be part of a daily diet. Fennel and Swiss chard can also be fed.

Cucumber and chopped celery can be fed daily. Tomatoes/cherry tomatoes, carrot, lettuce should be fed 2-3 times a week; lettuce and corrots are very high in vitamin A which builds up in the liver. Sweetcorn (mini and big), green beans and mangetout can also make part of a rotational diet. I simply vary between all the veg and fruit that should not be fed daily and feed 2-3 daily from that list.

It is easier to vary with a bigger group of piggies, but you can always use up leftover veg in pasta sauces, pizzas, veg soups, roast veg or stir fries!

Just persevere with stuff that was not great on intros. Single and young piggies are notoriously pickier than groups where it is more important to have what the other has got and not to miss out on anything!