Confused with the okay foods lists!

[jaffaguinea]

Hiya

I'm new here, planning on getting a couple of boars this weekend!
Just trying to get everything ready for them coming home!

I have been hunting for the lists of OKAY foods and foods to AVOID!

however after looking at numerous lists, i have noticed okay and not okay foods have been on the same lists >> i.e brocolli & cabbage!

so as a first time owner i am confused to which foods are a definate NO NO!

can anyone advise me on this?

& whats the best (easily bought & prepared ) fruit & veg to feed them on!?


Thanks!

 

[claremw92]

Being as they will probably not be used to veg. Start with the basics...

Carrot
Carrot is okay in small amounts every few days... Don't give anymore oftern as it's very high in calcium and that's bad for them... It can cause kidney stones...

Brocoli
They love it...!
Maybe one florette every other day...

Bell pepper
For two boys give a couple slices each... The slices roughly the size of you thumb...

Romaine lettuce
I give my guys romaine lettuce once a week no more then a couple leaves each...

Cabbage/spring greens
Is something that I feed most days if I'm honest... Stick to dark leafy cabbage rather than the red or the White cabbage....

Cucumber
I feed my guys a slice of cucumber most days

Celery
Again... I feed my guys celery most days... Make sure you chop it up so they don't choke on the strings and they love the leaves...

Do not feed
Never feed your pigs the following... Potatoe, leek, ice berg lettuce... There are others but I can't remember...mallethead


Just stick to the basics mentioned above and only give fruit as an occasional treat... Like one or two blueberries... One strawberry... A couple slices of apple or orange... Just once in a blue moon... And introduce all fresh food slowly over a matter of weeks...


Good luck with your new additions and I look forward to pigtures....drool
x

 

[sport_billy]

Hi

It can be confusing at first, but the more you read the more it'll make sense!

Food list with foods safe and not safe - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

This is a really useful link to a food list with Calciumhosphorus ratio's in, halfway throught he post it gives you an idea of which foods to feed on a regular basis and daily basis etc...
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30297

Cabbage and Brocoli are safe but can cause gas and bloat if fed in too large a quantity and too often

 

[jaffaguinea]

Being as they will probably not be used to veg. Start with the basics...

Carrot
Carrot is okay in small amounts every few days... Don't give anymore oftern as it's very high in calcium and that's bad for them... It can cause kidney stones...

Brocoli
They love it...!
Maybe one florette every other day...

Bell pepper
For two boys give a couple slices each... The slices roughly the size of you thumb...

Romaine lettuce
I give my guys romaine lettuce once a week no more then a couple leaves each...

Cabbage/spring greens
Is something that I feed most days if I'm honest... Stick to dark leafy cabbage rather than the red or the White cabbage....

Cucumber
I feed my guys a slice of cucumber most days

Celery
Again... I feed my guys celery most days... Make sure you chop it up so they don't choke on the strings and they love the leaves...

Do not feed
Never feed your pigs the following... Potatoe, leek, ice berg lettuce... There are others but I can't remember...mallethead


Just stick to the basics mentioned above and only give fruit as an occasional treat... Like one or two blueberries... One strawberry... A couple slices of apple or orange... Just once in a blue moon... And introduce all fresh food slowly over a matter of weeks...


Good luck with your new additions and I look forward to pigtures....drool
x

Thankyou for this, i will take it all on board!

I will defo post some piccies as soon as the wee guys are home & settled x

 

[jaffaguinea]

Hi

It can be confusing at first, but the more you read the more it'll make sense!

Food list with foods safe and not safe - http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

This is a really useful link to a food list with Calciumhosphorus ratio's in, halfway throught he post it gives you an idea of which foods to feed on a regular basis and daily basis etc...
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30297

Cabbage and Brocoli are safe but can cause gas and bloat if fed in too large a quantity and too often

I had a look at these threads earlier, and i was like WAAAH !
I will need to read over them a couple of times to understand it heh!

 

[Wiebke]

Cabbages are edible and if introduced carefully, they can be fed without problems - mine usually have a strip or two in their dinner mix every day in combination with other veg. I would never give cabbage or crucifers (broccoli/cauliflower) to a piggy with digestive problems, but so far, non of mine has ever had a problem in years of eating cabbage in moderation!

When you study the fruit and veg closely, you will find that the vast majority has potential problems attached, so the best way is to feed everything in moderation and to vary the diet.

Veg you can feed daily: 1 slice of pepper of any colour (good for vitamin C), cucumber, celery (cut into chunks), a bit of not so bloaty cabbage like sweetheart, savoy or green cabbage (medium high in vitamin C). Fresh coriander (1 sprig per piggy).

Veg you can feed 2-3 times a week: lettuce (stay off iceberg - no nourishment; Romaine is good or mixes) and carrot (very high in vitamin A which builds up in the liver); chard, spring greens, bok choi, broccoli (high in vitamin C) and cauli leaves; tomato, sweetcorn (mini ones are less sugary, but normal size ones can be quite a favourite), sweet potato. Green beans and mangetout. Fresh herbs like parsley (also high in vitamin C), basil, dill, mint, fennel.

Fruits 1-2 times a week: apple, pear, grapes, strawberries (incl. green bits), a small bit of organic banana with skin or just organic banana skin, a slice of orange or satsuma.

Veg you should feed only occasionally: spinach and kale (very high in calcium); Brussels sprouts, leaves.

On top of veg from group 1, I usually serve 2-3 veg from the second group every day, but rotate within the group. But you will have to develop your own "menu" and achieve a workable balance between your purse, availability and your piggies' preferences over time.. make sure that you include at least one or some medium high vitamin C veg in the mix every day.

Go slowly if your boys haven't had much in the way of veg and never introduce more than one new veg at a time. Persist in serving up things they haven't taken to the first or second time round. The more you can get them to eat, the easier on you in the long run!

 

[sport_billy]

I had a look at these threads earlier, and i was like WAAAH !
I will need to read over them a couple of times to understand it heh!

You'll sort of get into a routine and regular foods that you feed daily and some that you feed twice a week. Clare has given you good idea's.

Our girls get something like this, we try and change foods around for variety

Morning
Piece of Pepper ( either red/yellow/green) Always remove seeds
Cucumber
Celery
Savoy Cabbage/White cabbage/kale (2 or 3 times a week)

Evening
Little Gem Lettuce/coriander/parsley/celery leaves
Cucumber
Brocoli or Cauliflower (3 times a week)
Parsnip or Carrot (3 times a week)

Piggies should have unlimited hay at all times. Aim for around a cup full of veggies per piggie per day.

Pellets in a bowl, we put pellets in morning and evening.

Hay should make up main part of diet, then veggies then pellets...

EDIT: Sorry Wiebke typed up same time as your reply

 

[jaffaguinea]

Cabbages are edible and if introduced carefully, they can be fed without problems - mine usually have a strip or two in their dinner mix every day in combination with other veg. I would never give cabbage or crucifers (broccoli/cauliflower) to a piggy with digestive problems, but so far, non of mine has ever had a problem in years of eating cabbage in moderation!

When you study the fruit and veg closely, you will find that the vast majority has potential problems attached, so the best way is to feed everything in moderation and to vary the diet.

Veg you can feed daily: 1 slice of pepper of any colour (good for vitamin C), cucumber, celery (cut into chunks), a bit of not so bloaty cabbage like sweetheart, savoy or green cabbage (medium high in vitamin C). Fresh coriander (1 sprig per piggy).

Veg you can feed 2-3 times a week: lettuce (stay off iceberg - no nourishment; Romaine is good or mixes) and carrot (very high in vitamin A which builds up in the liver); chard, spring greens, bok choi, broccoli (high in vitamin C) and cauli leaves; tomato, sweetcorn (mini ones are less sugary, but normal size ones can be quite a favourite), sweet potato. Green beans and mangetout. Fresh herbs like parsley (also high in vitamin C), basil, dill, mint, fennel.

Fruits 1-2 times a week: apple, pear, grapes, strawberries (incl. green bits), a small bit of organic banana with skin or just organic banana skin, a slice of orange or satsuma.

Veg you should feed only occasionally: spinach and kale (very high in calcium); Brussels sprouts, leaves.

On top of veg from group 1, I usually serve 2-3 veg from the second group every day, but rotate within the group. But you will have to develop your own "menu" and achieve a workable balance between your purse, availability and your piggies' preferences over time.. make sure that you include at least one or some medium high vitamin C veg in the mix every day.

Go slowly if your boys haven't had much in the way of veg and never introduce more than one new veg at a time. Persist in serving up things they haven't taken to the first or second time round. The more you can get them to eat, the easier on you in the long run!

Big thanks for this info!
I will introduce everything slowly!

 

[ts1]

Fruits 1-2 times a week: apple, pear, grapes, strawberries (incl. green bits), a small bit of organic banana with skin or just organic banana skin, a slice of orange or satsuma.


you can give the green leaf bit attached to the strawberry?

 

[Wiebke]

Fruits 1-2 times a week: apple, pear, grapes, strawberries (incl. green bits), a small bit of organic banana with skin or just organic banana skin, a slice of orange or satsuma.


you can give the green leaf bit attached to the strawberry?

Yes, you can! A piggy will eat a whole strawberry plant if it could get to it... Raspberry and blackberry leaves are also safe to give, as are apple and pear leaves and twigs (although the latter are quite high in calcium, so it should nver be more than a special occasional treat).

The big no nos are: Seeds, nuts, any dairy (i.e. most shop treats!).
The onion family (the green of spring greens can be fed in a pinch, but not as part of a regular diet), potatoes (too starchy), mushrooms. Some avocado varieties can be highly poisonous to guinea pigs and some exotic fruits can cause severe diarrhea, so it is better to stay off them.

 

[jaffaguinea]

Yes, you can! A piggy will eat a whole strawberry plant if it could get to it... Raspberry and blackberry leaves are also safe to give, as are apple and pear leaves and twigs (although the latter are quite high in calcium, so it should nver be more than a special occasional treat).

The big no nos are: Seeds, nuts, any dairy (i.e. most shop treats!).
The onion family (the green of spring greens can be fed in a pinch, but not as part of a regular diet), potatoes (too starchy), mushrooms. Some avocado varieties can be highly poisonous to guinea pigs and some exotic fruits can cause severe diarrhea, so it is better to stay off them.

Its good to know we can enjoy the same fruit & veg!
My fave are strawberries!

 

[ts1]

i jumped on it because i was just about to wash strawberries for me and my daughter , the piggies have just had their first strawberry leaves and thanks to Wiebke loved them!

 

[jaffaguinea]

i jumped on it because i was just about to wash strawberries for me and my daughter , the piggies have just had their first strawberry leaves and thanks to Wiebke loved them!

Yummy !

 

[Stephpig]

thanks this has helped me too,

my pigs wont eat any colour pepper, broccoli, caul, parsnips, apple or parsley

I'm at abit of a loss what to give as they only like carrots, spinach, salad leaves, cucumber, celery, corriander and corn on cob
and most of those can not be fed everyday!

think i might try a sweetheart cabbage, celery, cucumber, corriander base?

any more base ideas?

random but can they eat sultanas? it mentions currants in food thread

 

[Wiebke]

Dried fruit are unfortunately another no no.

 

[Stephpig]

ahhh right thought id ask because it does say certain dried fruit such as figs, currants, dates etc on the ok list in the pinned food thread but does not mention sultanas but thought it didnt sound right anyway
not that my pigs would eat it as they dont like sweet things and I'm sure they are very sugary!

 

[brillmini]

Hi Wiebke

I'm a bit worried because our piggies have been having a Romaine lettuce leaf each morning which they love should I be cutting this down?

Thanks for your help
x

 

[herriotfan]

Mine like a bit of baby spinach and fresh mint leaves every now and then. They enjoy red seedless grapes too.

 

[MadKatter]

This has been very interesting

I have one question on fruit is grapefruit

A friend of my said she gives hers some as a treat rarely but I wasn't sure it was good