Diet advice

[bexs]

I'm a complete novice and am looking into getting some guineas. I have not had any guineas for quite some years and I'm sure things have changed! I'm really wanting some general diet advice? Are guineas like rabbits in needing 80% hay and only a small amount of pellets? And what about veg? Am I right in thinking guineas can have quite lot of veg?

 

[AudioHeart]

Hello Bex,

Hay is an important and essential part of a piggies diet, and all piggies should be given an unlimited amount of hay. I give my two boys 50g of pellets each a day, although as it is winter and they live outdoors they are given unlimited too, and veggies I give a handful each every morning

My veggies are usually mixed, carrots/green beans/ cucumber and sweetcorn, and this might vary daily

 

[Wiebke]

We recommend that 50-80% of the daily intake is hay - basically unlimited hay (never straw).

Pellets (rather than muesli): topped up bowl until the piggies have got most of their weight at 6-9 months old. then reduce slowly to about one to half a handful per piggy per day once they have reached full maturity at 12-15 months old. We have got opinions on a range of pellets and mueslis at the top of our food section, but any decent brand of pellets will do.

Veg: 1 cupful/ca. 50g per piggy per day in how many servings as you like.
Here is a list of veg and fruit they can have. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42
Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C in their bodies and need a regular supply in their diet, ideally by including vitamin C rich veg like peppers and broccoli. (One slice of pepper will cover the daily intake!) Good hay based pellets also contain vitamin C.

Change water daily and please do not add anything to it. You cannot control the intake. The additives change the taste, go off very quickly and help the growth of algae.