Different piggies in different countries?

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skrikopanik

skrikopanik

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I've been wondering about something...

All pigs I know about in Sweden eat cabbage or broccoli (or both) every day and the don't get bloat from it.

Here iceberg lettuce is considered a treat similar to cucumber (equally useless and delicious) and very few pigs have pellets every day -and it seems to work fine for everyone.

Could it be so that pigs here are more tolerant to veg that could be problematic to a pig with a different background because they and their ancestors have all eaten that kind of diet?
 
I don't know the answer to this but I think it could be more to do with what's custom in one country and not in another and what they are fed from babies.

I know there is a minimum nutrition standard they need to meet - however they meet it.

But I have always fed my guineas spring greens at every meal along with brocolli too (not loads of brocolli but some) and mine have been finee. i have done that with all of them since they came to me and when babies they obv had less than they do now.

Mine have all been fine. I have been unable to give spring greens for a couple of months now as I can't get hold of them. I haven't given a different type of cabbage as I didn't want to upset their systems. I figured I'd just leave cabbage for a few months while it's out of season - but they get more brocolli now. Again no issues around gas or bloat.

I think if I was feeding someone elses pigs who weren't used to it they may suffer, but those who are used to it (ie mine) don't.

Does that make sense - been working all day so have a feeling my writing style is technical.

:)
 
Mine eat broccoli- they love it! I had fed it for ages before I discovered it may cause bloat, but had never had any problems so didn't stop. They love brocolli - i'd not be a very popular mummy if I stopped giving it!

We went to Sweden last year on holiday and loved it so much my hubby wants to move there! Where do you live skrikopanik?
 
skrikopanik said:
I've been wondering about something...

All pigs I know about in Sweden eat cabbage or broccoli (or both) every day and the don't get bloat from it.

Here iceberg lettuce is considered a treat similar to cucumber (equally useless and delicious) and very few pigs have pellets every day -and it seems to work fine for everyone.

Could it be so that pigs here are more tolerant to veg that could be problematic to a pig with a different background because they and their ancestors have all eaten that kind of diet?
Click to expand...

Could it be? Possibly. I tend to take a lot of what I read about animal care on the internet with a grain of salt. What starts as a minor reference to, let's say, the lack of nutritional value in iceberg lettuce quickly gets blown out of proportion by some to where iceberg lettuce is said to be the devil's sweetmeat and sure to bring grief. Often information is repeated and perceived dangers magnified.

That is not a bad thing. After all, many of the things we do or don't do get told to us by our parents, teachers and spouses and we may not understand them. When a child runs into the street we swat his little behind so he won't do it again, we don't try to make him understand the concept of death.

My solution? I read as much as I can, and pull up science article to help me understand concepts. Then I make my own decisions. I don't put down those who repeat without knowing details because they are doing a service.
But again, I take it all with a grain of salt, and read a lot both from those with abstract scientific knowledge and those with extensive hands on knowledge, and make my own informed decision.
 
Interesting.

Any piggies born at mine are fed varied veg from the start (obviously not too much because of their little tums, and introduced gradually). I believe they go on to not be fussy eaters!

Some pigs that come into rescue will not eat certain veg, and sometimes will not eat ANY veg initially, they are very suspicious of it. I guess this depends on what they've been brought up on. Usually if mixed with pigs who do eat veg, they seem to get the idea!

Something about having more pigs than the average pair means that they are less fussy (or I don't allow them to be) as they all get fed pretty much the same, take it or leave it! They do have individual preferences, which I pander to, but generally speaking they get a mix of veg each day and they all get the same mix, unless I know a specific pig will just waste it.

I do feed iceberg, not often and not in large quantities - it may lack nutritional value but they like it and if it's on offer, they get it as an extra.

Sophie
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sophiew said:
Interesting.

Any piggies born at mine are fed varied veg from the start (obviously not too much because of their little tums, and introduced gradually). I believe they go on to not be fussy eaters!

Some pigs that come into rescue will not eat certain veg, and sometimes will not eat ANY veg initially, they are very suspicious of it. I guess this depends on what they've been brought up on. Usually if mixed with pigs who do eat veg, they seem to get the idea!

Something about having more pigs than the average pair means that they are less fussy (or I don't allow them to be) as they all get fed pretty much the same, take it or leave it! They do have individual preferences, which I pander to, but generally speaking they get a mix of veg each day and they all get the same mix, unless I know a specific pig will just waste it.

I do feed iceberg, not often and not in large quantities - it may lack nutritional value but they like it and if it's on offer, they get it as an extra.

Sophie
x
Click to expand...

It is interesting how some will only eat certain things. Max and Chip always turned their noses up at tomatoes but I offered it again once I got Buttons and now Max eats it too!
 
I think you will find that the difference in care might be a difference between informed and uninformed rather than countries i know lots of people who give cabbages and other brassicas and the only reason i don't is because it makes mine stinky!
 
Lisa, it totally makes sense, and it's good to hear that even people in the UK feed piggies broccoli and that the pigies are fine with it.

Really, guinea pigs fart?! I never noticed it with mine... but I guess the farts would be proportional to the omitter and piggies are pretty small :)) (although, thinking about it... my mum's little westie can produce the most lethal clouds of gas...)

I live in Linköping, MaxandChip, but I grew up in Gothenburg and studied in Lund.

I think that's very right, Lucille. We learn stuff and then just absorb it as truth without always thinking about it and considering different possibilities. In Sweden kids have been told for a hundred years (at least ;) ) that you have to wait an hour after eating before you can go swimming because otherwise you'll get cramps. It's just been passed down through generations, but apparently it's just made up, probably after someone did get cramp after swimming close to eating...

A high school friend of mine thought (at age 17!) that the ice cream van played a melody when there was no more ice cream for sale...
 
I am aware of completely different standards from what my sister feeds in Switzerland and what is recommended on the German forum I am looking into.

I usually feed one variety of cabbage and lettuce each daily as part of their regular diet and have not come across a warning against iceberg lettuce over there, either. However, I must say that it has been my piggies' least favourite lettuce on those occasions when it was the only lettuce available.

Feeding pellets or muesli is very much frowned upon on the German forum as well! I my opinion it is the mixture of veg and nutrients that

The same applies for medical tips and housing as well, btw.
 
Heh, yeah... I think Germany and Sweden are quite similar piggie wise then!

I listen mostly to my rescue lady because I feel I that if she let me have her piggies then I should look after them the way she has told me to, but I'm a little naughty because they get pellets and she is a no pellets person... but it's so little and they love it sooooo much!

Funny thing is that most people here use wood shavings (only dust extracted kiln dried good stuff, though) and fleece is seen as something that could potentially cause trouble because little fibers can get stuck in piggy bits! Lots of people also think it's unnatural for piggies to run around on cute and colourful fleece and that it'll hurt their eyes...

oh, and hay racks is a total no-no here too!

I don't read Swedish forums any more though because all the talk on trimming, showing and breeding makes me sad.
 
You sound to me like someone who is very sensible Petra!

I think we can only do what works for us and as long as our pigs are happy and healthy then who cares how they are being raised. Gosh I sound like I'm talking about kids but I suppose I do apply the same philosophy to my kids! Happy and Healthy!

Non judemental is the way to go provided the guinea pig is being looked after. I think you are so right.
 
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