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Eating Less Hay?

AutumnThePig

AutumnThePig

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,

I'm just wondering - does this happen to anyone else? I give my piggies a cup of vegetables during the day. However, I split the amount in half. That way, they are getting half the cup of veggies in the morning and then another at night (still equaling one cup). There's never really a time where the veggies are untouched. I noticed that mine do not eat that much hay during the day. I would say they eat small amounts and like to be hand-fed hay. Before I go to bed, I refill the bin with fresh hay (multiple times a day). They both make popcorn noises when they hear the bag. When I wake up in the morning, I notice that half of the hay is gone - so I know that they are eating at night. It's just during the day that concerns me. Is this normal for them to eat less hay during the day because they are being fed veggies? I just wanted to make sure that this wasn't a sign of any health issues.

Sorry if I had posted this in the wrong section - I wasn't sure if I should've posted under "Food" or "Health".

Thank you :)
 
AutumnThePig said:
Hi,

I'm just wondering - does this happen to anyone else? I give my piggies a cup of vegetables during the day. However, I split the amount in half. That way, they are getting half the cup of veggies in the morning and then another at night (still equaling one cup). There's never really a time where the veggies are untouched. I noticed that mine do not eat that much hay during the day. I would say they eat small amounts and like to be hand-fed hay. Before I go to bed, I refill the bin with fresh hay (multiple times a day). They both make popcorn noises when they hear the bag. When I wake up in the morning, I notice that half of the hay is gone - so I know that they are eating at night. It's just during the day that concerns me. Is this normal for them to eat less hay during the day because they are being fed veggies? I just wanted to make sure that this wasn't a sign of any health issues.

Sorry if I had posted this in the wrong section - I wasn't sure if I should've posted under "Food" or "Health".

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

I also give them Oxbow Vitamin tablets. I give Vitamin C, Multi-Vitamin and Urinary Support. I give the vitamins because they don't most like veggies that contain Vitmain C (like peppers), so I want to make sure they are getting what they need.
 
I tend to feed my hay in hay trays (kitten litter trays with substrate in the bottom) rather than bags. As when I used hay bags they always ate less hay. I loose some due to them peeing in it but they seem to love their trays. (all of them have preferred trays as it's easier to eat.)
 
You could try a different hay, piggy’s can be very picky. Try a Timothy hay supplemented with something yummy like dandelion, this is always a favourite with my two.
 
AutumnThePig said:
Hi,

I'm just wondering - does this happen to anyone else? I give my piggies a cup of vegetables during the day. However, I split the amount in half. That way, they are getting half the cup of veggies in the morning and then another at night (still equaling one cup). There's never really a time where the veggies are untouched. I noticed that mine do not eat that much hay during the day. I would say they eat small amounts and like to be hand-fed hay. Before I go to bed, I refill the bin with fresh hay (multiple times a day). They both make popcorn noises when they hear the bag. When I wake up in the morning, I notice that half of the hay is gone - so I know that they are eating at night. It's just during the day that concerns me. Is this normal for them to eat less hay during the day because they are being fed veggies? I just wanted to make sure that this wasn't a sign of any health issues.

Sorry if I had posted this in the wrong section - I wasn't sure if I should've posted under "Food" or "Health".

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Guinea pigs are crepuscular - that means that they are most active at dawn and dusk, and that is the time when they are wired to go out in a large group to browse over surprisingly large distances. While our guinea pigs have been domesticated from one of the wild species for thousands of years, that instinct is still there. They do mostly sleep or browse quietly near the temperature controlled area where they are denning up in a number of smaller core groups and loosely attached bachelor boars during the day or night hours when South American temperature can go to seasonal extremes and daytime/nighttime predators are out hunting.
Guinea Pig Facts - An Overview

Please monitor your guinea pigs' weight once weekly together with a body checkover to catch developing problems early on. This will help you to check whether your piggies are eating enough hay; you cannot control the intake by eye. Some piggies are eating more hay than others; I see that in my various groups.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

Too much pellets and veg can impact on the hay intake. Recommendations for both food groups have been revised further downwards in recent years; especially pellets. They should not make more than 1 tablespoon per piggy per day as they are full of filler and detract from the hay intake, which should be over 80% of what a guinea pig is eating in a day. Being sparing on the veg (concentrate rather on a balanced mix of nutrients than on quantity) and pellets in favour of hay really makes a difference in overall health and longevity.
My guinea pigs tend to live about a year or two longer since I reduced the veg and especially the pellet quantity, and they also do not suffer anymore from preventable health issues like bladder stones etc.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
G&C said:
You could try a different hay, piggy’s can be very picky. Try a Timothy hay supplemented with something yummy like dandelion, this is always a favourite with my two.
Click to expand...

I recently switched from using Kaytee Tmothy Hay (mixed with Orchard Grass) to using Oxbow Western Timothy mixed in with Orchard Grass. They seem to enjoy both. When I'm done with the Oxbow Orchard Grass, I'll try dandelion and see if they like that :) If I can find it anywhere.
 
AutumnThePig said:
I recently switched from using Kaytee Tmothy Hay (mixed with Orchard Grass) to using Oxbow Western Timothy mixed in with Orchard Grass. They seem to enjoy both. When I'm done with the Oxbow Orchard Grass, I'll try dandelion and see if they like that :) If I can find it anywhere.
Click to expand...

Dandelion is quite high in calcium; which is why it should be fed more as a treat but not as a regular food source because it could contribute to the formation to bladder sludge or stones. Guinea pigs have a very alkaline urine, which is why they are as a species so prone to bladder and urinary tract problems.
 
I get this from my local pet shop vita verde nature plus they also sell the same brand but with rose petals in which they liked but this stuff they like more. The amount of dandelion compared to hay is minimal, however they do tend to pick out the dandelion first then eat the hay and they only get a small handful once/twice a day.
 
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