Eating newspaper

Status
Not open for further replies.
Elitah

Elitah

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 4, 2011
Messages
238
Reaction score
66
Points
265
Location
Germany
We have six guinea pigs now, three adults and three little ones which are five weeks old. The adults, especially two of them, keep eating the newspaper which we have at the bottom of the cage to soak up the moisture. We've been wondering why and looking for solutions to stop them eating it. We give them fresh hay and vegetables and their food and salt stones, but even when they have it all, they will still start eating the newspaper. This morning, I noticed that the little ones have started doing that as well and we have no idea what to do about it. We guess they're lacking some sort of nutrition, but we don't know what it could be or how to find out.
 
Mine too actually. I thought to begin with it was just curiosity but now they seem to really like it, and they both spent about 10 minutes chewing on a cardboard tube I gave them until they realised it might be a tunnel! Any ideas what they're after?
 
all my pigs eat newspaper, they enjoy making lots of noise ripping it up at 6am in the morning {:| :)) it won't harm them so i wouldn't worry to much :)
 
Yes, our are noisy when they do that as well. They're healthy and behave normally and seem to be fine, but they keep ripping and chewing newspaper - also preferably when the noise is annoying! :)) So you think it doesn't mean they're lacking anything? As long as it doesn't harm them and doesn't mean that something's wrong with them, I'm fine with them chewing it.
 
i have 2 piggies that like to sit in a hideys and then shred a few layers of newspaper. because obviously flat newspaper isnt good enough. i think its more a game than because they're hungry. i wouldnt worry about it though :) mine like newspaper tents
 
Seems like it's normal guinea-pig behaviour, then.
 
Mine go CRAZY for all sorts of newspaper, and used to do this too.
Maybe I'm being a bit over-protective, but I have no idea what might be in the ink used in paper, and even if that much bulky mass in their tummies would be good for them?

I've stopped using newspaper. I'd rather have wiffy piggies that need to be cleaned out more often than run the risk of them getting sick.

?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top