Feeding Guineas Veggies for First Time. Advice?

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Ashleigh825

Ashleigh825

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As most of you know, I'm a new piggy owner and just got my pair of guineas a couple days ago. I went to the grocery store and picked up the following items that I thought they would like:

Romaine Lettuce (made doubly sure not to get iceberg)
Baby Carrots
Green Beans
Red and Green Peppers (NOT spicy peppers!)

Are all of these okay for my babies to eat? I got them from a pet store where I don't think they were being fed any fresh vegetables at all so I'm a little worried about giving them too much and upsetting their tummies. How much do you recommend of these foods to give to a baby piggie who hasn't eaten these things before?

Also, is there anything I should know about cleaning these veggies before I give them to my piggies? I know even fresh veggies bought from grocery stores can have chemicals on them and that humans should give them a good rinse before eating, but should I take any extra steps before feeding veggies to my guineas? Are they more sensitive to that stuff than we are? Is there anything other than warm water I should use to rinse the veggies? I plan to leave them out for a little bit so that they're refreshingly cool, but not ice cold when I feed them to my guineas.

I know I ask a lot of questions that are probably really silly, but I've never done this before and I worry a lot. I really love my guineas and feel like their mommy so I want to make sure I'm doing everything right. :...
 
You are not being silly asking these questions. You are being a kind and caring owner. Sadly pet shops do not seem to feed piggies vegetables. All the ones you bought are suitable. You just need to wash them in normal water like you would for yourself. Give them a few leaves of lettuce to start with or a piece or two of pepper and see how they go. If they have runny poops you can cut back.
 
As piggyfan has said - it's a good idea with new guinea pigs (unless you know their dietary history) to start off very slowly with the introduction of veggies.

With all my new piggies/babies ive always given 1 veg type like a bit of lettuce or cucumber and continued this for 5-7 days (with this one veg only) then added another to it - so each 5-7 days adding a new veg type and monitoring for any signs of runny/soft poops. If all poops are normal i then give another type - eventually they will be on a good variety of veg types that will enable you to rotate so they never get bored.

Introducing veg slowly will enable you to monitor their intake whilst not giving them an opportunity to gorge themselves - you will then know which they like and if there are any that they are particularly sensitive to you can leave this out of their diet or give only on rare occassions until they become used to it.
 
Thanks guys.

I put two tiny pieces of lettuce outside of their igloo and they each got half a small slice of red pepper in their food bowls. They have yet to touch them but I'm hoping they decide to take a nibble soon.
 
If they are anything like my Bertie I had a terrible time getting him to eat veg. In the end I had to remove his dry food and his hay and just give him veg. He is much better now but if he doesnt like something he just wont touch it.
 
Fresh veg is always a good bribery tool with pigs ;)

With any new pig a quick way to earn their trust is to always have a piece of their favourite veg with you when having lap time - with more timid piggies it'll take some time before they take it from you, but eventually they will take the food from you - this helps for them to associate you with good things, and so they relax faster if they know there's something in it for them ;)

I made sure i sat next to their cage frequently, just talking to them, once they get used to the sound of your voice you'll find they dont mind pottering around while you are there - this is when having a piece of their favourite veg handy works wonders.

A great tip for getting pigs used to you is not to approach the cage for the sole purpose of picking them up - i spend hours each day sitting next to my pigs cages talking to them and petting them - i think this is why it's dead simple to pick any of mine up because they are not expecting me to do so, so they dont have that fear that every time i approach them I'm they are going to be picked up. Besides which, ii find my pigs are treated like pigs and are much more relaxed when being stroked in their own environment - they are free to walk away any time they get fed up. They have the choice whether or not to come for a cuddle - cuddle time is always done so on their terms - which makes for happier pigs :)
 
Heehee, I just sat next to their cage and read them a bunch of fairy tales. Cinderella, The Emperor's New Clothes and Hansel and Gretel. :)) They were a little wary of me, even puttering about the cage while I read to them, but that's still an improvement.

Still can't get them to eat any veggies, though. :( If they won't touch any after a couple of days, I'll try removing all their other food and only giving them veggies just to encourage them to try it.
 
I have a girl that will eat anything! And a girl who is a little more finicky.

I found one of my girls doesn't tolerate melon. It gives her 'poopy foot'...not fun for mummy to clean off!

I also found, that once you find what they like, you can get them to eat something they haven't tried or don't like as much (like a pro-biotic pill if they ever need it) by rubbing the veggie they do like on it so it smells and tastes like the one they like. I have fooled my picky piggy that way ;)
 
Just an update: the boys refused to touch the lettuce or the red pepper yesterday. I left it in there as long as I could before it was no longer fresh and suitable for them to eat.

Today, I tried to test out the green beans. I put just half of one green bean in each of their bowls. A few minutes later, I spotted Sam nibbling on one! I'm so excited and proud!
 
Ashleigh825 said:
Just an update: the boys refused to touch the lettuce or the red pepper yesterday. I left it in there as long as I could before it was no longer fresh and suitable for them to eat.

Today, I tried to test out the green beans. I put just half of one green bean in each of their bowls. A few minutes later, I spotted Sam nibbling on one! I'm so excited and proud!
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Awh fab progress!:)) It took my girls quite a while (and many failed attempts) to become accustomed to and eat different veggies. One of them is still particularly picky about what she likes whilst the other two will gobble anything and everything!
 
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We give 1 average carrot(I try get organic as difference in price not so big) a day for 4 of them and 2 color peppers(remove seeds)(spread twice a day) .Like treat Once a month we also give them spinach,blueberry and salad.Very carefully wash them
Also everyday 2-3 small sticks of parsley.
Rest veggies ours sows either are not eating or we think it is not healthy.
We always try get fresh grass from local park.I have all kinds of hay from Burgess excel and oxbow and 5 kinds of pellets from them.If someone live in country side a bit more easy to have good source of hay/grass.But in London we have to carefully choose place to cut grass and we wash it all them time as dogs foxes and other animals marking it.
 
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Just another update.

Turns out the green beans are a huge hit with Sam. He loves them! Once again, I put just half of one green bean in each of their bowls today and when Sam came out to investigate, he went straight for the green bean in his bowl! It was the first thing he ate before any of his pellets and he gobbled it down in a minute!

Only problem is that Dean still won't touch them. He trotted out after his brother, took a sniff at the green bean, then went for the pellets, instead and ignored the bean... then Sam came over and stole Dean's green bean right out of his bowl and gobbled that down, too! Dean didn't seem to care too much.

If Sam keeps stealing Dean's veggies, how can I make sure Dean's getting veggies, too? They have separate bowls, but they're both still too scared to go near me so they won't take any food directly from me. :(
 
Ashleigh825 said:
Just another update.

Turns out the green beans are a huge hit with Sam. He loves them! Once again, I put just half of one green bean in each of their bowls today and when Sam came out to investigate, he went straight for the green bean in his bowl! It was the first thing he ate before any of his pellets and he gobbled it down in a minute!

Only problem is that Dean still won't touch them. He trotted out after his brother, took a sniff at the green bean, then went for the pellets, instead and ignored the bean... then Sam came over and stole Dean's green bean right out of his bowl and gobbled that down, too! Dean didn't seem to care too much.

If Sam keeps stealing Dean's veggies, how can I make sure Dean's getting veggies, too? They have separate bowls, but they're both still too scared to go near me so they won't take any food directly from me. :(
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I'm not sure how long you've had them , if you have been able to hold them it may be an idea to offer them some veg during lap time. You could try cutting a little piece off each piece of veg and offering it to him whilst he is sat on your lap, i have found that works with my more nervous girl, she isn't too happy to take anything from me whilst in the hutch (unless it is super yummy) but will take food from me if i put it close to her lips.
I wouldn't give up with the pepper and lettuce, it may just take them some time (and they might not recognise it as food) , my nervous girl Tia loves cherry tomatoes, but initially she wasn't sure what it was, but when i cut it in half she loved it .
Don't give up with them I'm sure they will come round to eating their yummy veg x
 
I've had them for less than a week, so they're super scared of everything. They won't come near me at all.
 
I've yet to have a piggy that doesn't like cucumber. Perhaps you could try them with a slice of that? It's great for their water intake too :)
 
Another update on my boys:

Dean finally decided to give the green bean a chance since his brother seemed to be enjoying it so much. I saw him pluck his half out of his food bowl and chow down on it. Then Sam came out and stole it from him (Dean still got to nom on most of it, though). Sammy didn't realise that his mommy had put another half of green bean in his food bowl, too, silly baby. :(|)

I'm going to try the red pepper again tomorrow. I'm going to try chopping it into little bits and mixing it in with their pellets. Hopefully, they'll come to associate it with food and decide to nibble on it. *fingers crossed*
 
Sounds like they are getting the idea, you wait till they are squeezing at your for their veggies!
 
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