Feeding my piggies during lockdown and Autumn foraging

piggles 7000

piggles 7000

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have 12 beautiful piggies-most of which are foster fails! During the Spring lockdown I foraged every day for their food from a local field which isnt sprayed with any chemicals-mostly grass so that I wasnt buying veg most days from the supermarket. I continued this through the Summer as I do every year.
So the grass etc is getting a bit "past it" now but I want to try to forage as much as possible still through this coming lockdown. There is less out there of course but I wondered if other people forage and what they find at this time of year? I will buy veg of course as well but am just after ideas if anyone has any. I want to see if I can make the veg go further too
Thanks
 
I am following this since my state of Indiana will probably be in lockdown sometime soon. Our cases have jumped to over 3,000 a day!

I was thinking about getting some plain grass seed and growing it in the window, but you have way too many piggies to do that effectively.
 
piggles 7000 said:
I have 12 beautiful piggies-most of which are foster fails! During the Spring lockdown I foraged every day for their food from a local field which isnt sprayed with any chemicals-mostly grass so that I wasnt buying veg most days from the supermarket. I continued this through the Summer as I do every year.
So the grass etc is getting a bit "past it" now but I want to try to forage as much as possible still through this coming lockdown. There is less out there of course but I wondered if other people forage and what they find at this time of year? I will buy veg of course as well but am just after ideas if anyone has any. I want to see if I can make the veg go further too
Thanks
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This is admittedly not the best time of year for lockdown foraging. Here is the link to UK foraging information which you can find at the top of this section: Wild UK forage for guinea pigs
 
RedLoredAmazon said:
I am following this since my state of Indiana will probably be in lockdown sometime soon. Our cases have jumped to over 3,000 a day!

I was thinking about getting some plain grass seed and growing it in the window, but you have way too many piggies to do that effectively.
Click to expand...
Wow thats a lot of cases! Stay safe
 
As its now getting colder,plants are not growing, l been lucky I founding some late forage, like dandelions, silver fern,cow parsley and a few other, grass is Still growing very slowly, now making sure l have plenty of hay, buying 6 bales at a time,also pellets, feed a few fresh fruits and vegetables every others day, with afew of the dryed summer treats. This is feeding 32 piggies that are outside if dry, in if raining, freezing or snowing. And the main winter months will be shut in till warmer days.
 
teddymouse said:
As its now getting colder,plants are not growing, l been lucky I founding some late forage, like dandelions, silver fern,cow parsley and a few other, grass is Still growing very slowly, now making sure l have plenty of hay, buying 6 bales at a time,also pellets, feed a few fresh fruits and vegetables every others day, with afew of the dryed summer treats. This is feeding 32 piggies that are outside if dry, in if raining, freezing or snowing. And the main winter months will be shut in till warmer days.
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Many thanks for this it gives me some ideas. I do tend to be a bit generous with the feeding and could probably cut down slightly anyway. I will have plenty of time over lockdown to look around for the last growing plants as my work is shut down. Thanks again!
 
It might sound a bit morbid but I find graveyards to be quite bountiful... and as a lot of churches are going 'green' you might find the surrounding churchyard is some sort of nature reserve (people often put up a notice promoting this)... meaning minimal chemicals and they also let some of the grass grow really long! It makes it easier to take the tops without pulling out the roots. Watch out for dog toilets though.
You might see a lovely big clump that has got so long it has fallen over - at this time of year it's only the top surface of this which is green, underneath will be yellowed. After yesterday's stormy weather round here the other place is under freshly fallen leaves... I'm sometimes surprised by how long and green the grass is under here but I guess it's try to grow fast and reach the light while the temperature is still mild enough.
Saying all that, 12 pigs is quite a challenge! I currently only have lonesome George who's waiting for me to find him some old Grandmas to snuggle up with. Lockdown won't help with that! But I put a hot water bottle down the outside of his bedroom every night and he goes in and leans against the warm wall 💕
 
Free Ranger said:
It might sound a bit morbid but I find graveyards to be quite bountiful... and as a lot of churches are going 'green' you might find the surrounding churchyard is some sort of nature reserve (people often put up a notice promoting this)... meaning minimal chemicals and they also let some of the grass grow really long! It makes it easier to take the tops without pulling out the roots. Watch out for dog toilets though.
You might see a lovely big clump that has got so long it has fallen over - at this time of year it's only the top surface of this which is green, underneath will be yellowed. After yesterday's stormy weather round here the other place is under freshly fallen leaves... I'm sometimes surprised by how long and green the grass is under here but I guess it's try to grow fast and reach the light while the temperature is still mild enough.
Saying all that, 12 pigs is quite a challenge! I currently only have lonesome George who's waiting for me to find him some old Grandmas to snuggle up with. Lockdown won't help with that! But I put a hot water bottle down the outside of his bedroom every night and he goes in and leans against the warm wall 💕
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Aww bless little George! What a sweetheart. I have a George too! Thank you for this. Yes grass is still growing fairly well although the quality and amount is dwindling. I will take your advice and have a look
 
I have stumbled across an online surplus/wonky veg delivery business called Oddbox. I will be ringing them tomorrow to see if they can provide what I need. It should work out a lot cheaper. The reviews are good (unless they are reviewing themselves!) and delivery weekly/fortnightly is free.
 
piggles 7000 said:
I have stumbled across an online surplus/wonky veg delivery business called Oddbox. I will be ringing them tomorrow to see if they can provide what I need. It should work out a lot cheaper. The reviews are good (unless they are reviewing themselves!) and delivery weekly/fortnightly is free.
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Hello, I also forage for grass everyday (well, I've been sending my boyfriend out recently in the rain and cold) to collect mainly big bags of grass and dandelions for my 5 guinea pigs! They go through it so quickly and cry for it daily 12 must be very noisy and demanding of grass! I have noticed the last week or so the grass doesn't look quite right looking a little bit off in places! I was going to recommend buying wonky veg from the supermarket I regularly but 2 packets of 5-6 wonky peppers from the supermarket (aldi and find they're very reasonably priced) I also buy two cucumbers (43p each) and lots of romaine lettuce! Coriander & Basil are a treat but find it expensive compared to everything else I may try out this wonky veg box let me know if you save much! :)
 
Tara95 said:
Hello, I also forage for grass everyday (well, I've been sending my boyfriend out recently in the rain and cold) to collect mainly big bags of grass and dandelions for my 5 guinea pigs! They go through it so quickly and cry for it daily 12 must be very noisy and demanding of grass! I have noticed the last week or so the grass doesn't look quite right looking a little bit off in places! I was going to recommend buying wonky veg from the supermarket I regularly but 2 packets of 5-6 wonky peppers from the supermarket (aldi and find they're very reasonably priced) I also buy two cucumbers (43p each) and lots of romaine lettuce! Coriander & Basil are a treat but find it expensive compared to everything else I may try out this wonky veg box let me know if you save much! :)
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They do need a fair bit! Glad you boyfriend is able to help you! I tend to pick 2 1/2 tesco carrier bags everyday which means they all get a good pile of grass. I used to go to Aldi for their veg before the first lockdown but then the weather got a lot better and I was able to start foraging again. I will have to go back and have another look now there is less to forage and hopefully Oddbox will provide the rest. I have had a busy couple of days and havent been able to ring them but when I do, if its good value for money and decent quality I will post about it
 
Wow 2 and a half bags! Mine have a large bag a day! I do find they are so much healthier when they have grass! And I sometimes collect grass when I walk my parents dog I always get such odd looks and always feel I have to justify what I'm doing to everyone 😅 but the pigs love it! And thank you! Your pigs are very lucky you go out in all weather to collect so much grass for them! :') do you have one or two herds or a few seperate pairs?:)
 
Tara95 said:
Wow 2 and a half bags! Mine have a large bag a day! I do find they are so much healthier when they have grass! And I sometimes collect grass when I walk my parents dog I always get such odd looks and always feel I have to justify what I'm doing to everyone 😅 but the pigs love it! And thank you! Your pigs are very lucky you go out in all weather to collect so much grass for them! :') do you have one or two herds or a few seperate pairs?:)
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I have a trio, 4 pairs and currently a single boy who will be neutered soon and paired up with a girl. I think they thrive with a natural grass diet but obviously thats not possible for everybody. I'm just lucky to have a field close by which is never treated with chemicals and just left natural. I get odd looks too from dog walkers but its actually quite a social experience as I have got to know some of them! A group of kids once asked me if I get paid for picking the grass. ?? Err, no ! :lol:
 
Just a little update to say that a posh local restaurant which has opened a produce shop during the pandemic has agreed to let me have the stuff they cannot sell which has nothing wrong with it, it just isnt "pretty" enough for their very particular customers. They have another shop where such items are donated to a local homeless charity but where this shop is situated its difficult to transport to the charity so I can collect a box full twice a week. Its very kind of them to do this but they are just happy they wont have to throw it away. So far its been perfectly good for my piggies-no mould or limp/off stuff. I would only feed what I would eat myself anyway of course
 
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