Fussy eaters

[Jenpen]

Has anyone else had trouble with their guinea pigs being fussy eaters? Mine don't seem to like most of the veg that the list says is ok to feed them daily and instead really like things they shouldn't have often like parsley, carrots and spinach. They won't eat brussel sprouts or salad cress, savoy cabbage, asparagus, tomatoes, or courgette. They mainly seem to like the bagged salad which all contain spinach that I have to fish out and are quite expensive for what you get.

 

[AutumnThePig]

How old are they? Sometimes it takes awhile for young piggies to like vegetables. Autumn used to be picky until I got her a friend who taught her to eat them. I kept offering Autumn peppers because she kept turning her nose away from them. Eventually, she ended up loving peppers. A little encouragement helps piggies realize that veggies are good.

 

[DMS260820]

Have you tried veg that you can actually feed daily, like red bell pepper, green and yellow.
Coriandor? Cucumber, celery in small pieces and not the leafes? I wouldn't worry about them not eating brussel sprouts or salad cress, savoy Cabbage, asparagus, tomatoes or Courgettes

 

[bloomingphoenix]

I have had many problems finding things that my Pig, Smores likes to eat. I have owned her for about a year now, it was previously my sister's pet and she always bought the same plain food, same hay for as long as she owned her, maybe 2 years. When I started buying food I started with the same kind my sister got but noticed that she really ate NONE of it. So I started buying pellets mixed with different things (fruits, nuts, corn, etc) She refuses to eat any of the pellets, picks through and finds random things, which I've tried to pay attention to what she is ACTUALLY eating but it's hard to see. The only thing I've been able to know for definite what she eats is cracked corn, I thought she at the split peas...but I don't think so. My fiancee accidentally bought hamster food a few weeks ago and I know it doesn't have the same nutrients, but I opened it before I noticed, she did seem to grab a couple things out of that she liked, I tried to give her the corn that is in that, but she won't eat it for some reason, maybe because it's not split...but long story a little shorter, I have wasted an insane amount of food. Out of a 5 pound bag, I've thrown away about 4 pounds, because I don't like to leave old food in her bowl, my sister just let it sit for days, poor thing. My sister did have other Pigs but the other 2 passed away :-( I have also bought every kind of treat I could find, at different times of course, to see what she's willing to eat and it's nothing really. I end up throwing most of the things outside, hoping that the wild animals will eat it. Carrots she likes, not any other veg I've tried so far...sigh... and I found a few things she will nibble on, but I'm so afraid she's not happy, or she's always hungry...sniff. I do make sure she has Timothy hay at all times, but how is that enough nutrition?!?

I have tried bell pepper, cucumbers, romaine, apples, celery, tomato and a few other things but can't remember. The different treats have been extensive

 

[Wiebke]

Has anyone else had trouble with their guinea pigs being fussy eaters? Mine don't seem to like most of the veg that the list says is ok to feed them daily and instead really like things they shouldn't have often like parsley, carrots and spinach. They won't eat brussel sprouts or salad cress, savoy cabbage, asparagus, tomatoes, or courgette. They mainly seem to like the bagged salad which all contain spinach that I have to fish out and are quite expensive for what you get.

Hi!

The food items you specify as unliked are all edible but generally not ones that most piggies will like and they should definitely not be fed daily. You are in good company there!

Be patient and persist. Piggies learn what is safe to eat from their elders; if they are from a commercial pet shop supply breeder that won't feed veg, then they have no idea what is edible and what s dangerous and are generally a lot more picky. If they don't have a companion used to eating veg they can take their cues from, then it can take some time to build up a daily veg diet.
You can find our illustrated sample in our diet guide: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[DMS260820]

Hi!

The food items you specify as unliked are all edible but generally not ones that most piggies will like and they should definitely not be fed daily. You are in good company there!

Be patient and persist. Piggies learn what is safe to eat from their elders; if they are from a commercial pet shop supply breeder that won't feed veg, then they have no idea what is edible and what s dangerous and are generally a lot more picky. If they don't have a companion used to eating veg they can take their cues from, then it can take some time to build up a daily veg diet.
You can find our illustrated sample in our diet guide: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

When I first got Bernie, all that my local big chain pet store fed was Cabbage, I asked why and they said its all the manager gets allowed to buy in. So yea, he was fussy not by his fault, but gradually copied Dot his wife pig and now he's all good

 

[AutumnThePig]

I have had many problems finding things that my Pig, Smores likes to eat. I have owned her for about a year now, it was previously my sister's pet and she always bought the same plain food, same hay for as long as she owned her, maybe 2 years. When I started buying food I started with the same kind my sister got but noticed that she really ate NONE of it. So I started buying pellets mixed with different things (fruits, nuts, corn, etc) She refuses to eat any of the pellets, picks through and finds random things, which I've tried to pay attention to what she is ACTUALLY eating but it's hard to see. The only thing I've been able to know for definite what she eats is cracked corn, I thought she at the split peas...but I don't think so. My fiancee accidentally bought hamster food a few weeks ago and I know it doesn't have the same nutrients, but I opened it before I noticed, she did seem to grab a couple things out of that she liked, I tried to give her the corn that is in that, but she won't eat it for some reason, maybe because it's not split...but long story a little shorter, I have wasted an insane amount of food. Out of a 5 pound bag, I've thrown away about 4 pounds, because I don't like to leave old food in her bowl, my sister just let it sit for days, poor thing. My sister did have other Pigs but the other 2 passed away :-( I have also bought every kind of treat I could find, at different times of course, to see what she's willing to eat and it's nothing really. I end up throwing most of the things outside, hoping that the wild animals will eat it. Carrots she likes, not any other veg I've tried so far...sigh... and I found a few things she will nibble on, but I'm so afraid she's not happy, or she's always hungry...sniff. I do make sure she has Timothy hay at all times, but how is that enough nutrition?!?

I have tried bell pepper, cucumbers, romaine, apples, celery, tomato and a few other things but can't remember. The different treats have been extensive

Guinea Pigs can live off of an unlimited amount of Timothy hay for a few days. It helps restore their digestive system. Be careful buying treats from stores, most of them are not pig friendly. Pellets that have nuts mixed with them can be a causing hazard for piggies. Also, carrots should be fed more like a treat, once a week. Just keep being persistent with safe veggies. You can try coriander, cucumber, celery without the leaves and any color pepper.

 

[DMS260820]

I have had many problems finding things that my Pig, Smores likes to eat. I have owned her for about a year now, it was previously my sister's pet and she always bought the same plain food, same hay for as long as she owned her, maybe 2 years. When I started buying food I started with the same kind my sister got but noticed that she really ate NONE of it. So I started buying pellets mixed with different things (fruits, nuts, corn, etc) She refuses to eat any of the pellets, picks through and finds random things, which I've tried to pay attention to what she is ACTUALLY eating but it's hard to see. The only thing I've been able to know for definite what she eats is cracked corn, I thought she at the split peas...but I don't think so. My fiancee accidentally bought hamster food a few weeks ago and I know it doesn't have the same nutrients, but I opened it before I noticed, she did seem to grab a couple things out of that she liked, I tried to give her the corn that is in that, but she won't eat it for some reason, maybe because it's not split...but long story a little shorter, I have wasted an insane amount of food. Out of a 5 pound bag, I've thrown away about 4 pounds, because I don't like to leave old food in her bowl, my sister just let it sit for days, poor thing. My sister did have other Pigs but the other 2 passed away :-( I have also bought every kind of treat I could find, at different times of course, to see what she's willing to eat and it's nothing really. I end up throwing most of the things outside, hoping that the wild animals will eat it. Carrots she likes, not any other veg I've tried so far...sigh... and I found a few things she will nibble on, but I'm so afraid she's not happy, or she's always hungry...sniff. I do make sure she has Timothy hay at all times, but how is that enough nutrition?!?

I have tried bell pepper, cucumbers, romaine, apples, celery, tomato and a few other things but can't remember. The different treats have been extensive

80% of a Guinea pigs diet should be hay, Timothy or meadow, they run on fiber, fiber and vit c is most important in their diet. Should never feed nuts, if they won't eat. A certain pellet food, you can gradually introduce a different brand, Harringtons godown great, or oxbow, science selective grain free, burgess

 

[DMS260820]

Guinea Pigs can live off of an unlimited amount of Timothy hay for a few days. It helps restore their digestive system. Be careful buying treats from stores, most of them are not pig friendly. Pellets that have nuts mixed with them can be a causing hazard for piggies. Also, carrots should be fed more like a treat, once a week. Just keep being persistent with safe veggies. You can try coriander, cucumber, celery without the leaves and any color pepper.

They live off hay full stop and then just need the correct daily amount of vit c in their veg, and then obviously other vitamins too, which the pellets should sort out and whatever else is in the veg. Don't know if I mis understood what you said . Sorry if I did

 

[AutumnThePig]

They live off hay full stop and then just need the correct daily amount of vit c in their veg, and then obviously other vitamins too, which the pellets should sort out and whatever else is in the veg. Don't know if I mis understood what you said . Sorry if I did

Good point that they live off of hay. She said: "I do make sure that they have enough of Timothy hay, but how is that enough nutrition?" I was just informing her that they can live with an unlimited amount of hay without veggies or pellets for a few days.

 

[Jenpen]

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions