• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

guinea pig diet

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

thetude23

New Born Pup
Joined
Nov 14, 2013
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
0
i have 2 boars living together one is 3 mo old and one is 8 mo old. i know that they have different dietary needs with alfalfa and timothy.. i currently have them on timothy based pellets and alfalfa hay. could someone please tell me what to feed because i dont know.
 
Because they are both under a year old it's ok to give them both alfalfa hay and timothy pellets. Mine are are under a year and I give them fresh meadow hay (I live near a lot of farms) and timothy based pellets. I did attempt to give them alfalfa, but they are spoilt and fussy.
I also give them about a mug full of salad/veggies each a day as it's important that they get plenty of vitamin C. They are healthy, chubby little pigs.
 
thanks. but if i wanted i could get timothy and feed high protein veggies. as i live in the us and the animal care here is crud
 
i meant ask that in the form of a question not a statement what i meant was could i
 
Please be aware that the extra need of protein and calcium of a fast growing youngster is actually a rather small amount in absolute terms; less than a handful of alfalfa per day. Alternatively, you can feed unlimited pellets for as long as your little one's weekly growth rate is not slowing down. After that, you stop the alfalfa or, if you go for the pellets, start to very gradually reduce the daily amount of pellets to the handful or half that adults over 12-15 months old need. Please don't overdo it with feeding both alfalfa hay and unlimited pellets. With a good normal diet your two piggies will thrive anyway!
 
i want to be sure i am understanding you wiebke you are saying that only a handful of alfalfa is needed. so i could feed regular pellets and unlimited timothy but just be sure the little one gets about a handful of alfalfa?
 
You can feed unlimited timothy hay and unlimited regular pellets, and your little one will be perfectly OK, or if you really wish, you can add a handful of alfalfa hay, but it is frankly not necessary with good quality pellets (which contain both calcium and protein). Be aware that a handful of alfalfa will serve mum AND all of her babies during the nursing period...

Alfalfa is not a grass, but a legume, so it is important to feed unlimited grass hay, which is what piggy digestion is laid out for. please be aware that some youngsters will pee in their pellet bowl, so it is advisable to not just top up the bowl, but rather feed less more often, so it doesn't spoil.
 
Thanks I think I will go for the hand full of alfalfa and no unlimited pellets as good pig food in America is very expensive so they and full of alfalfa is cheaper
 
Unless you think that is not as good a choice as no alfalfa and unlimited everything
 
So you are basically saying when they are toddlers all they need is the unlimited pellets and hay and that alfalfa based foods are unneeded unless they are still with mom?
 
Last edited:
Sorry about the posts I just meant to send the last one but I accidentally sent the other two just ignore them all except the last one
 
I was just making sure cause I was under the impression that you needed alfalfa in there diet
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top