Have I spoilt my boys

[Roselina]

Hello everyone I am wondering if inadvertently I’ve spoilt Bobby and Geoff - both boys are about 5 months old. I’ve had them since April.
with better weather I slowly introduced them to grass and foraged plants. Which they guzzle down no problem but ....I’ve noticed they are not eating much hay - is this because they are having fresh grass - the hay is the same (Timothy hay ) which they’ve always eaten. They are putting on weight and behaviour is the same and I’ve checked their teeth and all is ok . Wondering if anyone can advise me please . Thank you everyone

 

[Siikibam]

Were they eating it well before? You can’t tell by eye but by weight gain/maintenance. Perhaps cut back on the forage for now. Grass, like hay, contains vitamin c which they can’t make themselves. And also contains the thing that helps keep their teeth trim.

 

[Bill & Ted]

yes I think it’s silica which helps wear the teeth down

 

[LMPigs]

If their weight is right and their poops are normal, I would think they probably are eating enough?

 

[Roselina]

Great thank you all - amazingly I’ve just put them back in their cage and I swapped the hay rack to a ceramic dish and they're eating the hay - fingers crossed it’ll continue but I will cut back on the forage - I really appreciate the advice

 

[Siikibam]

Piggies love to dive into, lie in while eating, and sleep in piles of hay. So you could also get them a hay tray and put it in there.

 

[Roselina]

Wonderful idea thank you

 

[Roselina]

I have made a hay tray and thank you as they really love it ! They are eating lots of hay ! ( but I’ve stopped the forage food !)

 

[*kate*]

I personally wouldn't stop the forage, mine have forage and grass and still eat plenty of hay!

 

[Betsy]

Mine love diving into a pile of hay, falling asleep then eating their way out. My lot also get forage but only as a treat in the Spring/Summer. In the cold winter months they have it every day along with their pellets as they need it to help keep their energy levels up to keep them warm (they live in an unheated garage). I sometimes sprinkle a bit of Pro-C on it too in the winter. One of my piggies now has facial paralysis on her right side and can't eat hay so she has 3 meals a day of all she can eat grass buffet. In the morning she has it with pellets and in the evening she has it with veg. It's the only thing I could think of that would get the necessary fibre into her.

 

[Roselina]

Thank you everyone - really great advice and help !