Healthy guinea pig treats?

[Deleted member 151224]

Anybody know any healthy treats for guinea pigs that are healthy and don't cost a lot of money? Over the last year and a half I've been giving my piggies orange flavored yogurt drops (Kaytee brand) that contain vitamin c. They have started to get bored of them. Any recommendations?

 

[Claire W]

Hello I’m afraid that yoghurt drops aren’t recommended for piggies as they shouldn’t have dairy. Most pet shop treats aren’t recommended and are just a gimmick to make money.

You can buy bags of dried forage, hay with things such as dandelion added and fresh herbs are a much better choice

 

[Piggies&buns]

Treats for my piggies are veggies which I don’t normally give them - for example dill or parsley which are higher in calcium.

 

[Free Ranger]

As above. Parsley is always a fave here. Or perhaps fresh grass if it's available? My indoor pigs get it every morning and they get super excited about the sound of the grass bag! Start with just a little if they haven't had it before. Avoid anything from a roadside or which might have been peed on by a dog.
Or for weeks of fun you could try and get something like a haycube where they chew their way in and also eat the hay inside. Or a 'carrot cottage'?

 

[Princess Dustmop]

My girls get pieces of special veggies for treats, like carrot. They don't get them usually, so it's a special treat when they do. They seem to think pellets are a treat, as well. Latte thinks that green beans are a treat, too ... even if she does get one (well, half of one now) most days.

I do also have some Oxbow treats, though, which are also special treats. Theyre from the Simple Rewards collection, but you have to read the ingredients ... some of the collection has alfalfa; I only get the timothy based ones. They love the timothy Os and the carrot-dill hearts ...

 

[Free Ranger]

I've recently bought some Burgess Excel wildflower forage. It's just dried flowers. To a person it smells great and it does look pretty. I sprinkled some about. They looked at it and all 3 walked off and I felt really daft for even thinking that little grass 'n' greens munchers would like to nibble what is essentially wedding confetti! I think I might just put the rest in a bowl in the front room

 

[piggieminder]

Sorry I shouldn't have laughed but I have visions of visitors thinking you have a lovely bowl of very expensive Pot Pori. Mine have never been impressed with flowers either @Free Ranger , it's a shame really as I have a garden full of plants like Calendula and Borage!

 

[Free Ranger]

I've never really understood this eating flowers thing. I wouldn't enjoy eating a flower and think of all the bees that would miss out! But I thought that if Burgess were selling them it must be right. And now I know...

 

[Piggies&buns]

I've recently bought some Burgess Excel wildflower forage. It's just dried flowers. To a person it smells great and it does look pretty. I sprinkled some about. They looked at it and all 3 walked off and I felt really daft for even thinking that little grass 'n' greens munchers would like to nibble what is essentially wedding confetti! I think I might just put the rest in a bowl in the front room

Ive tried my lot with forage containing flowers - they were not impressed at all and made sure I knew!

 

[AidaB]

Enjoy your pretty flowers.

Hector and Hamish say they love dried Marigolds….. send them this way please!

 

[Free Ranger]

Well boys, your breath must smell delightful!

 

[poggle]

I know the OP has been deleted now, but for anyone in the UK interested - there is a range of enrichment items on Haybox for Christmas!

 

[Merab]

Mine love mixed dried flowers, marigolds and cornflowers seem to be the favourites.
I tried them with a respiratory blend, just for a change.
They completely ignored it after one sniff, like your piggies @Free Ranger .
It smelled lovely.
I never thought of using it as pot pouri, but it went to a very good home

 

[Lorcan]

I've tried the goblins with flower forage...they'll eat the bigger bits and then ignore the rest of it and giving them something like the Nature's Own hay with the dried flowers in it...the hay mostly gets ignored, and the flowers mostly get ignored too. Haycubes, carrot cottages and the occasional cardboard soft drinks tray, those are what get noticed lol.

 

[Cheekypigs]

I've had success with things like dried flower forage and fresh herbs, but really most pigs like things like grass, lettuce and cucumber best of all.

Our current boys are nuts for pea flakes, but I am conscious that those are really piggy junk food and quite starchy. At the moment they're still growing so I'm less worried but we will have to cut down on them when they get a bit older!