How can I get my piggies to eat different foods?

[squeakysmallpaws]

Hello,

Please could someone share some tips on introducing new foods? My piggies are becoming quite fussy eaters eating only Romaine lettuce, cucumber and sweet peppers.

They hate carrots - which fair enough, not going to force it on them. I've started noticing though they are selective eating with other foods too.

They are still young. Obviously I could put down just a little of one new food and leave it half an hour to see if they touch it but I think the little devils know that if they hold out I will come a running with the romaine and cucumber soon enough. I don't like thinking their hungry. But they will also just turn to their dried food if what's on offer doesn't meet their taste!

So just wondered if I'm missing a trick with getting them to eat a more varied diet and what you have tried with some of your more selective eaters?

xx

 

[Abi_nurse]

Generally ive just left my lot to it. As they have grown older ive tried them with lots of things and they now tend to put anything in there mouths. All piggies have their favorites, just perserve for now i would say. I'm not sure what else to suggest. Sorry.

x.

 

[Claire W]

Try giving them something new each day. My lot go through stages for example, they will eat cucumber everyday and then will suddenly 'go off' it. I then stop feeding them cucumber for a week or so and then they will eat it again.

There are some things they won't entertain like savoy cabbage so I never feed it them.

The trick is to introduce new things gradually

 

[Amanda1801]

when introducing new foods to my guys (they are older!) I only offer them a small amount of one new food at a time. That way, if anyone has a reaction to it, its minimised. The chances of them reacting to it are slim anyway but it's just something I do with all my animals.

My pigs obviously prefer some veg over others, but there's some things I want them to eat for the nutrients that they will gain from them.

I always give them a selection of veg, but I find if there's something they "don't like" they will often leave it, eat their favourites first, then go back to what they "don't like" and eat it anyway. Certainly with my guys, it's not a case of not liking it, it's a case of chosing to eat their favourites first.

Keep trying your pigs with new foods. Offer it to them, leave it in there and see if they eat it. If they don't eat it, it's not going to do them any harm as long as they have plenty of hay available and a good quality dry food for vit C. You'll often find if there's nothing else available, they'll eat it then think hmm, this isn't so bad after all!

 

[AnnaB]

when introducing new foods to my guys (they are older!) I only offer them a small amount of one new food at a time. That way, if anyone has a reaction to it, its minimised. The chances of them reacting to it are slim anyway but it's just something I do with all my animals.

My pigs obviously prefer some veg over others, but there's some things I want them to eat for the nutrients that they will gain from them.

I always give them a selection of veg, but I find if there's something they "don't like" they will often leave it, eat their favourites first, then go back to what they "don't like" and eat it anyway. Certainly with my guys, it's not a case of not liking it, it's a case of chosing to eat their favourites first.

Keep trying your pigs with new foods. Offer it to them, leave it in there and see if they eat it. If they don't eat it, it's not going to do them any harm as long as they have plenty of hay available and a good quality dry food for vit C. You'll often find if there's nothing else available, they'll eat it then think hmm, this isn't so bad after all!

I agree with person above, mine are like that too.
They are only young about 14-18 weeks old, they are fussy too! all they want is broccoli.
I have noticed mine wont touch certain food if its not chopped in fine pieces, they hate big chunks of (carrot, apple, cucumber, peppers...)
I give them abit of everything, they eat their favs first, and eventually go back to the rest and eat it anyway.

dont think they are hungry, and just give them a selection and leave them to it

good luck.