How long did it take your piggies to get used to veg?

suzyhenke · Sep 17, 2013

After finding out that guinea pigs can't have frozen food (my BIG mistake and I only thank God that I only did it a few times) I went shopping to get fresh veg and fruit. I gave them celery, cucumber, carrot, tomato and a tiny bowl with a strawberry, apple and raspberry.
Anyway they don't seem very happy with me, they seem scared to go near their fresh food bowls and have gone back to hiding. They won't even touch the fresh broccoli, rocket or cauliflower that they used to eat.
They are just eating the science selective nuggets and hay. I feel like they are in a mood with me and keep begging me for food, even though all bowls are full as are the hay racks. I feel awful, but will not resort ever to frozen food again. How long will it take them to get used to it? I even tried hand feeding them, but they are having none of it!

I know I did a really bad thing by using frozen food and corrected it as soon as I found out. As a new owner I really thought it was all pretty much the same. Any tips I would really welcome. Thanks x

piggyfan · Sep 17, 2013

This is normal with piggies. It can take them a while to recognise vegetables are food and learn how to eat them. It took Amina about a month to eat vegetables as she had not been fed them before.

suzyhenke · Sep 17, 2013

piggyfan said:
This is normal with piggies. It can take them a while to recognise vegetables are food and learn how to eat them. It took Amina about a month to eat vegetables as she had not been fed them before.

Thanks, I will keep putting them in and they will get used to it I'm sure. George actually went up and picked a bit up and then ran away with it in his pigloo so it's a step in the right direction. I just need to figure out how best to keep all the veggies. I bought some air tight containers to put it into and then into the fridge as that is what the packaging said. I think I need a bigger fridge as most of the food in their is for my boys!

jenniferanneharris · Sep 17, 2013

ep it can take a little while for piggies to get used to somthing. I'm sure after a few times they will get used to the veg :-)

piggyfan · Sep 17, 2013

Why not buy it twice a week if it is not keeping?

suzyhenke · Sep 17, 2013

piggyfan said:
Why not buy it twice a week if it is not keeping?

I probably will do, but I don't want to have to throw away a lot as the veggies I bought were expensive. As soon as I know what they will eat I will be buying twice a week in smaller portions. I ended up going a little crazy this week. At least they seem to like the carrot I put on top.

dancegal · Sep 17, 2013

I found mine kept really well in the fridge as they were, had some that lasted over a week, found clingfilm works on cucumber and last longer, end still goes try but just cut a small slice off and all the rest is fine and still really fresh

kimlou5288 · Sep 17, 2013

Maybe just try a 1 or 2 things at a time, mine have never been interested in fruit apart from the odd slice of apple they like. And not over keen on broccoli but they will have a bit. Carrots, Kale and Peppers are always a hit !
I'm sure it wont take them long

suzyhenke · Sep 17, 2013

Thanks for the tips, will try the clingfilm, fingers crossed x Have some peppers in too so will have to try the basic few and see.

Hermes · Sep 17, 2013

You could also try a mixing things up such as putting everything in the same bowl or putting in a cardboard box filled with hay, some pellets and some chopped veg. I think they feel safer if they can hide away whilst eating and are more inclined to try things, also if the veg and other food is mixed together they may start to associate the veg with 'safe' food and take a nibble. You could also mix veg in with fresh grass and things like herbs and dandelion leaves, they can't seem to resist grass.

Nicola_ · Sep 17, 2013

Maybe try some more leafy veg like coriander and lettuce (not iceberg). My guys seem to love anything leafy, they also seem to love babycorn. They've not been too keen on peppers but I'm persevering mainly cos I bought so many!

Good luck, I know how stressful it can be - I got stupidly excited last night when I saw one of mine eating hay and then when I was trying to sleep I heard the water bottle going!