How long to introduce new food?

[neuroticmum]

Hi, when I adpoted by two boys about a month ago they were eating Gerty museli but I read this wasnt good for them so bought the Excel Supa Guinea Pig Nuggets, I started off mixing it in with the Gerty and gradually changed the ratios until they are now on the nuggets alone, trouble is it has been about a week now and they definately don't seem to be eating it, it usually ends up all over the floor, I've also tried the Blackcurrant and Oregano nuggets too but same outcome with those too.

The boys do seem hungry and keep begging me for more veggies and I'm concerned that they're not eating enough of their dried food. i don't want to starve them (bad mum!) but want to "encourage them" to eat their nuggets.

Is 1 week long enough to give it before throwing the towel in and trying something else? Or should I persevere for longer..?

:...

 

[Wiebke]

I have had to hold out for about three weeks on a Gertie addict once! I fed a bit more vitamin C rich veg and herbs like coriander (which you can fed daily), parsley, dill, basil etc. (which you should not give daily).

However, in countries on the continent like Germany for instance, the use of muesli is discouraged and guinea pigs there live as healthy and as long without pellets as they do with pellets in Britain. :{

What I do nowadays, is just sprinkle a touch of muesli to the pellets I feed. It is a compromise between happy piggies and a conscience I can live with!

Up to 80% of the daily food intake should be hay, anyway, so pellets make only about 10-15% of a diet. Your piggies are probably not hungry, just asking for their preferred muesli back!

 

[neuroticmum]

Thanks for that, 3 weeks seems a long time to hold out, not sure I'll manage that, am already feeling bad!

Will give it a few more days and maybe up the veg too as you suggest, just for my own peace of mind, it's so hard not to feel guilty when the boys are pleading with me...:red