How Much Food?

[Sarah-jane]

I was just wondering how much veg to feed 1 guinea pig. At the moment I've been giving mine 1 thing, like a piece of lettuce, a celery stick or a handful of spinach around 4 times a day, so he gets a variety.
I spread it out so he has a treat every now and then rather than him having it all in one go. I'm concerned about him becoming a little fatso.
I know that a cup is recommended for about 2 guinea pigs.
He has plenty of hay and food.

 

[Wiebke]

We recommend about ca. 50g = 1 cupful of mixed veg per piggy per day. It doesn't matter in how many servings.
Please include one high vitamin C veg or fresh herb every day, like a slice of pepper of any colour, a floret or piece of chunk of broccoli or a sprig of fresh coriander, parsley, dill, mint or basil. Please vary between these.
Here is a list of which veg he can eat: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

 

[salembinx]

We recommend about ca. 50g = 1 cupful of mixed veg per piggy per day. It doesn't matter in how many servings.
Please include one high vitamin C veg or fresh herb every day, like a slice of pepper of any colour, a floret or piece of chunk of broccoli or a sprig of fresh coriander, parsley, dill, mint or basil. Please vary between these.
Here is a list of which veg he can eat: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

Think my piggies eat more than that. oh dear but they don't eat many pellets . One piggies fine the other is a limitless chunky but he has lost a little wieght since I changed the bowl to a smaller one lol xx

 

[Sarah-jane]

Ok thanks. I'll feed him a little more now. His brother used to eat all the food so that's probably why he feels heavier. Think I used to feed them too much. They love munching on the left over broccoli stalks.

 

[Wiebke]

The best food ratio is about 80% hay, 10-15% fresh veg (fruit and/or tomato only twice a week) and 5-10% pellets.

Guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism, so with a good diet and regular exercise, their body weight will regulate itself if you have been overfeeding. make sure that you feed veg and pellets in bowls that are spaced at least a body length apart if you have a food hogger!

 

[Sarah-jane]

I'll keep in mind about spacing them apart in t he future. I don't need to worry about that at the moment as he's on his own.
I didn't know that about the fast metabolism, so that's good to know.
Just recently he's been doing a bit more exercise, I've been opening the cage so he can explore the living room, and to keep him from being bored. He loves being nosey.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I don't think it's veg that makes them put on weight, obviously too much veg would equal a runny tummy so it's best not to overfeed, Wiebke has given you an idea of what is a good amount of veg per day. It's pellets/dry food that puts weight on; the bags often say 25-40g a day per piggy, far too much in my opinion, unless yours are babies then don't feed unlimited pellets. My 3 adults only get 10g of pellets a day each, split into 2, morning & evening, after their veg & unlimited hay

 

[Sarah-jane]

Cool thanks. I assumed it would be be veg that would make him put on weight, so that's good to know. I h ave 2 bowls and put a small amount in each one, he never really eats it all anyway, and prefers munching on the hay.