Hadi
New Born Pup
How much hay do babies eat?
- Thread starter Hadi
- Start date
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
It’s not really possible to say. You can’t really measure hay intake by eye. The best way to know whether they’re eating enough hay is to weigh once a week at the same time in the feeding cycle. How have their weights been?
Hadi
New Born Pup
Weight has been gradually increasing, lots of poops daily, i think they might be picking out what they like and leaving the rest, i was just monitoring them on the petcam and they seem to be chomping down on hay but i can definitely see some picking a choosing of certain bits
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
That’s what all piggies do. They pick out certain strands and leave the rest. We don’t get it but there’s obviously something about those that they like 
I equate it to eating a sandwich but picking out the tomatoes because you don’t like them or they’re not the ones you like.
I equate it to eating a sandwich but picking out the tomatoes because you don’t like them or they’re not the ones you like.
You will find a lot of piggy keeping is throwing hay away!
As long as their weight is increasing then they are eating enough
Hi
You can't measure the hay intake by eye; especially as it varies individually quite a lot; I have cages where a big pile of hay disappears in a day and others where the same pile it still half there; it has nothing to do with health or longevity - the same as the water intake can vary enormously, too. It may be that you have unrealistic expectations.
You will get an idea of how much they eat normally and then adjust what you put out to a little more than that.
Your kitchen scales with a weekly weigh-in and a body onceover check will tell you whether your piggies are healthy in themselves and whether they are a healthy size/weight ratio at any age (heft or BMI - learning where to feel whether your piggies are under- or overweight).
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely (videos)
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
You only switch to weighing daily at the same time if your piggies are ill and may need feeding support during medical care and recovery. In this case, you will find all necessary information and practical how-to tips in the tow links below, which you may want to bookmark:
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike