How Much Is Enough?

[Julia Rafferty]

I have two growing boys and I feel like I need them to have a better diet. They always go for their pellets, their hay, and then their veggies. Always in that order, and I’m not sure why. They love cucumbers so I give them six thick slices everyday. I also cut up a slice of squash and zucchini along with peppers and lettuce. Does this sound like enough? I usually only give them veg in the morning because the make a lot of noise while eating and I have a g-pa who can’t be woken up. Do you recommend any pellets or veggies? Also what is the weight to food ration that I should be giving them?

 

[Betsy]

Look at the guides at the top of the page and under diet guides there is a sample diet. Can't link it in this device.

 

[Merab]

Good advice given on the forum information threads.
So long as their diet is 80% hay then the balance is nuggets and a variety of veggies

 

[Wiebke]

I have two growing boys and I feel like I need them to have a better diet. They always go for their pellets, their hay, and then their veggies. Always in that order, and I’m not sure why. They love cucumbers so I give them six thick slices everyday. I also cut up a slice of squash and zucchini along with peppers and lettuce. Does this sound like enough? I usually only give them veg in the morning because the make a lot of noise while eating and I have a g-pa who can’t be woken up. Do you recommend any pellets or veggies? Also what is the weight to food ration that I should be giving them?

Hi! Please have a look at our diet guide; it has got a sample diet picture and a list of what you can feed how much and how often. I would recommend to reduce your veg; it is all very watery. Consider fresh herbs for trace elements, green beans, as well as a little greens or mild cabbage for magnesium.

Also do not feed unlimited pellets (see recommendations in our guide). I would recommend to feed veg and pellets in small portions that can be eaten in one sitting in a bowl each per piggy; then remove the bowl between meals. The alternative is to scatter feed, so they need to look around for the same amount of veg and pellets.

Not having pellets and veg available at all times encourages your piggies to eat what they should eat most over - hay hay hay. You can offer different hays; stalky timothy in a rack and soft meadow hay in a tray where they can burrow and sleep in (they will also use it for toiletting). Speciality hays make also a good and healthy treat; it is like eating cake or milk bread for us.

By not overfeeding on watery and sugary veg but serving a nutritionally balanced mix and going very lightly on pellets you can enhance the longevity of your piggies quite noticeably. Unless your piggies develop a major health problem or has an inherited issue, your piggies will hopefully go into the upper reaches of the average life span or even surpass it.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time