How much

[lastgirl]

Just checking - should the nugget bowl constantly have something in? Not 100% sure how much I should be feeding.

Currently doing fresh hay daily and a big veg pile - plus hand fed veg snacks through the day to help get them used to me.

Have only just got the girls and trying to get a routine going.

I have a big hay area in the cage (indoor) but they lay it flat / wee / poo and eat it - should I try to fit a second area in as they are peeing on it too? I am changing it each evening and throwing in a fresh handful each morning too.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

I tend to put two handfuls in for my two guineas and they snack on it through the day. They dont finish it all, but they wouldn't eat it in one go like veggies.

If your guineas are running out of nuggets WELL before the day is out I would be tempted to give a half a handful more each day and see how they go over 2 or 3 days.. If your putting in more and they're still wolfing it down you will need to consult the producers feeding guidelines.. they may have recommended amounts per weight of pig. I find different nuggets fill my guineas to different degrees so it's hard to say a certain amount, though no doubt some of the veterans on this site will have an estimate which is appropriate despite the ranges of products out there!

good luck!

 

[Jerrybelly]

How old are the piggies? Young pigs should have unlimited nuggets, but this should be reduced as they get older. 80% of their diet should be hay - nuggets and veg should form only a very small part of their daily food intake. If they fill up on veggies and nuggets then they will be less likely to eat the hay. A small cup of veg per pig, per day is plenty.

 

[lastgirl]

Thank you both . . . they are about 10 months I believe.
I would say the veg works out about right, I reckon what I put in is a cup each. Nuggets about empty by 9pm.

 

[MargaretB]

In relation to the hay question, I feed hay in a hay rack and I find that my two pull out what they want to eat and also some to lay on. They have a couple of small handfuls of nuggets each day and a pile of veg twice a day.

 

[missybct]

I'm another who uses a hay rack - ours are very funny about using it and tend to stand up to get the hay off the top rather than nibble on the stalks that poke out of the sides (silly guineas) so we also put a pile in the corner of a cage - normally this gets laid on so is disposed of, but they like to be comfortable on it so don't mind so much. I would definitely invest in a rack or a ball where you can put it in away from the floor so it doesn't get soiled.

I think guineas really do vary on how much they eat pellets - ours go through phases of eating lots and then not really touching them for a while - none of them are ill and they are all putting on weight. Same with hay - sometimes they can munch through absolutely tonnes and other times I only have to give an extra handful a day. Guinea pig food products usually have a recommended daily allowance so make sure you don't exceed it.