Ideal Foods for bulking up

Status
Not open for further replies.
charlotte_alice

charlotte_alice

Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
236
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Ashford in Kent
Hey all - Fergie my lovely girl is getting a little bit bony, I have had her weighed and shes 1060g which is good, but she just feels....not very plump - she use to be a very big girl!

I have been advised to cut down on lettuce/cucumber and focus more on hay and grass, I have been trying this and they dont seem to be eating the hay, just playing in it.

Does anyone have any tips to help fatten a poor piggie up? :(
 
You can give her foods with more calories in to bulk her up a bit. Such as sweetcorn, chantany carrots (the little ones), peas etc. She may not like them all mind! Go for calories in the veg and some extra dried food.

(Bear in mind she may have lost a little weight through being warm, because it's summer time now, here in Britain anyhow.)
 
Thanks, I shall see what I can get, I think she may have suffered a little bit with worms, I missed a month out and they are out on the grass everyday, I mean she is coming up 4, could she just be getting older and thinner? :{:(
 
She could be Charlotte, Bupu went through similar and she is around 3 and a half 4 but she seems to be getitng better. There was no cause for her weight loss. Very strange.

I would also offer the dried food as well. That has helped Bupu bulk up. Corn I have heard helps but does make me laugh, its a veggie who would have thought it would make you pile on the pounds. :)
 
well I was going to go into town to Lidl this afternoon. they sometimes have offers on it. How often should it be fed? Do i feed it raw?
 
charlotte_alice said:
well I was going to go into town to Lidl this afternoon. they sometimes have offers on it. How often should it be fed? Do i feed it raw?
Click to expand...

what food are you reffering to? food should always be fed raw to piggies;)if its corn you are talking about i fed about 3/4 of a cob a day in 2-3 lots basically mine got small amounts of other veges and i got him to eat as much corn as he would take which is usually alot as its generally a fave amongst piggies,i know its alot but it really does work xxxxxxxxxx
 
Well I wasn't sure, I am not sure where to get it, I am guessing I can't feed it from a tin :red:red:red please forgive my naivity rolleyes:))
 
charlotte_alice said:
Well I wasn't sure, I am not sure where to get it, I am guessing I can't feed it from a tin :red:red:red please forgive my naivity rolleyes:))
Click to expand...

fresh corn only no tinned or cooked,
i usually buy mine with the husks and silks attached because husks(basically the corns skin) are great for bulking up too,
i am aware that over there members have said they are struggling to get corn with silks and husks so if you cant just get Baby corn as that works too;)i fed baby corn,corn kernals and husks just to make sure he bulked it on;)
 
I sometimes use broad bran - it does make the piggies thirsty, but i find it works pretty well - the other thing is chicory, but unless you can get it wholesale it is rather pricey!

Best of luck - Ali
 
well I gave Fergie & Audrina some sweetcorn on a cob tonight with some green beans (for a little variety) and they loved it xoxo this might work afterall!
 
There's a difference between putting on weight (bulk) and putting on condition. I'd be worried if she was losing weight substantially, has she had her teeth looked at? Whilst worming is good it is relatively uncommon for pigs to get worms unless you've got other animals grazing the land.

Teeth / mouth problems would make it harder for her to eat or to get the nutrients she needs, so it might be worth seeing the weight loss as a symptom and trying to find the cause or at least rule it out

Sophie
x
 
I have had her teeth checked and her wormer up to date, Val from April Lodge (very good rodent lady) said she believes its diet, |I mean both of them eat lots of hay and grass then i give them lettuce/cucumber which are known laxatives, so its almost going straight through.

the girls love the green beans and sweetcorn! rolleyesrolleyesrolleyes
 
Interesting thread, as I'm experiencing something similar:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31518

I've now ruled out teeth problems, and am hoping to be able to bulk Holly up with food (without making my fatty pig Cassie any porkier!) Am going to try giving her sneaky feeds of corn, and some extra dried food, if I can get her interested in something yummy/treat-like.

My lot get lettuce/cucumber a lot too.
 
well I am feeding them corn and giving them lots of hay but still its not working :o I had her teeth checked and she is fine, so I am going to try and get some nicer hay for them and maybe some readigrass and see where we go from there.
 
I find that excel herbage goes down well. I started to give my piggies that with normal hay but they leave the normal hay now! There are a few hays around with added dandelion etc.. which may encourage them to eat more hay. Or try meadow hay cookies they seem to go down fast as well!
 
Yeah i bought those cookie things today and the pair of them seemed to like it!

I am gonna get some readigrass and nice hay next week, so that should help. I might look into herbage, because the herbs are very good for them aren't they?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top