I'm Confused

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1stTimePiggieOwner

1stTimePiggieOwner

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Hi Everyone,

I said in the "Introductions" forum that I'd be asking lots of questions so here goes..

I'm very confused about food and veggies. I only got my boys at the weekend and they are the first piggies I've ever had so I'm very new to all this. I've read lots of bits and bobs on the internet but I'm finding I'm getting very confused with what to give the boys, how often and how much.

At the moment we are giving a bowl full of dried nuggets each day which the boys don't seem to be eating much of although I have seen Guinness eat a little bit and the bowl does seem to be going down slightly so they must be eating some of them. They also have a constant supply of hay, but I've only seen Bailey eat this, Guinness really doesn't seem bothered and even Bailey isn't eating very much of it.

What else should I give them and how much and how often?

Yesterday we tried them with a little cucumber which they really really loved and they ate a fairly thick slice each. Today we've tried them with broccoli which they both enjoyed and carrot which Bailey seemed to really like but Guinness wasn't really fussed, he did eat some but not much.

I thought I'd try some peppers tomorrow as I know they need their vitamin C.

I'm not sure whether I should introduce these foods more slowly or what as I'm not sure if they've been given veggies before or just dry food. I'm also not sure how much veg I should be giving them each day? And also whether I should limit certain foods? What can I give daily and what should be less often?

I'm sorry...sooooooooooooo many questions and "I'm not sures" but I want to get it right and makes sure my little boys are healthy and happy and I'm so confused now as the things I'm reading keep contridicting each other.

Thank you!

Also, I've noticed that Guinness is drinking quite a bit, he's at the water bottle fairly often but I haven't seen Bailey with it all. He might use it whilst we're out or in bed I guess but I've not seen him and the amount of water doesn't seem to go down very much. Is this normal?

Thank you!
 
Hello, welcome.

I don't have all the answers, someone on here will, but my piggies eat about as much as you can throw at them (thats a joke, before anyone gets upset) They have a small handfull of Burgess Supa Guinea each in the bowl and I put in lots of things like carrot, cucumber, cabbage is a favourite, fruits like strawbs and rasps. They generally go mad for it for about 10 mins then they leave the rest which gets slowly eaten up over the next day or so. They all have their different favourites and eating routines.

I also have little things from time to time to gnaw on and stuff to nibble, banana chips and such, which seem to dissapear in a day or so.

As far as water goes I've noticed that my boy pigs don't drink anywhere near as much as my girl pigs. Some people will try to tell you that guinea pigs don't need water (bad pet shops usualy) this isn't the case but I don't think there is a set amount. Keep your eye on them both for signs of dehydration but I would think that as long as they look healthy for now, let them settle in fully before worrying too much. My new girls took quite a while to figure out the water bottle.

Hope that helps but I'm sure someone else will have more advice.

Good luck with the piggies.
 
People tell you to do different things. I am following Peter Gurney's advice (He has some brilliant books on the proper care of guinea pigs).

I feed mine mixed chopped veg twice a day and from there you can tell what they like and don't like. There is a post at the top of the page here about what's good to feed every day.

I also feed Burgess excel guinea food as it's complete and the vitamin c is protected. Plus they can't only pick out bits like they can in museli based food.

The pet shop I bought my very first guinea pig supplies from (and got some bad advice from) told me to feed museli, bed them on sawdust / wood chippings and treat veggies like sweets - feed twice weekly. I don't go there any more.

Timothy hay is better than meadow hay (I think).

But different people do different things. Maybe get a peter gurney book, you can find them on amazon and ebay or in good book shops.
 
have to agree with both posts.

Mine have hay and piggy food for their breakfast, then loads of mixed veg/salad and fruit for their tea.

Mine like, cabbage, cauli, brocoli, bean sprouts, red cabbage, peppers, carrots, apples, lettuce, cucumber, and spinach.
 
Have a look on here at what you can feed: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread?t=42
For a balanced diet:
http://theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread?t=30297

Piggies have pretty individual tastes, some are scoffers and others are very choosy.

The best way is to introduce one new veg at a time, so they can get used to it. If they don't eat it, leave it lying around for a day, so they can get used to the smell and texture. Then try again the following week - a bit like getting children to eat their greens!

Give about one small bowl of five mixed veg per pig twice daily.
They'll come around to eating pellets (it takes up to three weeks to get them to accept a change of brand) and hay!

Some young guinea pigs haven't figured out how to drink from the bottle, so having a small drip dish underneath with a bit of regularly changed water in it would be ideal.
 
Thanks so much for all the replies.

I really didn't realise that they eat so much veg, I think i'm going to enjoy this 'menu planning'! That thread about balanced diets looks brilliant, I'm far too tired to digest all that info now though so will give it a thorough read through tomorrow- thank you!

I will put a bowl of water in the cage too then.

Is it ok to give them some fresh veg in the morning before I go to work and leave it in there till I come home in the evening and give them their second meal. It won't go off will it?

Thanks very much, off to bed now! Night all!
 
No guinea pigs are grazers, so they are used to eating at intervalls. You will find that food won't last for long once they get used to it. And no, it won't go off in a few hours!
 
Thanks Vicky, Is it obvious yet that I'm a worrier? I'm terrible! Only got a few minutes before I go to work but I appear to be gettting a little addicted to this forum so wanted to have a read through the balanced diet thread. I think I will need to re-read it as it's quite complex but it's very very helpful!

Bailey is currently munching his way through some hay and I Guinness hasn't even popped out the house to say Good Morning, eh well I've only had them for 4 days so I think they're doing brilliantly.

Thanks again for all the help
 
My 2 get a bowl of dried nuggets - which is filled up at night again. They have a constant supply of hay but they don't always eat it, they go through phases but as long as it is there for them, it's up to them. Then they get a bowl of mixed veg at night - with sometimes a little bit of fruit for pudding.

Mine always go through phases with whatever I give them - sometimes they drink loads of water, other times they hardly touch it. They're like that with food too.

It is good fun deciding what veg they are getting that night for dinner.
 
My girls get given their nuggets when my partner gets home from work that was they don't just associate me with food. The veggies get drip fed to them throughout the day because i spend lots of time at home so veggies start at about 10 and then go through till chris gets home and then they have a small pile for bedtime snack. They also have hay which gets filled up once they have finished it or they just pick out all the best bits.
 
Hello you x

Its so exciting isnt it getting new piggies ! You are going to enjoy them sooo much !

Every piggie is different so spend a bit of time watching your piggies to learn about them and see what is normal for them. It's things like change of appitite and water consumption that can indicate illness so get to know them xx

Also, if your piggies are new then they will be very shy and wont want to move around to get food and water so give them a few days to settle in and all will be ok. Once they learn who you are they will come up to the cage each morning and greet you - Poppy shouts each time I open the fridge . . .

If you got your piggies from a pet shop, the chances are they have never had fresh veggies before so wont know what they are - it is going to be fun exploring what they like and what they dont but let them try as much as possible. I think popular likes are cucumber, spinich, kale, my girls like tomato - lettuce etc. Always make sure there is a bowl of dry food, too much vege can make them get poorly bottoms at first so keep an eye on the poops. If there slightly runny then lay of veges for a day or two.

Good luck with your piggies - People dont realise how good a pet they make until they have them !
 
Thanks again for all of your replies.

Well today they have tried a little green pepper, which Bailey dived straight in for
(and took it from my hand- yay!!) but Guinness was really not so keen.

I think for the next few days I will just offer 1 or 2 different veggies a day in small amounts whilst they get used to eating different foods because I don't want them to get tummy upsets. Does that sound ok?

Then maybe after a week or so I will start providing a small bowl of mixed veggies once a day and then build that up to a small bowl of veggies twice a day once they seem to be used to them and are showing no signs of being ill with them. Do you think this is alright?

They are a right pair and seem to be coming out a little bit more now although are still wary of me when I put my hand in but I always offer food and I was soooooo happy when Bailey nibbled the pepper from my had today. Tehy seem to hop about quite a lot and kind of jump over each other, is this normal? I can't work out if they're cross with each other or if they're playing.

Thanks again.
 
You can up the quantity every day now; just add one more new veg each day to the ones they are already eating until you have reached the full portion. That should be enough to keep them from having problems.

You usually get tummy upsets if a young guinea pig has never had any veg at all in its life and is hit with a full portion at once.

Guiness will catch up when the "are you having anything better than me?" reflex kicks in!
 
Thanks again Vicky. I'll do as you suggest then. I just want to make sure I do everything right for my little boys.

Is it normal that they kind of scramble and jump over each other whilst they're hopping about in their cage? I hope they're just playing and being ordinary guinea's but I'm not sure. They don't seem to be fighting but kust want to make sure.
 
They are just playing - and that they are doing this (popcorning) means that they are settling in and are happy where they are! VERY good sign! :)):)):))
 
I wake up and feed the girls their veggies, check the pellets, give more hay, change the water.... then i'm out of the house for a good 10 hours. I come home, give them more veggies/hay and they seem great. They have really become porkers lately...its good to get a kitchen food scale...then you can be sure that they are gaining weight and it will help you see instead of just 'thinking' they are. Good luck and have fun Menu Planning! I love it!
 
Sorry, I'm here again with another question. I feel a right dunce!

How do I weigh them? Can I just put them on the scales on a towel or something? I'm not sure they'd sit still on them just at the moment as they're still very nervous?

Sorry!
 
Its best with kitchen scales,my fave ones are the ones that have high sides so it prevents escaping,you could sit on the carpet and weigh them for there safety incase they try to jump x
 
I use the cracked plastic bowl from my old kitchen scales strictly for the piggies; but any oval plasic dish will do fine. Put a rag or some kitchen paper in the bottom for grip and press for 0 before you put the (usually not very delighted) piggy in. With little ones that can't sit still, it's enough to get a rough idea, as long as the trend is pointing upwards.

Always weigh at the same time of the day.
 
Thank you ladies, I might try to weigh them tonight then when I get home from work and my partner is here to give me a hand or in the morning when theres no rush, then at least I will know they are putting on some weight, although they seem to be eating for england now so i'm presuming all is well! I think I'm going to need shares in a hay supplier! LOL

Thanks x
 
:)):)):)):)):)) your telling me,i brought the oxbow range hay in those little bags and between 8 piggies i have gone through 35 pounds worth of hay in 5 days:...,its very expensive here as its imported from USArolleyes
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
:)):)):)):)):)) your telling me,i brought the oxbow range hay in those little bags and between 8 piggies i have gone through 35 pounds worth of hay in 5 days:...,its very expensive here as its imported from USArolleyes
Click to expand...


OH MY GOODNESS! £35! Thats a lot of £££. But you know you don't mind, the piggies come first as I'm learning very very quickly, the boys are soooooo cute I can't possibly deny them of anything.
 
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