I'm new! Help please

[Mummy2Jayden]

Hello all!

I'm new here and new to owning guinea pigs! I'm the proud new owner of two gorgeous 7 week old guineas, I got them two days ago and they now seem to be settling in well but I have a couple of questions if someone could help me please...

1. I'm rather worried that since they come to their new home they havent drunk any water what so ever is there anything I can do about it or will they simply just drink when they want?

2. They dont seem to be eating much dried food at all, I got given the food they have been having since birth and mixing it with burgess pellets but they dont seem to be eating. Today I gave them a mixture of brocolli, apple, grapes and tomato of which they pretty much wolfed the whole lot so I'm guessing they are hungry! Am i worrying too much?

3. with regards to vitamin c I have been putting it in the water but obviously they dont seem to be drinking at the moment so is there any other way I can make sure they get this

Thanks in advance for any replies x

 

[Abi_nurse]

Dont panic about the water, they will drink when they are ready. Just to be sure makes sure you give them some watery veg like cucumber or celery. If they arent eating much dry then they may not drink as much. If your really worried you can always try giving a bowl of water?

Have they got hay? Its more important than anything. What were the babies on at the breeders? petshop? wherever they were. Maybe keep them on this until they are a little older and then change them over to excel?

No need for adding vit C if they are getting plenty of veg. Any once they are eating pellets etc they will certainly be getting enough.

Hope this helps a little. Enjoy your piggies. And welcome to the forum.

xx.

 

[Mummy2Jayden]

Thanks for your reply. They have got unlimited amounts of good quality hay which they are going through like no bodys business!

Shall I keep adding vit c to the water or is there no need?

 

[Salt n Peppers mum]

Hello p

And welcome to the forum

Just want to echo Abi_nurse post above.

Vitamin C in the water - guinea pigs may refuse or reduce their consumption of water with added vitamin C due to the taste, so I'd leave it out.
Give them a variety of daily veggies to meet their vitamin C needs, here is a long list of veggies piggies can be offered.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

Your piggies should have lots and lots of hay all the time, 24/7

Give your new piggies time to settle in, here is some great information how to make it easier and to help tame new piggies.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239

Look forward to hear how they are getting on

p

 

[Rilenceny]

Vitamin C should not be dropped into the water at all - It kills the natural goodness of H2O, not to mention it changes the taste and the Cavies won't like it. Vitamin C degrades with time too, and you cannot track how much they're getting. The taste changing thing might be the reason why they're not drinking at all.

Please provide unlimited Timothy hay 24/7 as they need it to keep their molar short and to keep their gut going.

It's good to know that they're eating their greens though.