Is My Pig Growing Normally?

[Xojulialeeox]

I have two pigs, one of which i got about a month & a half ago and the other i got a couple weeks ago.
My first pig (Piggy), seems to be growing a lot slower than my second pig (Boo).
I'm unsure of their ages, however if i had to guess, i'd say they were both about 2-3 mos when i got them.
Piggy started out at about 498 grams, and is now up to 558 grams.
But Boo started out at 556 grams and is now at 674 grams.
Piggy doesn't look very skinny. I give him unlimited Oxbow Young Guinea Pig pellets, unlimited Timothy hay, and a variety of veggies twice a day.
I'm just wondering if this slow weight gain is normal or if i should be concerned.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

In my opinion you shouldn't be too concerned as despite the lower weight, Piggy has still gained weight. It's rather like us, we all have different weights and piggies are like that too. It's possible that Piggy may be from a different litter also and slightly younger or a different breed. Hope this helps I'll tag @Wiebke who will probably give you a clearer response

 

[Wiebke]

I have two pigs, one of which i got about a month & a half ago and the other i got a couple weeks ago.
My first pig (Piggy), seems to be growing a lot slower than my second pig (Boo).
I'm unsure of their ages, however if i had to guess, i'd say they were both about 2-3 mos when i got them.
Piggy started out at about 498 grams, and is now up to 558 grams.
But Boo started out at 556 grams and is now at 674 grams.
Piggy doesn't look very skinny. I give him unlimited Oxbow Young Guinea Pig pellets, unlimited Timothy hay, and a variety of veggies twice a day.
I'm just wondering if this slow weight gain is normal or if i should be concerned.

Hi! Please don't be concerned and don't be tempted to overfeed, especially not on unlimited pellets and fatty/sugary veg. As long as you feed a diet of unlimited hay (which should make around 80% of the daily food intake), your little ones will eventually reach their own genetically determined weight and size, and be fit and healthy.

Please feed pellets and veg in portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per piggy to prevent food hogging. Remove the bowls between meals to encourage your piggies to eat hay, hay, hay.

The more starchy/sugary and fatty food you feed (grain and alfalfa based pellets, root veg, sweet corn and too much fruit), the quicker your babies grow, but the sooner their quick growth phase will stop and they will start to grow fat and not fit instead. Guinea pigs have evolved on a nutritionally rather poor diet; that is what they flourish on. They reach a mature, hormonally more settled adulthood at around 15 months, so there is a long way to go yet.

The weights are both fine. You will notice that the weight difference will grow rather diminish as they get older. The top pig will always have a bit extra. However, as long as both have a good heft (see the weighing link below how you measure a good weight/size ratio), are lively and happy, there is nothing for you to worry about.
I've had a pair of sisters that ended up with a 500g difference in weight at their peak, yet both had a good, long life - and it was the smaller, energetic one who ran the big group!

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

 

[Xojulialeeox]

Hi! Please don't be concerned and don't be tempted to overfeed, especially not on unlimited pellets and fatty/sugary veg. As long as you feed a diet of unlimited hay (which should make around 80% of the daily food intake), your little ones will eventually reach their own genetically determined weight and size, and be fit and healthy.

Please feed pellets and veg in portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per piggy to prevent food hogging. Remove the bowls between meals to encourage your piggies to eat hay, hay, hay.

The more starchy/sugary and fatty food you feed (grain and alfalfa based pellets, root veg, sweet corn and too much fruit), the quicker your babies grow, but the sooner their quick growth phase will stop and they will start to grow fat and not fit instead. Guinea pigs have evolved on a nutritionally rather poor diet; that is what they flourish on. They reach a mature, hormonally more settled adulthood at around 15 months, so there is a long way to go yet.

The weights are both fine. You will notice that the weight difference will grow rather diminish as they get older. The top pig will always have a bit extra. However, as long as both have a good heft (see the weighing link below how you measure a good weight/size ratio), are lively and happy, there is nothing for you to worry about.
I've had a pair of sisters that ended up with a 500g difference in weight at their peak, yet both had a good, long life - and it was the smaller, energetic one who ran the big group!

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

Thank you very much, that makes me feel a lot better!

 

[Freela]

Pigs have different adult sizes, and since both pigs are gaining I wouldn't be too concerned. It's possible that your larger pig is just genetically destined to be bigger. I've had pigs with adult weights from under 2 pounds to over 3 pounds on the same diet... all healthy, just very different body types and bone structures. You may find they end up different sizes naturally, or you may find that your smaller pig 'catches up' if he or she is younger or has a bit more growing time to do. Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Xojulialeeox]

Thank you, I appreciate your reply!

 

[pnwgranny]

Hi! Please don't be concerned and don't be tempted to overfeed, especially not on unlimited pellets and fatty/sugary veg. As long as you feed a diet of unlimited hay (which should make around 80% of the daily food intake), your little ones will eventually reach their own genetically determined weight and size, and be fit and healthy.

Please feed pellets and veg in portions that can be eaten in one go 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per piggy to prevent food hogging. Remove the bowls between meals to encourage your piggies to eat hay, hay, hay.

The more starchy/sugary and fatty food you feed (grain and alfalfa based pellets, root veg, sweet corn and too much fruit), the quicker your babies grow, but the sooner their quick growth phase will stop and they will start to grow fat and not fit instead. Guinea pigs have evolved on a nutritionally rather poor diet; that is what they flourish on. They reach a mature, hormonally more settled adulthood at around 15 months, so there is a long way to go yet.

The weights are both fine. You will notice that the weight difference will grow rather diminish as they get older. The top pig will always have a bit extra. However, as long as both have a good heft (see the weighing link below how you measure a good weight/size ratio), are lively and happy, there is nothing for you to worry about.
I've had a pair of sisters that ended up with a 500g difference in weight at their peak, yet both had a good, long life - and it was the smaller, energetic one who ran the big group!

The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

TY I needed this information also and I am doing it right.