Is This a Good Diet for Young Pigs.

[Piggie Life]

I have two 8 week old sisters and I currently feed them:

Unlimited Burgess Excel Nuggets (I'm going to change to Oxbow Cavy Performance as they don't touch their current food)

Unlimited Alfalfa Hay

Unlimited Fresh Water

Fruit & Veg in the afternoon (usually their Pignic consists of Romaine Lettucee, Carrots, Curly Kale, Broccoli Stalk, Apple)

Occasional handful of fresh grass

Occasional treats such as dried dandelions, Boredom Breakers Nature's Salad.

Is this a good balanced diet?

 

[flintstones]

Your diet sounds very good, however I would be weary of feeding unlimited alpha hay and would perhaps feed a handful a day of alpha as it can cause bladder problems in future. I would however feed UNLIMITED grass hay timothy and orchard grass are popular.

Information taken from GL; http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html#hay

Alfalfa hay can be given to young guinea pigs, pregnant, nursing or malnourished adults. But because of its high calcium content, alfalfa should be reserved as a treat for the average adult cavy. Excess calcium could contribute to the formation of bladder stones in older cavies. Remember that alfalfa is NOT a replacement for grass hay, but can be used to supplement the diet of some pigs. Grass hay should always be available to all cavies.

 

[Piggie Life]

Your diet sounds very good, however I would be weary of feeding unlimited alpha hay and would perhaps feed a handful a day of alpha as it can cause bladder problems in future. I would however feed UNLIMITED grass hay timothy and orchard grass are popular.

Information taken from GL; http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html#hay

Alfalfa hay can be given to young guinea pigs, pregnant, nursing or malnourished adults. But because of its high calcium content, alfalfa should be reserved as a treat for the average adult cavy. Excess calcium could contribute to the formation of bladder stones in older cavies. Remember that alfalfa is NOT a replacement for grass hay, but can be used to supplement the diet of some pigs. Grass hay should always be available to all cavies.

Yeah but they are growing and GL advising to give it to growing Pigs. I will switch over to Timothy when they become adults !

 

[flintstones]

Yeah but they are growing and GL advising to give it to growing Pigs. I will switch over to Timothy when they become adults !

I was always under the impression it was to be fed alongside timothy or orchard grass not as an only hay of course I could be wrong! Having had a pig with Chronic bladder problems alpha is something I'm very weary about and I spend most of my time avoiding it.

I would be really interested in other people's opinions to, as I don't know and can't see anything about feeding it unlimited on GL. However it must be costing you a fortune as Alpha is quite expensive!

 

[gpmomma]

Change the all alfalfa to half Timothy with half alfalfa for your growing pigs.

 

[Piggie Life]

I was always under the impression it was to be fed alongside timothy or orchard grass not as an only hay of course I could be wrong! Having had a pig with Chronic bladder problems alpha is something I'm very weary about and I spend most of my time avoiding it.

I would be really interested in other people's opinions to, as I don't know and can't see anything about feeding it unlimited on GL. However it must be costing you a fortune as Alpha is quite expensive!

Yes you're right, I've just looked for info online and it basically says that young pigs should have unlimited orchard / meadow / timothy hay and a handful of Alfalfa a day. Thanks very much for informing me as alfalfa has a very high calcium content and can cause bladder stones as you said .