Just hay and grain during coronavirus lockdown?

[Radiant313]

Hello!

I'm wondering what other guinea pig parents are doing during the coronavirus lockdown? Where I live (northeastern US), we are only going out for groceries every few weeks, as infrequently as possible, to avoid exposure to covid-19. So far we have been lucky with picking up several large packages of leafy greens/spring mix each time, but we are down to 1 package now. We have plenty of carrots, bell peppers, and even a small apple. Luckily, we also have 3.5 large bags of their favorite timothy hay and a full bag of their grain (Oxbow Garden Select pellets).

How long could our piggies safely go without fresh leafy veggies? Could grass possibly sustain them (once it starts growing--we're still experiencing snow and freezing temperatures where I am)? They love their veggies and the leafies are their favorite! But they also love their hay and grain, and are often just as excited about these when I feed them everything together.

We have two female piggies, 2 years old and 1.5 years old, sweet and fat girls. Thank you so much for any advice!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi. Hay is the most important part of their diet and should be at least 80% of what they eat, so it is good that you are well stocked up. It is also very important that they get vitamin C in their daily diet because like humans they can't make or store it in their bodies. All fresh veggies contain vit C in various amounts, carrots are at the lower end but bell peppers are an excellent sorse. Fresh grass is also excellent, it is what they have evolved to eat, just be careful to introduce it gradually when it starts to grow, as too much too soon can cause bloat (as can any sudden change to their diet). The oxbow pellets you use will also contain bit C but it is unstable in this form so can't be relied on.
I am also unable to get the usual quantities of green veg I feed to my piggies so they are getting more carrot than I would otherwise be feeding, which is fine in the current situation, rationed greens and so far just very small amounts of grass as it has barely started to grow where I live.
I think your piggies will be just fine. Keep safe x

 

[Shelley anne]

Grass is an excellent food. you could also give dandelion, plantain, clover and many other weeds, that's when the weather is fine of course. I would recommend to research what weeds to feed first to be safe though.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Can you get out and do a little foraging for grass and dandelion leaves

 

[PigglePuggle]

Have you thought about planting a few fast growing things for your piggies to eat? I have planted a mix of grass, clover, coriander and parsley seeds in these little window box planters on all my windowsills, just in case we cant get any fresh veg...

 

[Radiant313]

Thank you so much for the lovely ideas, everyone! We live in the country and have a large yard (~3 acres) and during the warm months, lots and lots of grass! I love the idea of picking dandelions and clover for them when it grows, too. I will give them a few grass blades I found growing today with their leafies and see what they think.

 

[Swissgreys]

But in the meantime you are doing a great job and all guinea pig pellets are enriched with Vitamin C, so they will be fine if you can't get them their usual fresh for a while.