Need Some Insight Into Proper Amounts Pellets And Veggies Daily

[Ruth Anne Flear]

Hello everyone. I am new to piggie ownership and have noticed a white milky substance around Sir Strudel's cage. After doing some research it looks as if I have been feeding my piggie too many pellets. (Oxbow Essentials - Adult) The instructions I received from his last owner did not advise regarding amount per day. From what I have been reading the milky substance could come from the fact that I have been letting him binge eat on pellets (overdose of calcium) while also giving him Timothy hay, and have added a salad with carrot, cucumber and romaine lettuce. and unlimited fresh water. I am also going down the food list to find out what he likes and dislikes.

Does anyone have a daily feeding procedure they could share with me. I read that he should get 1/8 cup of the above pellets with salad greens and veggies daily? 1/8th cup seems so little?. I received a list of veggies and fruits but I still feel like it is a hit and miss.

Should I give him the 1/8th cup of pellets in the morning? then the rest of the day stretch out the veggies?

Thanks everyone.

 

[orangeinepig]

I have three guinea pigs and feed them each 1/8 a cup pellets each but it depend on how old the guinea pigs are to hoe much as when they are young they should have unlimited pellets I believe and about 1 cup of veg per pig. It is better if you can spread out the food through the day like twice a day

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Firstly - relax ! It is perfectly normal for guinea pigs to pee white stuff. Yes, this is the way they excrete calcium and yes too much calcium in their diet is not good. Generally, our advice is, if the pee dries to a chalky substance - this is acceptable. If the pee dries with something gritty in it, you need to consider adjusting their diet.

There are differences in opinion in how many pelllets to give - but definatley don't give more than it says on the packet ! Most people feel pellets should be restricted and an egg cup full per day is adequate.

Veg - yes- a cupful per pig per day is a good guide. I feed my pigs twice daily . I tend to use the daily veg on this link - with one extra from the list as a treat ...

Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

 

[biscandmatt]

i think 1/8 cup of pellets is the absolute max usually recommended, although less is better. basically for most healthy piggies, as close to feeding none as you can get.

veg wise - i feed a small amount twice each day. probably not a cup full each but not far off i'd say. you want a mainly leafy green selection with smaller amounts of non-leafy greens.

as said above, calcium stains are normal, especially after eating certain higher calcium veggies. but only thought to be a problem if they feel gritty. in that case you'd want to lower the calcium slightly.

 

[Elbie]

I feed Burgess excel and used to just put a couple of handfuls into a bowl for my 2 girls. They were.getting through a bowl every other day.

I worried I was feeding too much so looked to see what the packet said and weighed it out. Apparently the daily amount for both my girls qas about 3 handfuls a day! They're definitely not eating that much

So I feed about a handful a day of pellets and then they have roughly 100g veg a day to share (split into breakfast and dinner) then they have unlimited hay

 

[LozzyBee]

I came on to post a very similar question, so can't answer, but just to let you know I am as confused as you :-/

I've been giving 1/8th cup pellets, but it's so little compared to what they say on the side of the packet...BUT...it's what everyone seems to say, so it's what I've been doing.

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I came on to post a very similar question, so can't answer, but just to let you know I am as confused as you :-/

I've been giving 1/8th cup pellets, but it's so little compared to what they say on the side of the packet...BUT...it's what everyone seems to say, so it's what I've been doing.

Don't forget - the people who manufacture pellets want you to use as much of their product as possible !

I really have found the thread ( the one I have posted a link to in my previous post )

has been the most comprehensive for me .

 

[Ruth Anne Flear]

Thank you everyone. I found the links above really helpful. I changed how I feed Sir Strudel to the pellets in the morning and then veggies later in evening and some levels of romaine later in evening when he starts wheeking. also give him a piece of apple or a couple of raspberries every once and a while. So far this is working well.