Non-veggie lovin’ guineas

[Newbernpiggies]

I’ve had my boys about 2 weeks now. I adopted them from their previous owner. I had them vetted and they are healthy other than mites (which I’m treating them for). However, they WILL NOT eat fruits of veggies. Nothing. Nada. I’ve tried TONS. They love hay and their pellets (vitamin C fortified) but I’m concerned. Their previous owner feed them a different feed with lots of mess in it but the doctor recommended the kind I have. What can I do to get them eating fruits and veggies?

 

[Siikibam]

Persistence I’m afraid. Try introducing a veggie (or two) a week maybe. Put it in their cage if they refuse it on hand feeding. If not eaten by the end of the day then take out. Rinse and repeat for a week.

What veggies have you tried them on? Fruits aren’t as important, they’re more a once a week (or less frequently than that) treat. Coriander (cilantro) and cucumber are normally quite popular with piggies. Also try celery, pepper (all colours - green, yellow, red, orange), lettuce (except iceberg), and green beans. Pellets should be max 1 tablespoon per piggy per day.

Did the previous owner give them veggies at all? How old are they now and how old were they when previous owner got them? Piggies learn what’s safe to eat from older ones. Maybe they missed out on that.

Sorry you’re having trouble with them. Hopefully they will start eating them soon. Below is a link for a feeding guide. You can look through and see what other veggies you could try them on.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[Seven7]

Welcome.

When Lara came to live with us, she didn't eat veggies at all because her previous owner, my friend didn't know piggies ate veggies so never introduced veggies or fruits to Lara. It took some time for Lara to get used to eating veggies and fruits but now, she eats more than my boy Finn.

I would continue to give them veggies and small amount of fruits. They will soon get used to eating them, which are essential for their growth.

 

[sport_billy]

Great advice above. Hope the persistence pays off

 

[miowmix]

Will they eat grass?

 

[Eriathwen]

Completely agree with the above, it'll take persistence and time Sometimes I find I have to change up how I present things to start with, i've had pigs turn their nose up at carrot chunks, but when grated or peeled they will dive on them. I think it makes the smell stronger. In a similar vein, stronger smelling foods seem to work for me when encouraging any veg adverse piggies, so herbs work well, with the benefit of you being able to rub their smell onto other foods or chop them up and sprinkle them over other foods once they've decided they're edible.
By far the easiest way is to just put them with pigs already used to a varied diet but of course that's not always possible. When I got Panda and Pumpkin first, they turned their noses up at bell peppers every day for their entire 2 week quarantine, but their very fist meal when put with the main herd they were tucking in no problem!

 

[Goldie]

My little Peanut was very confused about veg and fruit even grass when I first adopted her from the RSPCA. Her foster carer spent a lot of time trying to get her to eat her “veg” - and by putting her veg in her house in case she was shy about eating.

Many weeks on, Peanut is now beginning to understand more about the concept of eating veg and fruit and the social side of eating together with Cherry.

My little story was only to say that it can take time and patience - as has been said above. Unfortunately some piggies lose their mum or are taken away too soon, or have not had veg and fruit offered to them before so it is strange to them but they will learn. Different foods, just a little taste at a time and they will soon let you know their favourites

Please let us know how things go.

 

[Freela]

Keep on trying... if they haven't previously been offered a lot of veggies, they literally may not recognize them as something to eat for the first little bit. When my pigs were newly home from the pet store, they clearly had never encountered a vegetable before and, although they sniffed them and such, it took them time to figure out what to do with them. Pigs generally learn about food items by watching what other pigs eat, so if they haven't encountered other veggie-eating pigs or their mom was not offered veggies either, they will literally be unsure what to do with them. If you keep offering, at one point at least one will probably have a nibble and figure out it's tasty, so just hang in there and keep making them available.