Not Eating Hay

Powelly78

Powelly78

Junior Guinea Pig
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Ok, so I have been posting updates re our new piggie girls. They still aren’t eating any hay. I am giving the right amount of veg and pellets.

I measured what I’ve been putting in pellet wise and this is correct. I had been eye measuring so thought this might be the issue but its an eighth of a cup each.

I have a hay loft but have also put balls of Timothy hay on the bottom part of the cage to try and encourage them to eat it and still nothing.

Is it worth me removing the pellets or veggies to encourage them to eat it or should I try another hay or even a good quality hay biscuit?

They are still settling in as we have had them less than a week but as hay is supposed to be the majority of their diet, it is starting to worry me that they haven’t eaten any. I’m putting a huge pile of meadow hay in a hay tray in the loft part of the cage and have tried Timothy hay up there and also in the lower part.

I can’t see any reduction in hay at all when I am clearing out each day and thought I would be going through loads of it.

I'm sure it will be fine and they will settle in but just wondered if you thought trying a different hay would help or reducing other foods.

Xx
 
Powelly78 said:
Ok, so I have been posting updates re our new piggie girls. They still aren’t eating any hay. I am giving the right amount of veg and pellets.

I measured what I’ve been putting in pellet wise and this is correct. I had been eye measuring so thought this might be the issue but its an eighth of a cup each.

I have a hay loft but have also put balls of Timothy hay on the bottom part of the cage to try and encourage them to eat it and still nothing.

Is it worth me removing the pellets or veggies to encourage them to eat it or should I try another hay or even a good quality hay biscuit?

They are still settling in as we have had them less than a week but as hay is supposed to be the majority of their diet, it is starting to worry me that they haven’t eaten any. I’m putting a huge pile of meadow hay in a hay tray in the loft part of the cage and have tried Timothy hay up there and also in the lower part.

I can’t see any reduction in hay at all when I am clearing out each day and thought I would be going through loads of it.

I'm sure it will be fine and they will settle in but just wondered if you thought trying a different hay would help or reducing other foods.

Xx
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Will also be covering over the hay loft to encourage them to go in there more.
 
When I first got my guineas I remember Ruby just messed with the hay, I think the reason was where I got them from didn’t have hay and I don’t think she was used to it. Are they confident going to the loft, just wondering if they are going up there ok. I reckon they are eating the hay just that you are worrying about them at the moment. Is it nice and green and fresh smelling? You sound a lovely Mum to them and are doing great. I remember buying god knows how many types even Oxbow over the Internet. In the end they seemed to love Pets at Home hay the one suctioned packed I can’t remember the type I’ll google it.
 
Sian said:
When I first got my guineas I remember Ruby just messed with the hay, I think the reason was where I got them from didn’t have hay and I don’t think she was used to it. Are they confident going to the loft, just wondering if they are going up there ok. I reckon they are eating the hay just that you are worrying about them at the moment. Is it nice and green and fresh smelling? You sound a lovely Mum to them and are doing great. I remember buying god knows how many types even Oxbow over the Internet. In the end they seemed to love Pets at Home hay the one suctioned packed I can’t remember the type I’ll google it.
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Thank you Sian. I just want to make sure they are as happy as they can be.

They had hay only where they were before. The hay is nice and green but I’d say soft rather than crunchy.

They happily go up and down the ramp. I was so pleased when they did as was worried about that due to them not having a ramp before. I laid a trail of chopped up green bean :nod: ha ha. Worked a treat and they whizz up and down it.

Right, I am going to order some different hay. Came across a nice looking site called Dee Millen today. Has anyone heard of it? Was going to try the hay biscuits and a bag of the Timothy hay. Might also get some Alfalfa king. I know this is all trial and error and I’m sure we will get there. :luv:
 
Powelly78 said:
Thank you Sian. I just want to make sure they are as happy as they can be.

They had hay only where they were before. The hay is nice and green but I’d say soft rather than crunchy.

They happily go up and down the ramp. I was so pleased when they did as was worried about that due to them not having a ramp before. I laid a trail of chopped up green bean :nod: ha ha. Worked a treat and they whizz up and down it.

Right, I am going to order some different hay. Came across a nice looking site called Dee Millen today. Has anyone heard of it? Was going to try the hay biscuits and a bag of the Timothy hay. Might also get some Alfalfa king. I know this is all trial and error and I’m sure we will get there. :luv:
Click to expand...

You’ll find what they like. Just watch the Alfala King, I found it very dusty and Ruby got a hay poke with it, just thought I would say as it wasn’t cheap. It’s great buying guineas things
 
Thanks for the heads up. Will stick to the Timothy from the place called Dee Millen that I’ve found. They also do this grass. What do you think? X
 
So long as it’s green and smells nice it’s good. Some must like crunchy and some soft I guess, so long as it’s easy for you to shop for it as well. Ruby loved oat hay for some reason ha there’s another hay to add to the dilemma lol.
 
Ok just done some research and Dee Millen is a breeder and thenprofits go towards her breeding programme. Will try elsewhere x
 
Funnily enough B &M meadow hay is consistently of good quality despite being one of the cheapest. I buy meadow hay from Jolleyes and that goes down a treat. I feed a handful of very expensive Timothy Hay as a treat each day. My girls go mad for it, but it’s so expensive it can’t be their only hay.
The thing with hay is just to persist with it. A guinea pig’s diet should be about 80 -90% hay so cutting back on pellets and veg should help encourage them towards the hay loft. A cover over the hay loft (even just pegged over) will also encourage them up there to sit and chomp.
 
VickiA said:
Funnily enough B &M meadow hay is consistently of good quality despite being one of the cheapest. I buy meadow hay from Jolleyes and that goes down a treat. I feed a handful of very expensive Timothy Hay as a treat each day. My girls go mad for it, but it’s so expensive it can’t be their only hay.
The thing with hay is just to persist with it. A guinea pig’s diet should be about 80 -90% hay so cutting back on pellets and veg should help encourage them towards the hay loft. A cover over the hay loft (even just pegged over) will also encourage them up there to sit and chomp.
Click to expand...

I have just covered the loft so we will see what happens with that. The Timothy hay and meadow hay from B&M seems to be lovely. Itbwasnt what they were getting before so maybe it’s just the change. I will buy a better quality one and see what they do.

They have been using the hay loft loads to wee and poo in so it was all condensed but yesterday and today have completely changed tactics and there isn’t one poo or wee in it and they’ve done it everywhere but :mal:ha ha.

Hopefully the loft being covered will encourage them up there, will buy a different feeding hay and cut back on pellets and veggies once that arrives to see what they do.

What’s lovely today is my daughter and her friend have been quietly colouring and playing barbies in there with them and they have been coming out of the tunnel and beds and running around making nice squeaking noises. I’ve also just been down and Fluff has run up the ramp and stayed up there. Can’t see what she is doing but she is up there lol. I’m learning they are contrary Mary’s and I indeed will be their slave ha ha x
 
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