Picky Eaters

[Hops_in_Heaven]

Admittedly Caramel has only been with me since Sunday, so my concern could be premature, but I'm having a bit of trouble with this fussy eater. Her previous owner fed her a diet comprising of iceberg lettuce, carrots and apples, and she lived with this person for at least two years. Now that she lives with me, I want to improve her diet. Trouble is, she seems to be fighting me every step of the way.

My pigs eat green leaf lettuce, cucumber, celery and red pepper on the daily. The also frequently get Belgium endive, carrots, spinach, cilantro or parsley thrown in depending on what's on hand or what looks good at the grocery store. They sometimes get one guinea pig mouthful of banana or one blueberry or a bit of apple peel as a treat from time to time.

So far, Caramel has only shown enthusiasm for lettuce, cucumber and spinach. She won't touch blueberry or banana, which isn't a loss since pigs don't need fruit anyway. Yesterday, I managed to get her to eat celery by holding pieces to her face for her to nibble on. If she dropped it or I put it down, she wouldn't bother to eat it. Today, she didn't want any at all.

She flees from cilantro like it's evil. And she won't touch red pepper. In the past, when one of my pigs has been fussy, seeing the others enjoying the offending vegetable has been enough to motivate a curious nibble, which prompts the realization that it's actually good. She doesn't seem to care if the others are enjoying cilantro and red pepper, she wants nothing to do with it.

I've tried following her around and offering red pepper to her. I've tried getting my boyfriend to do it in case she had a problem with me. I've tried just leaving it there, but another pig usually comes along to eat it. I've tried feeding red pepper to others in front of her. I've cut it into small pieces and mixed it into her pellets, which only makes her eat fewer pellets. Today, I wrapped a small piece of red pepper in lettuce and fed it to her. She ate the lettuce, but dropped the red pepper. She will only sniff it at best.

I'm going to be out of town tonight and tomorrow, so they'll be with a sitter. When I get back, I can try green, yellow or orange pepper. I'm hesitant to take her out for lap time with veggies since she's not good with being picked up and petted. I don't think she was handled much in her previous home. What can I do if she doesn't like any bell pepper?

 

[cavylover2002]

Sometimes if guinea pigs weren't introduced to foods when they were younger, they won't like much when they're older-or they are just plain picky.
My guinea pigs are also extremely picky. They will only eat lettuce, spinach, cucumber, carrots, and watermelon-that's it. They don't like blueberries or grapes or strawberries. They hate bananas and oranges. They are okay with pepper but not crazy about it (I can tell lol).
I'd just keep trying every few days if I were you...but it doesn't need to be forced. The other things you are feeding her are very balanced, that should make up for it

 

[Patch89]

It can take several times of a piggie seeing a veg before they get brave enough to sniff it, and explore it, let alone eat it. Ours have expanded what they eat over the last year. They love corriander and parsley. May be worth a try?

 

[Hops_in_Heaven]

Thanks for the advice! I'll just have to persist.