Piggy’s eating lots of nuggets

[G&C]

Hi guys I’ve not been on here for ages, I have a quick question, my boys are eating a lot of nuggets any suggestions how I can get them to eat less (I give them a very small handful twice a day) and hay is in almost continuous supply. I think more hay/a different type/brand might be the answer but wondered if anyone had any other tips. I don’t want them getting fat over the winter.

 

[Siikibam]

They should only have a tablespoon per pig per day. So I would cut it down to that. When they finish the pellets, take the bowls out the cage and only give them hay top ups, and veg whenever they’re supposed to have them.

Basically, the only way to cut their pellet intake is to feed as per the recommendation. If they keep wheeking just give hay. Maybe turn it over and top up if they’ve wee’d all over it.

Do they eat the hay you give them at the moment?

 

[G&C]

Yes they gobble it all up as quick as the pellets, it’s like they are starving. I think I must be giving them about 2 tablespoons each of pellets a day (about 30g) which is what the packaging states for adult Guinea pigs. I use burgess excel the black currant one. I give two types of hay, a meadow hay in their bedrooms and a feeding hay (burgess feeding hay with meadow flower petals in it). But this is alternated between other feeding hays.

 

[Siikibam]

Ok. Just cut the pellets down to one tablespoon each per day then. Do they get veg as well?

 

[G&C]

Ok. Just cut the pellets down to one tablespoon each per day then. Do they get veg as well?

Yes twice a day

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree with Siikibam. You need to just cut the pellets down. Offering more hay, different types as you have said.

I give my piggies one tablespoon of pellets each once a day (in the morning). Once they’ve gone, then I take the bowls out. They are usually finished within the hour. Hay gets topped up several times throughout the day. At night time, they get more hay and their veg portion. Mine get meadow hay as bedding and I give them the oxbow orchard grass/Timothy hay mix in their hayrack which is topped up a few times in a day. I have also started using a little bit of forage in with their evening hay rack top up.