Question About Feeding - Newbie Pig Owner

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Drezella

Drezella

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hello everyone, Merry Christmas!

Just a quick question. I'm aware that piggies need plenty of hay, pellets and fresh veg/fruit to eat each day, but I'd like to know how many times per day do you feed your piggies, and how much / what quantity of food do you feed them? I'm hoping to get a pair of piggies within the next couple of weeks, so I'm doing my research and starting to get things prepared and just wanted to know about feeding. :D

Thanks in advance
Drezella
 
Personally, I do not feed fruit as it is not healthy for guinea pigs. I follow the I.c diet for my guinea pigs. This prevents cystitis and bladder sludge. Here is what I feed.
1 slice cucumber.
1 piece green pepper.
1 slice of spring green.
1 sprig of coriander.
1 green bean.
2 slices of celery.

This diet has been specially devised by a woman who runs a guinea pig clinic. It has really reduced any calcium deposits my guinea pigs have. It is fed twice a day per piggy.

You may also be interested to know that after much research she has found that the best pellets are grainless, sugar free and low in calcium. Only two brands are recommended and are these,
http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/bunny/195679

http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/vitakraft/262148

Only five pellets a day is needed per guinea pig. I really wish I knew about this diet and the pellets when I first got guinea pigs as I made a lot of mistakes with mine. You of course do not have to listen to this at all but I only tell you as it is what I follow.
 
piggyfan said:
Personally, I do not feed fruit as it is not healthy for guinea pigs. I follow the I.c diet for my guinea pigs. This prevents cystitis and bladder sludge. Here is what I feed.
1 slice cucumber.
1 piece green pepper.
1 slice of spring green.
1 sprig of coriander.
1 green bean.
2 slices of celery.

This diet has been specially devised by a woman who runs a guinea pig clinic. It has really reduced any calcium deposits my guinea pigs have. It is fed twice a day per piggy.

You may also be interested to know that after much research she has found that the best pellets are grainless, sugar free and low in calcium. Only two brands are recommended and are these,
http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/bunny/195679

http://t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/food/guinea_pig/vitakraft/262148

Only five pellets a day is needed per guinea pig. I really wish I knew about this diet and the pellets when I first got guinea pigs as I made a lot of mistakes with mine. You of course do not have to listen to this at all but I only tell you as it is what I follow.
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Do they not get bored and leave bits? I only ask because my boys leave their pepper or celery depending on which they've decided they don't like that day.
 
gus+walter said:
Do they not get bored and leave bits? I only ask because my boys leave their pepper or celery depending on which they've decided they don't like that day.
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Strangely not. I thought they would but they get excited and gobble it up. I also feed three types of hay so they have variety there.
 
How much hay do you feed them per day, or do you always ensure that there's some available at all times? I'm thinking of getting one of those ball type hay feeders that hand from the cage wall, would you recommend one of those?
 
Drezella said:
How much hay do you feed them per day, or do you always ensure that there's some available at all times? I'm thinking of getting one of those ball type hay feeders that hand from the cage wall, would you recommend one of those?
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Absolutely not. Recently we have heard some sad stories about them causing serious accidents with guinea pigs. I feed hay in a pile as they like to play with it while they eat. You are right, hay must be available at all times as guinea pigs need to graze all day to keep their guts moving and teeth from becoming long.
 
I've started keeping my hay in a litter tray so they can burrow and eat it, but it's still slightly contained. :)
 
ayemee said:
I've started keeping my hay in a litter tray so they can burrow and eat it, but it's still slightly contained. :)
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I do this too :nod: Easy to clean out if you arent wanting to do a full cage clean too. Unfortunately my pair of boys kept tipping theirs and lugging it across the cage, so now it has a pebble in it!
 
Oh that's a good idea. I thought I might try a kitchen area in the loft of the cage with the litter tray / water etc. Then have the beds and run around area downstairs. I'll see what fits and works out though. I may need to have it downstairs if they don't like the loft or poop downstairs. :)
 
I've ordered some Burgess Timothy Hay and nuggets in different flavours, I got a brilliant deal on Amazon it was much cheaper than buying from pets at home. :D
 
Drezella said:
I've ordered some Burgess Timothy Hay and nuggets in different flavours, I got a brilliant deal on Amazon it was much cheaper than buying from pets at home. :D
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Yes definitely better deals online. I can recommend zooplus. If you get a member on here to recommend you (or anyone who has a ZooPlus account) you get an extra big discount off your first order.
I can also recommend the hay sold by HayforPets online - any of the three types they sell are great quality and a good price too. Our piggies particularly like the Ings one.
On the pooping downstairs thing - you may be lucky and find they poop in only a few places but you are more likely to find they poop everywhere!
 
@piggyfan if I had three types of hay I would say to my guinea pigs 'here we have a range of tasty hay for your liking.'. Any way, I feed my pigs twice a day, here is what I give them:
Morning:
Fresh water
Hay
Grass
2 slices of cucumber
2 chunks of carrot

Tea:
(any left food is taken out)
Hay
Less grass
2 pieces of green pepper
2 pieces of apple

And on Sundays they spend most of the day outside on the lawn in their massive run. (only if the weather is nice though)
 
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