Julie M
Forum Donator 2023/24
Ive fed guinea pigs with the science selective pellets before and they were fine. Its the grain free that i had the issue with.
Science select grain free
- Thread starter Adelle
- Start date
Eddie & Elvis
Adult Guinea Pig
Oh good I was worried I shouldn't have fed them at all ( though feeding alfalfa to adult piggies obviously isn't ideal). It didn't say it had alfalfa in it anywhere other than in tiny writing on the back!
piggieminder
Forum Buddy
The amount of alfalfa in a few pellets isn't going to be very much at all even if it's the main ingredient so I really wouldn't worry about it.
Eddie & Elvis
Adult Guinea Pig
That's alright then 
Thanks everyone and again sorry I took over 
Thanks everyone and again sorry I took over 
Thank you, so far so good. Poppets lost a little weight but to be expected with the reduced calories. Rowan has gained so it's definitely the right move for her
hope you're all well x
Eddie & Elvis
Adult Guinea Pig
I'm glad you found what the problem was. I hope Poppet and Rowan continue to recover nicely 
Update: the forage has now set poppets bladder off.... Couldn't make it up honestly ! Rowan however is doing well and is off the pellets all together. I'll now just need to offer Rowan her forage whilst giving poppet a wee teaspoon pellets separately. Piggies... Who'd have them! 
Eddie & Elvis
Adult Guinea Pig
Oh dear poor Poppet 
Danielle Smith
Teenage Guinea Pig
@Adelle, it's lovely to see you back though I'm sorry for all the trouble. I swear, it's like my pigs know when they haven't been to the vet for a while and *poof* cystic ovaries and sludge abound! I've also had a tricky time with these pellets, so good to know it's not just me.
@Eriathwen, would you share the ratio of wheat bran to grass pellet? Do you soak the pellet in the recommended 2.5 the volume of water; what amount of the mixture would you say each pig gets per day? Out of interest, what hay do you use? I'm forever swapping around because one brand falls out of favour... I love my wiggles but they have me tearing my hair out sometimes, fussy little things!
I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm really interested re: alternative feeding regimes. Unfortunately all my pigs lose weight if I stop pellets, even though I'd prefer it to be that way!
@Eriathwen, would you share the ratio of wheat bran to grass pellet? Do you soak the pellet in the recommended 2.5 the volume of water; what amount of the mixture would you say each pig gets per day? Out of interest, what hay do you use? I'm forever swapping around because one brand falls out of favour... I love my wiggles but they have me tearing my hair out sometimes, fussy little things!
I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm really interested re: alternative feeding regimes. Unfortunately all my pigs lose weight if I stop pellets, even though I'd prefer it to be that way!
Eriathwen
Adult Guinea Pig
[QUOTE="Danielle Smith, post: 2463532,
@Eriathwen, would you share the ratio of wheat bran to grass pellet? Do you soak the pellet in the recommended 2.5 the volume of water; what amount of the mixture would you say each pig gets per day? Out of interest, what hay do you use? I'm forever swapping around because one brand falls out of favour... I love my wiggles but they have me tearing my hair out sometimes, fussy little things!
I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm really interested re: alternative feeding regimes. Unfortunately all my pigs lose weight if I stop pellets, even though I'd prefer it to be that way!
[/QUOTE]
Of course! I use 25g of bran per 100g of pellet and then I soak it until it's just damper than crumbly if that makes sense, it probably would work out at 2.5 the volume of water I'd say, by now I do it by eye, I did used to measure it but ive forgotten how many half cup scoops of water it used to be
being a natural product the nutrient content does vary from bag to bag over the course of the year so sometimes I add a bit more bran if there's more calcium than normal etc
So then each pig gets 1/4 cup each, roughly, I chuck in a half cup scoop per 2 pigs although Leonard gets a little extra to keep his weight up, with a good pinch of Chanca piedra powder mixed in to help his bladder.
Hay wise I feed mainly meadow hay from the local equestrian saddlery, in the evening I put in a big handful per pig of something else too, orchard grass, Timothy, mountain hay, readigrass, whatever I can find. I do worry about vitamin D with not having pellets and a lawn full of ragwort so they can't go outside, for that I try to find slightly browner sun dried hay which even if it looks ugly they seem to love. The Range does some that I get, it's got rose petals in.
They also get a sprinkle of Thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff once a week or so as a treat, it's chopped grasses with mint and lemon grass in it, it's a little high in calcium but they go crazy for it.
I hope that's helpful!
@Eriathwen, would you share the ratio of wheat bran to grass pellet? Do you soak the pellet in the recommended 2.5 the volume of water; what amount of the mixture would you say each pig gets per day? Out of interest, what hay do you use? I'm forever swapping around because one brand falls out of favour... I love my wiggles but they have me tearing my hair out sometimes, fussy little things!
I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm really interested re: alternative feeding regimes. Unfortunately all my pigs lose weight if I stop pellets, even though I'd prefer it to be that way!
[/QUOTE]
Of course! I use 25g of bran per 100g of pellet and then I soak it until it's just damper than crumbly if that makes sense, it probably would work out at 2.5 the volume of water I'd say, by now I do it by eye, I did used to measure it but ive forgotten how many half cup scoops of water it used to be
being a natural product the nutrient content does vary from bag to bag over the course of the year so sometimes I add a bit more bran if there's more calcium than normal etcSo then each pig gets 1/4 cup each, roughly, I chuck in a half cup scoop per 2 pigs although Leonard gets a little extra to keep his weight up, with a good pinch of Chanca piedra powder mixed in to help his bladder.
Hay wise I feed mainly meadow hay from the local equestrian saddlery, in the evening I put in a big handful per pig of something else too, orchard grass, Timothy, mountain hay, readigrass, whatever I can find. I do worry about vitamin D with not having pellets and a lawn full of ragwort so they can't go outside, for that I try to find slightly browner sun dried hay which even if it looks ugly they seem to love. The Range does some that I get, it's got rose petals in.
They also get a sprinkle of Thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff once a week or so as a treat, it's chopped grasses with mint and lemon grass in it, it's a little high in calcium but they go crazy for it.
I hope that's helpful!
Danielle Smith
Teenage Guinea Pig
That's more helpful than you can imagine @Eriathwen, thank you! Never thought about the fact it would be a good vehicle for chanca powder etc 
Eriathwen
Adult Guinea Pig
That's more helpful than you can imagine @Eriathwen, thank you! Never thought about the fact it would be a good vehicle for chanca powder etc
You're welcome! It's also been a good hiding place for his glucosamine when he's being stubborn, it saves me having to pick him up which strains his joints. It's been a bit of a life saver to be honest.