Science Selective Nuggets

[Nana1]

Hi
I recently (only yesterday) changed my 2 boars (approx 6 months old) from their daily friendly readigrass over to science selective Guinea nuggets as I had read that the readi grass should only be given a couple of times a week due to high calcium content. Apparently they had been fed on readigrass since birth and have never had pellets. The grass was always available for them in their bowl. They have both turned their noses up at the Pellets. I Measured them approx 40g each but it's not been touched at all. The readigrass went so quickly!. They have constant 24/7 Timothy hay and also have 1 cup each of fresh veg daily. Should I keep persevering with these new nuggets or try a different type. I know it's very early days but is it likely they will eventually just take to the change in their diet. I feel so mean as they thoroughly loved their grass. I do feel that they were probably eating the grass instead of their Timothy hay and hoping by excluding the readi grass they will eat more of the hay that I know is so important for both their digestion and teeth. Thank you all.

 

[piggieminder]

I find it often takes several weeks for them to get used to new food. You could try putting a tiny pinch of Ready Grass on top of the nuggets to encourage them to have a try just to start with.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Agree with piggieminder. I've had similar from pigs when introducing new veg before (you can always tell which ones have had no or very limited veg before coming to me). It takes them a few turns of going up to them and testing them before they will eat them. Unfortunately never having pellets before will mean they do not know if it's safe to eat or not so they will be cautious

 

[Nana1]

I find it often takes several weeks for them to get used to new food. You could try putting a tiny pinch of Ready Grass on top of the nuggets to encourage them to have a try just to start with.

Thank you Piggieminder. I will give that a try.

 

[Nana1]

Agree with piggieminder. I've had similar from pigs when introducing new veg before (you can always tell which ones have had no or very limited veg before coming to me). It takes them a few turns of going up to them and testing them before they will eat them. Unfortunately never having pellets before will mean they do not know if it's safe to eat or not so they will be cautious

Thank you . That does make sense. I suppose seeing and smelling something completely new in their food bowl would make them very cautious. I will try sprinkling a little readi grass over the nuggets as suggested by Piggieminder. As a New Guinea pig mum it's so nice to have somewhere to get information and advice on caring for the little ones. Thank you all.

 

[Nana1]

Agree with piggieminder. I've had similar from pigs when introducing new veg before (you can always tell which ones have had no or very limited veg before coming to me). It takes them a few turns of going up to them and testing them before they will eat them. Unfortunately never having pellets before will mean they do not know if it's safe to eat or not so they will be cautious

Should I remove all uneaten nuggets everyday and put down a fresh supply or can they be left for a couple of days.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Should I remove all uneaten nuggets everyday and put down a fresh supply or can they be left for a couple of days.

I'd leave them down so long as they aren't wet (one of my old piggies took to taking the occasional wee in the food bowl).