Should pellets be available all day?

[Beemz]

When I bought my girls I was told to keep them on the food they were used to for a while- PAH ones. They go crazy for them but I’m worried they will fill up on them and not eat enough hay.
Should I give them a measured amount and once it’s gone it’s gone?

 

[sport_billy]

Yes, morning and night if they are going to eat them above all else.

I don't ration our pellets at moment because they hardly eat them, but if they did I would

Welcome to the forum by the way. How many pigs do you have?

 

[Beemz]

Yes, morning and night if they are going to eat them above all else.

I don't ration our pellets at moment because they hardly eat them, but if they did I would

Welcome to the forum by the way. How many pigs do you have?

I have two wee girls- Coco and Pops!
Going to attempt some photos!

 

[Beemz]

Here they are!

 

[sport_billy]

Awwwww little cuties

 

[Hank288]

Oh they are beautiful. I would personally give them a set amount of pellets but maybe split into 2 portions one morning and night. That way they always have a supply but not over stuffing themselves.

 

[Seven7]

Welcome and they are super cute!
My piggies get meals three times a day, and that includes Oxbow pallets also.

Breakfast--romaine lettuce and one type of herbs so cilantro or parsley or basil or etc with pallets.
Lunch--herbs with carrots or apple or blueberry or watermelon or kale etc. Lunch time menu rotate with food they can have once in a while but not regularly.
Dinner--romaine lettuce, and herbs with pallets.

My piggies get endless supply of hay. They get enough veggies and fruits that they don't need pallets but I give them little anyways because they have always had their Oxbow pallets so they like munching on them. I also like to see them eat.

 

[Beemz]

Welcome and they are super cute!
My piggies get meals three times a day, and that includes Oxbow pallets also.

Breakfast--romaine lettuce and one type of herbs so cilantro or parsley or basil or etc with pallets.
Lunch--herbs with carrots or apple or blueberry or watermelon or kale etc. Lunch time menu rotate with food they can have once in a while but not regularly.
Dinner--romaine lettuce, and herbs with pallets.

My piggies get endless supply of hay. They get enough veggies and fruits that they don't need pallets but I give them little anyways because they have always had their Oxbow pallets so they like munching on them. I also like to see them eat.

I could literally watch them eat all day- watching bits of grass or hay disappear haha! I’m 46- I should be doing housework!

 

[Mother Hubbard]

They are tiny but fabulously gorgeous.
I'm 47 (i think!) and knickers to the housework - watch the pigs its far more enjoyable.

 

[flowerfairy]

Haha I love watching my lot eating and listening to them.

 

[Beemz]

They are tiny but fabulously gorgeous.
I'm 47 (i think!) and knickers to the housework - watch the pigs its far more enjoyable.

Hahahahaha! Like your attitude! I think they’re only 8 weeks old.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I used to just leave pellets available constantly but have to ration again now. Lily got to the "slightly chubby" stage obviously she likes to dip in too often. Now they have a bowl split between two bowls and it's put there and two days later replaced. They have started to make them last the full two days again

 

[Betsy]

I have 5 piggies and they have 4 small handfuls of pellets for Breakfast then no more till the next day. They have an endless supply of hay and a dinner veggies in the evening.

 

[eileen]

i give a dessert spoon for each piggie,place in a bowl,when all is completed i only measure out the pellets in 24 hour period.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Mine get their quarter of a cup of pellets in the evening and then no more until the following evening. I top up their hay four times a day and give their veggies twice a day.

 

[Merab]

Mine get a 2 handfuls of pellets between the 4 of them every morning, unlimited hay and veggies scattered through the day.

 

[Pigwhisperer]

Yes mine have got a bit chubby from having P@H pellets available all day before I realised. Now they get a scoop morning & evening with a cup of veg and unlimited hay.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Mine get a desert spoon full of pellets each morning and evening, plus assorted veggies- and lots and lots of hay! Some days they ignore the pellets altogether

 

[Roclibrarian]

I am guilty of giving unlimited pellets. They are 2 years old and still gaining weight. I asked the vet if this was normal and got a resounding no! They now get a small handful in the morning and another at night.

 

[anyar.dris]

My piggies have unlimited pellets but they don't eat them all the time. They would nibble a few pieces during the day but with the amount of different hay (timothy, orchard and meadow), veggies and grass they have, plenty stuff to eat apart from pellets. Also, the pellets are in 2 very small bowls. I have to refill the one small bowl on the 2nd floor of the hutch every morning though, coz that's the one they always emptied out during the night.

 

[Wiebke]

When I bought my girls I was told to keep them on the food they were used to for a while- PAH ones. They go crazy for them but I’m worried they will fill up on them and not eat enough hay.
Should I give them a measured amount and once it’s gone it’s gone?

Hi! You can give up to 40g to youngsters before you gradually reduce them to 1-2 tablespoons a day. Serve them in portions that can be eaten in one go (always after any veg and not before) and remove the bowls in between servings to encourage the babies to eat as much hay as possible. Gradually mix in the pellets you want to shift them to.

To be honest, you can bring up babies on adult servings of pellets. I have done this with youngsters of mine when they joined a group. Since the second lot is still going, aged 7 years now, it can't have hurt them any...