Soon To Be A New Owner!

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Anna Lane

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Hi, I am just getting a little confused with what piggies should eat, please forgive me as I am a complete novice and want to know everything before I get them home.

How often should I feed them?
They eat hay in a feeder and then hay in bedding too?
Also do you give them nuggets or muesli?
How often should I give them fruit and veg?
Also do you put the hay feeder by the litter tray and what do you put it in the litter tray?

Sorry again, I just want to make sure I get it right and I am sure the answers are all on here somewhere.

Thanks :eek:
 
Hi, :wel: to the forum!

As long as they have unlimited hay it doesn't much matter whether it's in a hay rack or tray or wherever, I have a hay rack which I no longer bother filling as mine weren't interested because they have a whole area with hay to play, sleep and eat in!

I'd find out what they're eating at the moment and start off with that, ideally they should be on nuggets as the muesli promotes selective feeding. If you decide to change their dry food you'll need to do so gradually by mixing the new food in with the old one.

Veg: they should have about a cupfull each everyday, either in one or two servings.

Good luck, remember to post lots of pics once you have them :)
 
Hi!

You may find this this thread here helpful. It gives you the food ratios and also a list of veg, herbs and fruit. Include one high vitamin C veg or herb daily, like a slice of pepper, a floret or chunk of stem of broccoli or a sprig of coriander/cilantro, parsley, dill or mint. Feed fruit (including tomato) no more than twice in a week.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

The ratio of the foods should be about 80% hay, about 10-15% mixed veg (ca. 50g/1 cupful per piggy per day) and about 5-10% pellets. Unlimited for very young piggies until the weekly growth rate is slowing down; then very gradually reduced to the half or handful that fully grown, mature adults need from about 12-15 months onwards. Daily fresh water without additives.

Please feed pellets and not muesli. Muesli encourages selective feeding, which can lead to long term digestive, health and dental problems.

Piggies love to munch while they are on the toilet, so it is very convenient to place the hay feeder by the litter tray. Some piggies also love to sleep and burrow in the hay, that is why a hay/litter tray is a good addition. Meadow and timothy hay are best; there are also good quality internet providers, like hay4pets.

I prefer to have an absorbent layer between the newspaper at the bottom and the hay at the top; there are several choices. You can find out more in the housing section.
 
:wel: And well done for doing your research before you bring piggies home. It all seems complex at first but once you have mastered the basics of their care and feeding it all falls Into place. They make fantastic additions to your family. Look forward to seeing pictures in the future
 
Welldone for taking the time to research them before adopting some piggies :D the rescue locator tab at the top of the forum may help you find your perfect piggies.

It would be handy if you could add your location to your profile, just a general county or state if you're not UK would be fine it just helps us direct you towards rescues/vets/give other advice that is more valid for you :-)
 
Anna Lane said:
I was thinking of getting them from The Guinea Pig Ranch (website..... www.theguineapigranch.co.uk), has anyone heard of them, are they reputable?
Click to expand...
Can't really comment as if is not a rescue I have come across. Have you tried our rescue locator at the top of the page, to see if there are any others close by? We list all our known reputable Rescues on there.
 
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