Stressing about veg

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Mummyem83

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Why is there so much contradictory Advice when it comes to veggies and Gps ? I have 3 diff books all saying different things . P A H told us anything green was fine .. one of my boys wont eat any veg except kale which ive just read should only be given twice a week? He eats more hay than the other so is this ok ? Fudge however will eat anything i give him. Ugh i dont wanna give anything I'm not supposed too. I try to alternate what i give. So far theyve had.
Lettuce - not iceberg
Cucumber- none of them ate
Kale- both love
Peppers
Parsley
Coriander
Courgette- none eaten
Carrot - not eaten
Watermelon - nibbled
Cabbage
Advice from experienced piggie owners please . I have read the food forum too xx thanks guys
 
I can reassure you are everything correctly by providing a variety of veg etc. All the types of food you listed are fine for guinea pigs to eat. In time you will know which they prefer, but try not to worry too much as they are probably still getting used to different foods they have never had. Ceratin food like carrot and watermelon can be more sugary so once or twice a week in one portion might be sufficient. I'm sure others in time will be posting their experience :)

You will always find a lot of mixed views and contradiction when it comes to what type of veg and how much your piggies should etc.
Like you I did extensive research and I totally got confused and honestly got overwhelmed by all the information.
When I first bought (rescued) my two boars form P A H they said the same thing to me about anything green! I can tell you not to listen to this advice as quite often they are not experts. I read they love carrots and dandelions, but I can tell you from when they were born and lived in the shop this something they have never eaten before so they will have no idea what it tastes like.

Like humans, guinea pigs can't make their own Vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic Acid) and as such, the only source of the vitamin is through their diet. I feed mine a little kale in the morning with cucumber and bell peppers (which they can eat more frequently) at night. I try not to overdo the amount and I'm always observant on how much hay they eat. As a rule of thumb the I found that they only need about one cup of veg per piggie per day.
So in percentage terms, I go by 80% (or more) hay, plenty of water at all time, 15% veg/fruit (vitamin C) and about 5% good quality pellets if they still eat them.

Below might be some other useful links, if you haven't already read them:
Diet - Guinea Pigs - Our pets
How to Feed a Guinea Pig

All the best
 
Some more to try: chicory, cauliflower leaves (not the florets), baby sweetcorn, little gem. Just because they left something once don't think they won't ever eat it; or that they will always eat something they do like! Variety is the key, it's better to offer them different things and waste a bit than let them get bored having the same 2-3 things all the time.
 
Richard Pashley said:
I can reassure you are everything correctly by providing a variety of veg etc. All the types of food you listed are fine for guinea pigs to eat. In time you will know which they prefer, but try not to worry too much as they are probably still getting used to different foods they have never had. Ceratin food like carrot and watermelon can be more sugary so once or twice a week in one portion might be sufficient. I'm sure others in time will be posting their experience :)

You will always find a lot of mixed views and contradiction when it comes to what type of veg and how much your piggies should etc.
Like you I did extensive research and I totally got confused and honestly got overwhelmed by all the information.
When I first bought (rescued) my two boars form P A H they said the same thing to me about anything green! I can tell you not to listen to this advice as quite often they are not experts. I read they love carrots and dandelions, but I can tell you from when they were born and lived in the shop this something they have never eaten before so they will have no idea what it tastes like.

Like humans, guinea pigs can't make their own Vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic Acid) and as such, the only source of the vitamin is through their diet. I feed mine a little kale in the morning with cucumber and bell peppers (which they can eat more frequently) at night. I try not to overdo the amount and I'm always observant on how much hay they eat. As a rule of thumb the I found that they only need about one cup of veg per piggie per day.
So in percentage terms, I go by 80% (or more) hay, plenty of water at all time, 15% veg/fruit (vitamin C) and about 5% good quality pellets if they still eat them.

Below might be some other useful links, if you haven't already read them:
Diet - Guinea Pigs - Our pets
How to Feed a Guinea Pig

All the best
Click to expand...
Thankyou !
 
Cauliflower is ok to feed. I can’t remember if it can cause bloat, but cabbage can so is introduced slowly. Mine refused to eat courgette as well, doesn’t seem a popular with pigs in general. You can also try Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, spring greens, green beans. I sometimes buy mine a mixed salad and some other salad leaves in Lidl.
 
This is my list I use and refer to every week on different types of food:

Frequently (Daily)
  1. Red peppers: These contain high amounts of vitamin C and
  2. Herbs: Coriander/parsley
  3. Blueberries: These can be fed frequently and they're a good source of vitamin C.
  4. Cabbage: This contains high amounts of vitamin C. However, don't overfeed it to your Guinea Pig as it can cause gas and bloating.
  5. Cucumber: Guinea Pigs can eat both the flesh, seeds (not too much) and the skin.
  6. Parsnip: It can be fed frequently and is a delicious vegetable for your Guinea Pig
  7. Red cabbage contains high amounts of vitamin C, and a hint of calcium.
  8. Tomatoes: Can be fed frequently. However, the green stalk is poisonous so don't allow your piggy to eat this.
  9. Lettuce: Other than Iceberg, which has no nutritional content, Romaine lettuce is a delicious salad vegetable for your Guinea Pig
Occasionally (Twice weekly!)
  • Carrots: These are loved by Guinea Pigs, however, they contain sugar, which can lead to tooth problems and diabetes. They also contain oxalate which can lead to oxalate stones. They also contain high amounts of vitamin A. Carrots can be fed occasionally.
  • Spinach: Your Guinea Pig can eat this occasionally, however, be aware that it can cause stones if mixed with calcium. This is due to the high oxalate levels.
  • Kale
  • Watercress: It's good for your Guinea Pig and contains high amounts of vitamin C.
  • Pears: These should be fed occasionally, and they provide a good source of vitamin C.
  • Strawberries can also be fed occasionally including the green tops.
 
FurryBabyMama said:
Are they not allowed cauliflower florets?! I gave mine some the other week, I didn't know that. Why are they not allowed? Now I'm freaking out that I gave them some :(
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I wouldn't worry about something you gave them "the other week" if they are ok today.

I've always seen cauli listed as "just the leaves" without any explanation why, so that's what I've always done. But now I've had a poke round and found this thread from a while back that says too much of the florets gives them gas but a little is ok:

Cauliflower Florets.
 
Don't forget melon! That is a food rated highly by most piggies, they like the skin and just a little bit of the sweet part. Also beansprouts. Seems very few people feed beansprouts but I do, they have vitamin C and are low calcium up to green veg so they can have lots if they like them.
 
We feed ours this roughly

Morning:
Cucumber -1.5 cm x 2cm chunks (twice)
Celery - 1 stick between 3 chopped up small
1/6th of Red/Green/Yellow Bell Pepper (de-seeded)

Evening:
Cucumber 1.5 cm x 2cm chunks (twice)
Two Little Gem Lettuce leaves or 10 sprigs Coriander. Twice a week we will swap in cabbage or parsley

We also add in to the above diet carrot, sweet potato, celery leaves and a few other things occasionally

But by no means am I any expert on food here, some folks on the forum are really clued up... so pick up advise where you can.

A list of safe and unsafe foods can be found here Edible And Forbidden Veg And Fruit List With Vitamin C Grading
 
My two love green beans I give them 3 chopped up small between them. Also salad leaves -the bistro salad you get from Aldi has little bits of beetroot in it and they go for this straight away. They are now selling superfood salad which has baby kale leaves and spinach in (and beetroot) which they love as well.
Their biggest love is marigold leaves, if you have a garden I would recommend growing French marigold flowers next year and picking off a couple of leaves for them as a treat, they love them!
Mine get fed a variety twice a day (as above) I try not to give too much carrot as this is high in vit A so I give it once/twice a week max. Just experiment, I’ve found also that piggy’s who like one batch of kale from one shop might not like a different shops brand! -eg ASDA kale they don’t touch it ever. Same with peppers, the cheaper multi-bags that are sold they tend not to like either. Picky piggy’s!
 
My guinea pigs staple foods are spinach, kale, cucumber, celery and carrots. I always go for a leafy base like spinach or kale or some spring greens etc, some celery, cucumber and a carrot every day. Then a few times a week I’ll add something like broccoli, apple, watermelon, pear etc etc.
Some people may say I give them too much veg but my pigs LOVE it and have lived very long and healthy lives
 
Mummyem83 said:
I discovered that one of mine love watermelon.... i give kale everyday but removed spinach from my list cos yet again i read they can only have it now and again 😣
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Kale and Spinach should be feed sparingly as both high calcium, would advise Kale twice a week

Yeah watermelon is well adored by our girls too :))
 
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