Switching To New Food

[Antares]

So we got our 2 g p two weeks ago from a breeder.

They sold us a bag of their food, which has the colured puff bits which according to my research is less than ideal. And also, the breeder was quite a drive for me, so it's not practical to go back there to get more when my current suppply (+- month or so) runs out.
I have bought a bag of the Burgess Excel and have been mixing a bit in every time I feed the other food. But the g p ignore it in favour of the food they are used to.
It's only been a week or so with the Burgess, but they don't seem to want to eat it.

So my question is, how do I get them to start eating it, so I can phase out the existing food.

 

[Dorothy&Coco]

Hi we had exactly the same when we got our pigs. Switched from the a muesli type food to burgess pellets. I mixed them, gradually increasing the ratio of pellets, over about a two week period. Initially the pigs ignored the pellets but eventually once there was less and less muesli available, started eating them and now eat them fine. I think the advise is to mix them but if they continue to ignore the pellets you may just have to do a complete switch.

 

[Antares]

I carried on mixing the old and new foods over the weekend
But they are still ignoring the new

 

[eileen]

i attempted to put my piggies on Bunny pellets,i had to go cold turkey,thats just put the new pellets out and not offer any others,ensure plenty of hay and water,usually after three to seven days they eat the new pellets,still give veg as you do normally.this is as a last resort.

 

[Dorothy&Coco]

you may just have to go cold turkey and do a complete switch

i attempted to put my piggies on Bunny pellets,i had to go cold turkey,thats just put the new pellets out and not offer any others,ensure plenty of hay and water,usually after three to seven days they eat the new pellets,still give veg as you do normally.this is as a last resort.

 

[PiggySmitten]

I also agree a cold turkey switch may be the way to go. Also don't worry, nuggets are a useful way of getting some nutrients into piggies but they aren't essential so long as there is unlimited decent quality hay available all the time and you get sufficient fresh and varied veggies.

 

[Antares]

So I went "cold turkey", and it seems to have worked.
I gave them the pellets exclusively for a day or two. Initially didn't eat it, but then they took to it.

Do I still give the old food as a treat now and then?
Or should I just bin it?

 

[Tiamolly123]

So I went "cold turkey", and it seems to have worked.
I gave them the pellets exclusively for a day or two. Initially didn't eat it, but then they took to it.

Do I still give the old food as a treat now and then?
Or should I just bin it?

If they are happy on the new food, I'd probably just bin the otherwise I think you will just confuse there tummies.

 

[eileen]

So I went "cold turkey", and it seems to have worked.
I gave them the pellets exclusively for a day or two. Initially didn't eat it, but then they took to it.

Do I still give the old food as a treat now and then?
Or should I just bin it?

hi I'm pleased you managed to get your piggies to take new pellets.i know it seems cruel giving only new pellets,but you have there welfare ist for ?better pellets.