This morning's hay report on the little one

[Pat Shields]

He had not touched the slice of green bell pepper. He had also left the carrots untouched. He had drunk more water. He was sitting in the little yellow carrier. I heard him talking to himself. I cleaned and filled his water bottle. I went out and cut some more hay, and when I put that in with him, he came to life. He got a happy look, if guinea pigs can have looks, and quickly chose a piece he wanted to eat. Then he sniffed around until he found some hay seeds and picked those up and ate them. He loves his hay.

I am thinking - possibly as deprived as his short life has been, he is instinctively selecting those foods that offer him the promise of the immediate nutrition he needs. He liked the apple slices and the nuts (it was always only 7 or 8 nut fragments or halves), but he has not shown interested in the 2 fresh vegetables I have introduced. He liked the iceberg lettuce bits for the first 2 days, and now he won't touch it. He eats the pellet mix when I am not looking; I bought a dispenser for it, and the level is getting lower. But since I added hay after reading your instructions on guinea pigs and hay, he relishes it and seems to be excited when it appears.

 

[ILoveGilbertTheGuineaPig]

That's great! If he doesn't eat it after a few hours, you should throw it out and try again later. Eventually he will eat it. For now, this sounds good, and I hope his eating habits continue to improve. He is so handsome!

 

[katiepops]

I do think animals are good at knowing what they need and what they shouldn't have in general although we'll accept Gerry and his taste for plastic bags as an exception!
Lots of hay will do him good and get his stomach working properly. Fresh hay always gets my lot excited. If you've got any parsley or leafy greens that may well tempt him. I've never known a piggy refuse parsley! As long he's eating something I wouldn't worry.
I've not heard of piggies eating nuts before, I'm not sure if that's recommended.
You're doing a grand job with this little fella.

 

[CandyFloss]

Great news regarding the hay. I think its just the best thing for them...mine get quite excited when its changed twice a day
Not sure about the nuts though ... anyone know about this ?
Also, Ive read that Iceberg is the only lettuce thats not the best for them....not sure why though. Wonder if there's any other types local to you you could try ?
You've made huge progress in the time you've had him. I'm sure in time you'll get to know his favourites and his tastes may change. Some of mine took some time to develop a taste for green pepper... but they did eventually.
Maybe worth also trying some herbs like coriander (mine dont like basil) or parsley (but not too much parsley).
xx

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

I'm not sure they will be able to process nuts will they? and Iceberg i think is not too good for them is it? i thought it could make their poops squidgy?

I am sure there is a reason for no Iceberg. Anyone?

Just keep trying different things until you find what he likes. My two love carrot, red, yellow, orange & green pepper, cucumber, romaine, baby corns, celery and kale.



Oh and mostly...hay!

 

[sharonS]

Maybe because he has never had these sorts of foods before now it will take him some time to aquire a taste for them, I have one little sow that loves baby corn, if I forget to put her any in their salad dish in the morning she will keep walking around the dishes sniffing to see if there is any, if it is at the bottom of the dish she will wait for me to put my hand in and pull her a piece out.rolleyes

 

[lilmisscavy]

Going by what I've always known from 14 years experience and from Guinea Lynx website stating 'Avoid mixes or treats with nuts, seeds, dried fruit and dyed pieces', I'd say it's not wise to keep feeding them to him.

The only foods they require is a good guinea-pig mix or pellet, fresh vegetables and fruits and plenty of hay. Mine get a lot of clover, grass and dandelions as well.

Some are fussy and won't like what another likes. Only one of my girls, or some of them, I have 4 together but I don't know if they ALL do, likes tomato. The other 3 girls and my 5 boys don't like tomato at all. Some of them like apple, some don't, some of them like clover flowers, some don't. They're all different. It won't take long until you work out what he likes and dislikes.