Tips/Opinions/Criticism on my Veggie Plan?

[graviee]

I’m one to overthink things, but oh well. Could anyone give me their opinion on what I plan to feed? I’m not a huge fan of having to buy a wide array of produce, so is it okay to not have a huge variety as long as the pigs are getting the nutrients they need?

Everyday: Green Leaf Lettuce, Bell Pepper (usually green or yellow) , carrot (one per pig, per day), cherry tomatoes (also one per pig)

I may also add strawberries? According to the charts you can find they can be fed in small amounts everyday. I have also seen lots of people using cilantro, so I may consider using that as well if it’s necessary.

If anyone has any other staples or suggestions please let me know as this is more of a rough draft

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[PigglePuggle]

You shouldnt feed tomatoes and carrots daily, carrots are high in sugar and tomatoes are very acodic and can make their mouths sore. Tomato and carrot should be once a week treats, and not a whole carrot per piggy- more like a couple of slices!
Cucumber can be fed daily, most of us feed a cucumber slice every day I think. Bell pepper daily definitely as it is high in vitamin C.
And you want a bit more variety in the greens, lettuce is very watery and doesnt have much nutritional content. We usually do 2 lettuce days, 2 cilantro days, and 2 spinach salad mix days per week. Cilantro can be fed more often to most piggies but we have one who got a bloaty tummy from too much cilantro so we feed it less often. Other herbs are good too, like dill or occasional parsley (parsley is high calcium though so once or twice a week, not daily).
There is an excellent feeding guide on the forum somewhere but I cant link things on my phone, someone will link it for you hopefully or it will be pinned near the top of the food section of the forum!

 

[Fantasimo]

Mine get about a 5th of a carrot, a half a cherry tomato and some parsley each day. All of my pigs have and have all made old bones, so I wouldn’t worry unduly as long as things aren’t in huge quantities. I think I would be lynched if my Finn didn’t get a bit of carrot each day

What you will find is that piggies will grow tired of having the same thing each day, so it’s best to find out what they like and then rotate things in and out every couple of weeks or days as suggested above, with their special favourites each day or every other day. You will soon come to learn the horror of a guinea pig turning it’s nose up at some wonderful treat you have brought especially for them. I have been eating asparagus this week (not my first choice of food stuffs) as both of mine made it very clear they were not interested

I live near the supplier of Wimbledon strawberries and so each year I try mine. They like them as a treat, but would quickly get bored I think. Still, yours might be different!

 

[Siikibam]

I’m afraid I have to disagree with you a little @Fantasimo but maybe my pigs are different. They get the same thing every day and don’t seem to have grown tired of it either. I’ve been feeding this to them for at least a year (the boys anyway).

Your pigs may be ok with the diet of tomato, parsley and carrot every day, but others may not. So it’s best to err on the side of caution I think.

@graviee here’s the link to the feeding guide that PigglePuggle mentioned.

Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[graviee]

I’ve edited, let me know if you think I should make any more changes:

Everyday:
- Green Leaf Lettuce
- Bell Pepper
- Celery
- Cilantro (in small amounts)

I’ll also rotate in cherry tomato, carrots (I meant baby, haha), and a salad mix (on salad mix days I’ll decrease the amount of lettuce a bit). This way the higher sugar foods will be fed less often.

 

[Siikibam]

I’d add cucumber to their daily food, and give just one of either tomato or carrot once a week. If carrot do a slice rather than a whole baby carrot. If you didn’t give them every week I’m sure they’d be fine though. They can be starving a minute after feeding

Also if doing salad mix maybe don’t give lettuce as well? Up to you though.