Too many veggies?

[ThatPurpleB]

Hi

I've been reading the posts on here about how much veg ppl feed their piggies and I think I'm feeding mine too much.

Their poos arent soft so I've never been worried until I started rooting about on this forum a bit reading the threads and guides.

This is typically what I feed mine in a day, it is shared between 2 piggies, half of it fed in the afternoon, the other half before bed.

Half a cos lettuce
Quarter of a green bell pepper
Just under an inch slice of cucumber
6 springs of coriander

They do eat about half each.

It's mainly lettuce I think I give too much of....

They have a level table spoon each of pellets each morning and unlimited hay throughout the day (a mix of 3 types). They easily eat their body size in hay each day. So I'm not worried about the rest of their diet.

I know they're supposed to have a cup each but my perception of volumes of things is always way off. Because they're skinny pigs I was originally feeding 3 cups of veg a day thinking they needed to eat more and have cut down (I have a tubberwear that was exactly 3 cups and use to fill to the top, I dont anymore).

Is this too much veg? Thanks for reading.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The cucumber and pepper sound ok. I think you are right in that youre overdoing lettuce - one small leaf per pig per day is enough. I tend to give a little more coriander than is on the sample plate though.
The sample plate in this guide, it shows the amount for one pig per day.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[ThatPurpleB]

Yeah, it was the sample plate that shocked me. I was like, ONE leaf?!

I think I'm so use to seeing piggies on YouTube and they have lots of lettuce. Nova will be very upset at the lack of lettuce coming her way! I'd say it's a favourite but any green veg is her favourite....

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

In total that isn't too much veg but I would reduce the amount of lettuce and replace it with something else.

 

[ThatPurpleB]

Today was 1st day of lettuce rations. They've defo eaten more hay today. Only one very vocal tug of war over lettuce and no full scale riot yet!

I'm replacing the lettuce with fresh grass in small amounts at the moment but building up. Currently redoing our back garden so the neighbours must think I'm looney walking around looking for grass that hasn't been trampled down. I feed them extra coriander anyway as our local shop and market sells it in HUGE bunches. Also need to purchase some green beans for them too. So these will help replace lettuce.

 

[Siikibam]

I would still give them lettuce but just less. Did they get a leaf or a piece each? Mine don’t tend to Nick each other’s as they’re all busy eating. One sometimes leaves the hard big in the centre and other pig nicks and eat it!

 

[ThatPurpleB]

I would still give them lettuce but just less. Did they get a leaf or a piece each? Mine don’t tend to Nick each other’s as they’re all busy eating. One sometimes leaves the hard big in the centre and other pig nicks and eat it!

They still get lettuce, just a more appropriate amount.

Luna and Nova always steal each other's food. Mainly Nova off Luna. Sometimes she takes it back but mostly she just grabs another piece. I hand feed lots of their veggies but still they put down their own food to go eat what's half way in the other's mouth

Nova sometimes takes her piece, runs off with it, puts it somewhere the other side of the cage, then comes back to steal Luna's piece. Luna then wanders off and eats the bit Nova hid. Nova seems very put out when she returns to find Luna eating the hidden food.

 

[Swissgreys]

Your girls sound like real characters.

 

[ThatPurpleB]

Your girls sound like real characters.

They are! Makes me sad when I see lone piggies as Luna and Nova have a very enriching relationship. Nova needs Luna all the time, for no reason in particular, but she needs to be able to see her at all times or she cries. But Nova is the outgoing one who does everything 1st and Luna follows.