Veg

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Catherine Johnson

Catherine Johnson

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My guineas are about 11weeks old and have a liking for cucumber but no other fruit/veg. I've tried broccoli stalks and florets, carrots, red cabbage, white cabbage, red pepper, parsley, sprouts and a piece of Apple etc but they are all left. I put muesli and veg in with them in the morning and evening, removing the morning veg in the evening. Should I leave the veg longer? Should I keep trying the same things and not vary it too much? I just want to do the best for them, as I've read that cucumber has very little nutritional value for gps please advise.
 
Hi, welcome to the forum!

I wouldn't leave the veg in too long in the cage in case they spoil, that being said my boys are really slow eaters and because at the moment my room is as cold as a fridge I leave it in quite a while - during the summer when it's like a sauna they will have to learn to eat quicker!

In terms of things to try I'd definitely keep trying different things to see what they like, it could be a case that they've not really been exposed to much veg in the past depending where they've come from. There is a very good veg list on the forum which gives recommendations regarding which veg are a good vitamin C source (very important for piggies) and which veg can be fed daily and which should only be given in moderation.

I'd definitely recommend getting a bag of mixed leaves to try them with (try to avoid anything with iceberg lettuce, cabbage or spinach in), maybe try green pepper,this can be fed daily. Celery is another one that can be fed daily. My boys also love babycorn which needs to be fed in moderation and coriander which can be fed a little bit daily.

My boys are quite picky but I've either persevered with some things or reintroduced them after a time which has encouraged them; equally there are some things they're just never going to touch like asparagus!

Good Luck, it's a tricky time getting the veg diet balanced between what they'll eat, what they need/can't have and what is feasible for you to stock in the fridge :)
 
My boys love herbs particularly basil and mint but they can have parsley, dill and others. They are strong smelling and tasty. Green beans are also a favourite in our house.

Mixed leaves are a good bet as they have a variety of options. Keept rying small amounts of different things and see what they fancy. some are fussy. My Struan only really eats carrot and a few other things despite trying all sorts. He prefers hay and pellets

I would also recommend using a pellet based food as museli encourages them to only eat the tasty bits and not the more nutritional other bits, it also has a link to poor dental health. A good pellet food like Burgess Excel or Science Selective will give them a better balanced diet than museli and I find the pigs prefer them. Plenty of hay is also hugely important for good dental and overall health. They should have unlimited hay available at all times.
 
Other veggies to try are Kale, Cauli leaves, & Celery (inc. leaves). Also if you have anyone in your household who eats melon then the skin that you throw away with little flesh is also something mine like & get daily. You could also occasionally give them tomatoes, I use cherry tomatoes cut in half. I suck the seeds out before giving them to my piggies.
 
Be patient and persist. Leave the veg lying for a few hours and try again with the same veg after a few days. Your little boys come obviously from a background where they have not been in contact with veg, nor have their mums who normally teach the babies what is safe to eat. That is why they haven't got a concept and are so wary. You can try to place a tiny bit in their mouth and make a big fuss if they chew. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...veg-and-fruit-list-with-vitamin-c-grading.42/

Please gradually wean your boys off muesli onto pellet food. Muesli is linked in studies to selective eating of the sweet bits, which can cause long term deficiencies and dental problems (pre-molars). Don't do a cold turkey, just gradully add a bit more pellets each day.

Make sure that they have unlimited hay.
 
Thank you everyone. I've tried a few mixed leaves and they have gone...yippee but cucumber is a firm favourite. I put some peeled kiwi fruit in today but that's since been removed untried. I've read about Oxbow cavy pellets and alfalfa hay for growing guineas, any opinions on me getting that pellet food instead of the dare I say it?...Gerty, which was what my little girlies were on when I bought them.
 
Just keep trying little bits of fruit and veg and you will soon find what they like best. In the month since we have had Edward he has gone from eating just cucumber, celery and carrots to eating a mixture of different things although he knows what he doesn't like.
Oxbow are a very good pellet food, although they are expensive as it is from America. It is worth trying different pellets to see what your pigs like. I personally use Harringtons optium food and Burgess excel pellets and the pigs love them- particularly the Harringtons.
 
klee said:
Just keep trying little bits of fruit and veg and you will soon find what they like best. In the month since we have had Edward he has gone from eating just cucumber, celery and carrots to eating a mixture of different things although he knows what he doesn't like.
Oxbow are a very good pellet food, although they are expensive as it is from America. It is worth trying different pellets to see what your pigs like. I personally use Harringtons optium food and Burgess excel pellets and the pigs love them- particularly the Harringtons.
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Can I ask where they sell harringtons? my skinny is on it and I have change over food which I am mixing with science selective but I could do with some more really.

I currently have 3 pigs on burgess, 3 on p@h and one on harringtons, I am trying to switch them all onto science selective (they are mostly all young) but if harringtons ingredients are better and I can find it I may switch to that.

Yes I have 4 guinea foods in house at mo lol :mal:
 
Briony_Y said:
Can I ask where they sell harringtons? my skinny is on it and I have change over food which I am mixing with science selective but I could do with some more really.

I currently have 3 pigs on burgess, 3 on p@h and one on harringtons, I am trying to switch them all onto science selective (they are mostly all young) but if harringtons ingredients are better and I can find it I may switch to that.

Yes I have 4 guinea foods in house at mo lol :mal:
Click to expand...
I get Harringtons from Asda, although Jollyes do sell it as well so I get it from there when it is on offer.
 
Thanks ill nip to asda. i think the amount I have will only last a week as the monkey keeps weeing in food bowl :mal:
 
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