Veggies suitable for feeding on a daily basis

[Donna3939]

I'm sure I read a thread on here which listed which veg is suitable for feeding daily, those which are suitable to be fed 2-3 times a week and other which should be fed only once in a while but I can't find it so I'm asking again.

I get confused with all this calcium ratio thing so a list of basic veg which I can safely give the piggies on a daily basis would be FANTASTIC.

I don't know if I'm doing the right thing but at the mo the piggies are getting spring greens, celery, cucumber and cherry toms daily with cauliflower/leaves and carrot given every few days. Am I doing this right or am I giving them too many/too little high calcium veg?

I plan on getting peppers for them next time I go shopping but what other veggies are suitable for everyday feeding?

Ta,

Donna. x

 

[Wiebke]

Spinach and kale are the veg that should be given only sparsely because of their high calcium content. Too much cabbage at once can cause bloat, but cabbage as part of a piggy's "five a day" veg is OK.

Otherwise, you're not doing too wrong by giving a mix of several veg

Here is a list what kind of veg they can eat:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42

This is Laura's worked simplified thread on a balanced (you can find it in the reference section, like many other informative threads):
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37030

 

[Gems]

We've had to change round what we're feeding the piggies due to Athenas bladder stones and on Laura's recommendation have been using the ratewatchers diet http://www.store2go.net/shop/planetguinea/ratewatchersrainbowdiet.pdf

It's really straightforward and gives the piggies a good balanced diet ( although we are now spending a fortune on fresh fruit and veg for them! )

 

[CiaraPatricia]

I'm not sure but I generally feed greens (danelion leaves, lettuces, a few herbs) everyday, then things like carrots, parsnips, broccoli, sweet potato, swede, every 2-3 days, and things like a small bit of apple once a week or 2 weeks.

 

[Doghouse135]

Oooh I'm glad this has been brought up as I have a feeding dilemma with my newly acquired pregnant sow.

As much as I try she will only eat kale and spinach - I've tried her with apple, melon, carrots, pepper, celery, tomatoes, cucumber, romaine lettuce etc but she seems to lick it and then leave it.

I've tried leaving it in overnight but she still won't touch it. I know that I've got to persevere but being that she's pregnant and tiny, I want her to eat her veggies but at the same time, don't want to overload her with calcium.

Any suggestions ?

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

This may work....If you have a food blender try blending the veg in the proportion you want, using the kale and spinach as part of the mix. Store this in the fridge.

Then, take a portion, warm it to room temp so that the smells come out properly and serve!

The smell is right, the kale and spinach flavours are strong.....this might just get other veg/fruit into your pregnant girl.

This blended food won't do much to keep her teeth ok, but I am assuming that she has hay all the time anyhow.

 

[Monkeynutz]

I have to admit that I'm still a bit confused as I went into this a little blind at first.

I have fed kale to Maisy probably every day, or at least 4 out of 5 days. It's only been a few shreds, but am worried now in case it may have raised her calcium levels.

I feed a baby carrot each about 2-3 times per week.
1 slice cucmber each, twice daily, cut into 3 strips.
a strip of red pepper and maybe another one each daily, maybe twice.
a cherry tomato (half each, seeds out) and cut in half again, 2-3 times week, once daily
a leaf or two of romaine lettuce each morning and evening
a baby sweetcorn between the two of them, maybe twice week.
a small brocolli floret maybe twice weekly
a couple sprigs of flat leaf parsley each
2 leaves each of basil, but Maisy usually pinches Dotty's, as I don't think she likes it.

I may give a slice of apple each probably once or twice week, but just the once each day.
A slice of pear goes down well, about once a week.
2 pieces of clementine once a week.

Does this sound alright? Worried about the KALE now though.

 

[Doghouse135]

This may work....If you have a food blender try blending the veg in the proportion you want, using the kale and spinach as part of the mix. Store this in the fridge.

Then, take a portion, warm it to room temp so that the smells come out properly and serve!

The smell is right, the kale and spinach flavours are strong.....this might just get other veg/fruit into your pregnant girl.

This blended food won't do much to keep her teeth ok, but I am assuming that she has hay all the time anyhow.

Thank you - I'll look into that and see how we get on

 

[Wiebke]

Pregnant piggies do need a bit more calcium than normal - the extra is needed for the for the pups bones. However, alfalfa is what is usually recommended for pregnant and nursing sows, because it is high in calcium.

Perhaps you can wean her off exclusively kale and spinach by feeding alfalfa.

 

[tinky75]

Have found this thread really helpful. Any advice on the following that I feed my 2 girls would be really appreciated -

I buy kale, spring greens & spinach in alternative weeks, mainly as the bags are big and if only fed this once or twice as week most of it would be wasted?

Every morning they have a cat size bowl, every 2 days a piece of fruit and 5 out of 7 nights a carrot.

e.g.
Kale (4 days a week on the run) with either peppers, celery, cucumber (small amount), watercress, the other 3 days will be broccoli in place of the kale.

I do the same the following week for spinach & the week after for spring greens. It is really only a hand full of it, not too much. The odd day they can have say spinach & broccoli together if I have used all the pepper!

Also read about vit A in carrots said to cause liver problems, is a carrot most nights considered too much? It's one between them both and they do not always eat it all.

Sorry for long post, but can see it's important regarding their health what foods they eat

 

[Gems]

I think spinach should only really be given once a week, we follow the ratewatchers diet for our piggies ( I've posted the link in this thread ) as we thought it was the safest bet to make sure they got everything they needed.