Veggies!

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Claire K

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Hi There, I was wondering if anyone can help me please.

I have recently bought home 2 new piggies (sows). They are currently quite happy to eat Kale, Carrots and Cauli Leaves but when ever I try and give them anything else, they won't eat it - has anyone else had this problem with selective feeding with veggies and if so, is there a best way to overcome it?

Not having had guinea pigs before, I did a massive amount of research before I got them so am well aware that they need their vitamin C and am worried that the few veggies that they will eat will not give them what they should be having.

Look forward to hearing from you

Claire x ?/
 
Hi Claire

I'm a new owner too, we've just got two sows just over a week ago. I've been trying various veggies each day. Yesterday I added red and orange pepper to the mix, Mabelle didn't go near the whole plate for a long time where as she normally dives straight in, and Sasha, who is more reserved, loved it. Mabelle ate the stuff that we know she likes but didn't touch the pepper at all. They also are a little fussy with carrots. They will eat some, but will normally leave it until last and don't eat nearly as much of it as the other types we've tried.

I think they can just be fussy.

:)
 
That's what I'm doing at the moment, so far we've tried cucumber, corn on the cob, broccoli, carrot, pepper, beetroot and courgette. The beetroot and courgette was tried today as a friend from work has given me some of her home grown produce, both went down a treat. Their all time favourite is cucumber. They will dig around the plate until they find it. I think we'll give cabbage a go next.

We are going to start growing our own veg once the gardens sorted, but until then, I don't want to be buying lots of veggies from the shop that they wont eat! So just getting small amounts to see what they will and wont eat.

Good luck :)
 
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Try frehs herbs - I have 8 piggies here at the moment and ALL of them like herbs.

I give parsley (from time to time as lots of calcium), coriander which everyone loves, fresh basil another winner and mint which they will eat in moderation.

Also a big winner here is spring greens and green beans.

Mine are the same with pepper - some will some wont, ditto carrots. But the herbs everyone loves esp coriander.
 
Oh and where are my manners?

Nice to meet you both! :)p
 
Yes me too as I keep getting mine in asda and would be nice to grow my own.

Actually 5 of my 6 permanent guineas like parsley but one can take it or leave it.
 
if you keep giving them sometimes they will come round. George wouldn't eat peppers for about 3 months and now he loves them. some things they will grow to like in time and some they may never like. Peppers are really good for them as high vit c and they can be fed everyday. I would keep giving them and maybe she will come round to them!
 
I found this tip on how often you can give guineas veg and fruit for you (and more!) on the internet :)

2-3 times a week is best. DO NOT feed ice-berg lettuce, this contains pretty much just water and can cause intenstinal problems, carrots, leafy greens like kale, and bits of apple are all good treats. If you guinea pig becomes picky and will only eat the fruits and veggies, stop feeding them and only offer his pellet food.

Make sure you search the web too to find the right care needed for guinea pigs

Hope this helps!

Charl xx
 
It is best to feed piggies veggies everyday. Some foods eg carrots should only be fed 2/3 times a week but they should get some veg each day. things like peppers are fine everyday and you can alternate the things they should have less often to ensure they get some each day.
 
I have a confession :red:{

I do feed my guineas veg everyday :{

But I just found it on the internet and expected it to be helpful

I'm sorry I make no sense today

I feed my piggies home grown fennel everyday
 
Just found this second post - teach me to look before I post! Will copy the post I made from the other thread and ask a mod to close the other one.

Hi Claire, welcome to the forum. :)

Picky eating is one of the most common difficulties new owners face. Young piggies, and new piggies, tend to be wary of anything they are not used to, so anything new (and usually good for them...) is avoided because they just aren't brave enough to try them!

I tend to advise offering the new food little and often, and run on the following guides:

- Put a portion of one new food at a time in the normal salad. Give this same new food with every salad for 3 days. If this does not work and there is still no interest, then give the food on its own once or twice daily - at a separate time to salads - for another 3 days.
- If the pig is still not interested, forget about the new food for a couple of weeks before trying again, and instead focus on a different new food. Keep trying to work variety in.

The veggies your piggies are currently eating should easily provide them with their requirement for Vitamin C, although the sooner they start eating other things, the better for them!

A few piggie favourites to try include:

Parsley
Dill
Cucumber
Peppers
Lettuce (any type except iceberg)

You can also try foods that are similar to what they are already fed on - for example you could try cabbage, sine cabbage is similar to kale.
 
Thanks to you all for your help and advice - its nice to meet you all.

I have been a nightmare since having the piggies - keep checking on them and worrying about them all the time. I guess once I find their likes and dislikes, I will calm down a bit.

Can giving them Kale, carrots and Cauli leaves every day at the moment do them harm does anyone know as they love them?

Claire
 
I think with carrots it depends on how much. I give mine carrots every day but between 6 of them (now 8) they share one regular size carrot - i cut it into sticks and give them other stuff to bump up the volume.
 
Lisajazz said:
I think with carrots it depends on how much. I give mine carrots every day but between 6 of them (now 8) they share one regular size carrot - i cut it into sticks and give them other stuff to bump up the volume.
Click to expand...

I do agree with this actually if only a small amount then ok everyday. Mine tend to get half a medium carrot each but only twice / three times a week so it would be ok to give them a smaller amount more often!
 
Thanks to all of you for your help and advice - I will give them a very small portion of their favourites each day so that they do not go over their recommended amount and that way I know they are eating some each day - I will then try and add extras every couple of days and see if I can get them trying something a bit more exciting !

Have been out and got parsley and basil today so will try them tonight.

Is it best to give them 2 small meals of veg each day ie one at the start and one at the end or give them one meal at the end of each day ?
 
2 small meals is preferable, but it's not a big deal if they only have one meal a day. :)
 
What herbs can I feed and how often can they have them ?

Also, If i am giving them Kale, cauli leaves, herbs and carrot, how big would you class a portion as ?

Can i presume that if i split portions into say half portions then I can give it to them more often throughout the week?
 
Does anyone know if guineapigs can eat tomatoes? I've heard they can't eat the leaves, just the fruit. :)
 
Mine love their tomato - but I give it as a rotational food, not a daily one, and only the fruit. They prefer normal tomato to the cherry ones.
 
Cherry tomatoes can be fed every day. One or two is fine however its advised you gut the seeds in them if you feed it to them regularry. I know I do anyway. Large tomatoes can be fed 2-4 times a week.
 
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