Water Tempature When Making Pellet Mash?

[dani]

Do you think using boiling water straight from the kettle will damage the nutrient content in pellets?

I am making a mash for my girls, Blossom is on antibiotics for a womb infection. She is an elderly girl, whose weight has dropped recently, so trying to boost her a little.

And wasn't sure whether to post in this section (as relating to poorly piggies), or to the food section.

 

[gizzy]

Could well do, safest bet is to soak in cool water , may take a little longer , but
At least that way you can be sure all the nutreants are in tact

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

Have always used boiling water. There's no reason why the nutrients would be lost, as you aren't draining any of the water off. Find it best to use a mug, pour on enough water to cover the nuggets and a bit more. Leave for several minutes, allowing the nuggets to absorb the water before stirring into a paste, in order to reduce the potential for any lumps to remain. Allow to cool - some piggies like to have syringe food at a comfortably warm temperature.

 

[paulalovespiggies]

I'm not sure about the nutrient content, but from experience, when you leave the pellets to soak in cold water, the texture is different when you mash them up. I've recently been feeding my Pig pellet mash and he absolutely loved it when it was nice and warm, plus when I mashed it the texture was much smoother with boiled water, with cold water it was a bit sloppy.

You can try mashing up a vit c tablet into the mush as well. My Pig absolutely loved it!

 

[dani]

Might try that vit C tablet. Thankfully I'm not having to syringe feed just yet. Blossom is still headbutting her buddies out of the way to get at each feed, and eating well. I don't think she can manage as much each time as the other girls, so trying to feed more often during the day, and generous portions each time. None of my girls are chubby, so won't do them any harm to put on a wee bit of weight for the winter. My boys are all much better weights - one is definately a chubby boy. They are all youngsters though, my girls are all a few years old.

 

[paulalovespiggies]

Lol, she sounds feisty!

Have u tried taking her out separately to make sure she's getting enough?

Doesn't sound like you need to worry too much with her eating yet, but it's good to be prepared and know before hand. You might want to try syringe feeding water every so often to get her used to the syringe (if she's never fed from one before).

When mine was sick I was syringing him antibiotics which he hated plus he had never been syringe fed before so it was a stressful time - I don't know who was more stressed out, him or me lol.

 

[dani]

She certainly is fiesty!. Physically she is the weakest of the bunch, although she doesn't appear to have noticed!

I haven't separated her for feeding time yet, aiming to have enough in her hutch so she can continue to eat little and often, - plenty of hay, and regular generous top ups of veg and pellets and pellet mash. I am keeping a good eye on her- separating and / or syringe feeding may be an option if her appetite changes.

She is taking her antibiotics and probiotics through a syringe, and has taken to it very well, even giving the syringe a wee lick after the job is done.