What is bad for piggies?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sandrilene

Sandrilene

Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
TN, USA
I'm adopting a couple of guinea pigs tonight and i would like to know what fresh food is bad for them and also would like to know what to feed them i know they need vitamin c badly and i read on websites to give them pellets and hay i think i saw in the pet store a loose food mix is that good? and how much of each type do i give them? i want to make sure i make them healthy. ")
 
Most fresh food is all good for them, just steer clear of tomato leaves, rhubarb, potatoes and onion. I'm sure someone will be able to point out a thread on here about fresh foods for you.

As for the rest, they should have unlimited good quality hay all the time and a bowl of guinea pig food (though this isnt essential its full of vit C and good to keep them healthy) Make sure you pick a complete pellet food as this stop the piggies selective feeding - only eating the yummy parts and not getting a balanced diet. Some pet shop own food isnt of great quality. I'm not sure about foods so much in the USA but here I would suggest Burgess Excel and Wagg as good quality guinea pig food.

You'll get loads of advise on here. Welcome to the forum! And enjoy your piggies!

x.
 
if i keep their food bowls full of hay and pellets will they over eat on it? i know some animals do and some don't.
 
abi your avatar is awesome you have an army of piggies hehe. oh yea and i will post pics once i pick up my piggies and they aren`t hiding. i assume they hide when they are scared they are always hiding in pet shops.
 
List of things NOT to feed them include
Sorrel, Ragwart, foxgloves, rhubarb and the leaves, buttercups, docks, anything from a bulb (ie onions, leeks, garlic, chives etc) anything with lactose in it (chocolate, cows milk etc), bineweed, bryony, hemlock, potatoes or the peel. There is more to add, but I'm a little tired, and having brain block. Will add more in the morning.
 
Sorry, to answer the rest of your question, a pigs diet should be made up of mainly hay, so at least 80% of their diet should be this. Try and locate a pellet rather than a musili mix as they tend to just pick out thier favourite bits and not eat everything. Also try and avoid anything with colourants on. Its just used to make it attractive to us humans and the colourants have sugars in. They should have a selection of veg at least once a day, I know some people offer them twice. Try not to give anything high in sugar as a regular veg/fruit used (apple, carrot etc).
 
Glad to hear you are getting some piggies! Ok here is a list of good foods:

Carrot
Cucumber
Apple
Pear
Strawberry
Parsley
Green Beans
Tomato
 
Sandrilene said:
if i keep their food bowls full of hay and pellets will they over eat on it? i know some animals do and some don't.
Click to expand...

They can never over eat on hay, they wont get fat on this and its really important for their dental and digestive health. See how you go with the pellets, most piggies are good and dont over eat on these, but sometimes can, it will make them fat if they do. One of my girls is a little podgy so I'm having to cut down. If your piggies are not yet a year old, just let them have unlimited.

x.
 
Sorry I couldn't edit it so here is the FULL list.

Glad to hear you are getting some piggies! Ok here is a list of good foods:

Carrot
Cucumber
Apple
Pear
Strawberry
Parsley
Green Beans
Tomato (remove leaves)
ROMAINE Lettuce
Seedless Grapes
Brocolli
BELL Peppers
Basil leaves etc

NEVER feed Iceberg Lettuce, Cooked Foods, Anything like Chocolate, Products with Caffiene etc. Also no meats. Never feed rabbit food and it is best to stay on pellets as Guinea pigs will be picky with muesli. Fruits should be fed about once a week as they can give your piggie a mouth sore. Stringy celery, nuts or seeds, rhubarb, potato etc. You can feed treats from pet stores but not too much as their diet should be mainly on healthy treats.
 
Your piggies should allways have access to fresh hay! it keeps them occupied which means they wont get bored or depressed.
If you can, give fresh pig feed three times a day in a limited amount, that way they wont stuff their faces and get fat if you pour it all in at one meal!
:D

As mentioned, stay away from raw things like potatoes and green beans, and certain seeds. If you pick dandelions or grass make sure it's not from anywhere close to a road, and make sure you wash it really well first.


You should deffinately buy a book on guinea pigs, simply because it will be usefull to refer to in the future.

Give any fresh fruit or veg in moderation, because if you give too much they might over eat and get the runs : O Or it might end up just sitting in the cage and going off, making your piggies sick..


You'll learn, and you will start to understand what your piggies are 'saying' to you and what they want. I hope to see pictures of them soon.
good luck, and have fun! squee!
 
Oh dear, can you really not give dock leaves? I'm sure I read that they're ok. I've read up about "wild food" as I'm often out wandering the highways and by-ways and always try to come back with a bag of leaves. Any more definite info about this would be very gratefully received. I've been giving them to my guineas for several years, but only 2/3 leaves.
At the moment dandelions are good, so are plantain (both types). Have also given 1/2 leaves of wild garlic.
I also read that celery is ok but should be cut into short lengths.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top