When to reduce nuggets

[AbiS]

At the moment Toby and Barney have unlimited nuggets. They are 7.5 months old. At what point do I start to limit them to 30-50g per day each? At last check Barney weighed 1137g and Toby was 1065g and are gaining 20-30g a week each. I actually have no idea how much they eat at the moment as I just keep the bowl topped up. Obviously they have fresh veg and unlimited hay as well

I don't want my little piggies to turn into porkers!

 

[Jerrybelly]

Guinea pigs reach adult weight at 9-12 months old, but based on those weights you could start to slowly reduce their nuggets now.

Piggy weights vary by age, sex, and their general shape and build. My 4.5 year old boar is 1066g, and my two 2 year old boars are 1160g and 1230g (or, at least they were 2 days ago!)

Here's some more info:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...-of-Weight-Checks-and-Overfeeding-Guinea-Pigs

 

[klee]

Like Jerrybelly has said I would probably start reducing them now, they sound like they are going to be big boys.
Between the four (now 3) girls of mine, they have 2 half filled small bowls- one with harringtons and one with burgess and they sometimes finish it all sometimes don't. My girls are about 1100g, 1150g and 1300g. As long as they have lots of hay then don't worry that you are starving them by not giving so many pellets.

 

[AbiS]

Have to say that it does make me feel a bit guilty - they are always searching for food - the little pigs!

 

[Wiebke]

Please reduce the amounts very gradually, or you will have a riot on your hands! personally, I would recommend that you go down to a maximum of 30g once they reach 15 months, which is about when they reach full adulthood.

 

[klee]

Have to say that it does make me feel a bit guilty - they are always searching for food - the little pigs!

Mine love treat hay, and they much prefer that to their nuggets any day it also gives a bit of variety. I wouldn't cut their pellets out altogether if they like them, like I say mine get 2 bowls each morning and they are all fully grown, but I have never really changed how much I give them so Tia and Ruby have always had this amount.

 

[MerryPip]

My boys get a bowl between them a day, with refill alter if they need it but if they have access to plenty of hay then it's fine to cut them down a bit once they are fully grown. My lads are all big boys with Struan the lightest at 1180g and Suilven the biggest at 1350g with two in the middle at around 1200g.

They eat for Britain and they'd throw a major strop if I cut their food down!

 

[AbiS]

Mine love treat hay, and they much prefer that to their nuggets any day it also gives a bit of variety. I wouldn't cut their pellets out altogether if they like them, like I say mine get 2 bowls each morning and they are all fully grown, but I have never really changed how much I give them so Tia and Ruby have always had this amount.

What do you mean by 'treat hay'? Mine have timothy and meadow at the moment.

I have weighed out 100g (for the 2 of them) - it looks pretty similar to what they have at the moment so will see how we go. Will reduce by 10g a month until down to 30g at 15 months as per Wiebke's advice.

Thanks all

x

 

[AbiS]

Well, when I put the 100g (maximum for 2 pigs according to instructions on bag) into their bowl this morning it turned out that it was a lot more than I normally give them and they don't usually finish it all in 24 hours so I didn't have anything to worry about after all. Will slowly reduce them over time with a view to them having 60g between them by 15months.

Thank you for all your advice I am obviously destined to have HUUUUGGGEEEEE piggies! xx>>>

 

[Goth Mummy]

Thanks for asking this question, Abis, and thank you to those who replied, I was wondering the same thing about my boys! mine eat constantly and have a large pile of hay morning and evening in addition to unlimited pellets. Glad to know I dont need to limit their pellet consumption yet

 

[AbiS]

Isn't this forum just great?! No question is a stupid one and everyone can benefit from others questions!

 

[klee]

What do you mean by 'treat hay'? Mine have timothy and meadow at the moment.

I have weighed out 100g (for the 2 of them) - it looks pretty similar to what they have at the moment so will see how we go. Will reduce by 10g a month until down to 30g at 15 months as per Wiebke's advice.

Thanks all

x

Mine love the likes of Vitakraft vitaverde hay, it is quite a green hay with extras added in it such as rose petals, and dandelion. I know you can get other flavours as well such as peppermint and chamomile.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-treat...-500g-p-6922?zenid=shsbd9mr0gh8pum1ivuehl2785

Excel do herbage hay as well which can have birch bark, or chamomile in.

I also give meadow hay morning and night, and just supplement them with other types of hay/ herb mix as it keeps them interested.

In all honesty I don't have a clue how much food I give them, I just go by the amount in the bowls, which I don't think is more that they should be having but I will have to check when I'm home as I'm curious now.
Don't worry about having huge pigs. There is more to cuddle, Ruby is normally around 1350g and is built like a brick but very cuddly.

 

[AbiS]

Mine love the likes of Vitakraft vitaverde hay, it is quite a green hay with extras added in it such as rose petals, and dandelion. I know you can get other flavours as well such as peppermint and chamomile.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-treat...-500g-p-6922?zenid=shsbd9mr0gh8pum1ivuehl2785

Excel do herbage hay as well which can have birch bark, or chamomile in.

I also give meadow hay morning and night, and just supplement them with other types of hay/ herb mix as it keeps them interested.

In all honesty I don't have a clue how much food I give them, I just go by the amount in the bowls, which I don't think is more that they should be having but I will have to check when I'm home as I'm curious now.
Don't worry about having huge pigs. There is more to cuddle, Ruby is normally around 1350g and is built like a brick but very cuddly.

I shall look into those thanks- I have ordered rose petals, dried nettles and a couple of other things from a site called shelled warriors.

And believe me - I am so not worried about them getting huge. MrS was sad because he wanted to keep them little forever but if I end up with a brick I will be over the moon (not that I don't totally love them anyway)