Winter feeding

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Romily

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hello

I have some piggies who will be staying outdoors in a hutch inside a shed. They will have unlimited hay and pellets with daily fresh veg. However I wondered if there were any particular foods that I could add to their diets that would help them maintain their weight?
 
Porridge oats with their crunchies.

Generally, any starchy foods like corn will help bolster the weight; that is why they are usually advised against or should only be fed after an illness - they can make a piggy obese that isn't burning more calories than normal.
 
So just normal scottish oats? Is there a certain type of hay/grass that would help boost the calorie count?
 
Romily said:
So just normal scottish oats? Is there a certain type of hay/grass that would help boost the calorie count?
Click to expand...

They are basically just oat grains that have been flattened...

For the other, you'd better ask the hay experts!
 
I don't know about maintaining their weight, but I am constantly checking that my boys (also in a shed) have plenty of nuggets, a handful of readigrass and sometimes a very small bowl of wheat bran mixed with warm water if it's particularly cold.

My pigs don't seem to have a problem with their weight. They are neither too thin, not too fat. The only time they get a little bit porky is during the summer when they're out of grass all day.
 
Ooh, I'll be keeping my eye on this thread!

Is it a good idea to feed sweetcorn say half a cob each once a week throughout the Winter to boost weight then? Or is it likely to cause more problems than it solves? Just a thought as my poor piggles will be outdoors (in a shed) too
 
I find my lot always eat a lot more during the winter months hay replenished morning and late at night. Food bowls topped up too. Veggies I give twice a day always have. I have never given them warm food its not needed its hard not to worry I think. Just so long as they are kept in dry conditions they should be fine.
 
We've tried porridge oats this morning and both Pippa and Pixel were eating them from my hand - looks like they're a hit!
 
I have ordered a mix of foods for weight gain and have started feeding porridge to my piggies in the morning which they seem to enjoy!
 
I have ordered a mix of foods for weight gain and have started feeding porridge to my piggies in the morning which they seem to enjoy!
 
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