What I must NOT feed the pigs??

[threecurrantbuns]

I'm on a steep learning curve.
:)
I didn't realise that certain things are really not good and have just been giving things that I've had or been using for dinner etc.

So far that comprises of,
Carrot peeling and tops
Apple peel
A strawberry
Grape
Green, red and yellow pepper
Parsnip peel

Hopefully they haven't consumed anything they shouldn't of had!

Strawberry, grape and carrot weren't really winners.

Oh yes I gave them potato peel then read they can't have it? They loved it!

[BonkeyMollocks]

Im not sure on potato peel. I personally wouldn't but it might be ok.

Rhubarb, onion, garlic are bad.

Iceberg lettuce can give them very wet poo and isn't advised .

Not too much fruit. Vegies should be the main. Fruit as a treat a few times a week.

[fridayfreedom]

not too much apple gives them sores at the side of their mouths if they have too much.
No potatoes.
Google it for a longer list. Also need to eb careful with wild plants. eg buttercup is poisonous and anything with a bulb.

[BonkeyMollocks]

Peppers are good for their vit c....mine won't eat it :(

Faves here are: Broccoli, carrots, pea shoots, other types of lettuce, parsnips, mini sweetcorns, cucumber, apples,and of course the beloved parsely (must be curly, they get mixed if I give them flat leaf)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

There's a long post on here "Vegetables for guineas"

Some things are a weekly or twice weekly treat, some things every couple of days.

Some owners give potato peelings (not any green peeling or any part of the leaves though). GPs are usually pretty good at leaving anything bad but of course not all do..

No Nos include:
anything bulb -onions, bulb flowers in the garden
ice-berg lettuce- too watery
nuts
avocado
rhubarb
dairy

in small amounts
spinach
watercress
tiny apple pieces (can make their mouth sore)
celery-but pull off the stringey bits
citrus fruit
cauliflower leaves (some sites don't advice the florets, but I give to mine)

I give mine a choice of 4-5 veg/fruit and try to make it 'rainbow coloured'
kale, brochilli, carrot, peppers, strawberries, apple, banana, watermelon, cucumber, grapes,rocket,celery leaves, peashoots, green beans, sweetcorn (baby and corn-on-the-cob),turnip, parsnip (but it gives GP2 wind )
And their Number One- parsley . But small amounts.

You'll find out what they like by trial and error

[Elizadoesdolittle]

As far as I know potatos contain harmful toxins so are a big no no for Guinea Pigs.

And as previous poster said, Iceberg lettuce as it can give them diarrhea.

Found this on line, HTH:

what not to feed your guinea pig, no matter how good it may taste to you.

While guinea pigs do enjoy a variety of flavors and types of fruits and vegetables, there are some foods that you should never feed to your guinea pig. If there is an item that isn't on this list or the one above and you're not sure, it's best not to feed it to your piggie until you can get verification from a vet. The good foods list isn't comprehensive, so you may find some other online resources with more exhaustive lists.

The following is a list of food items to NEVER feed to your guinea pig.
? Iceberg lettuce - this won't kill your guinea pig if you give him or her a little piece, but it has virtually no nutritional value, is quite fibrous and watery. It's been known to give guinea pigs diarrhea. With the great selection of other more leafy, dark lettuces available, just avoid this one and go with one of the others.
? Any type of cabbage - like iceberg lettuce, a small piece is not likely to severely harm or kill your guinea pig, but it's very gassy and not good for their little systems. Stay away from it if you can.
? Cauliflower - also very gas-producing.
? Potato peelings - not that this would be something you'd be likely to give your piggie anyway, but toxins can exist in potato skins, particularly if they've begun to turn green, and they can be poisonous. Just toss them in your garbage disposal or trash instead of your piggie.
? Raw beans (this doesn't mean green beans. This means things like raw, hard kidney beans, split peas, pinto beans, etc.)
? Shelled nuts or seeds, particularly things like sunflower seeds or 'bird seed' type mixes, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, etc.
? Rhubarb - the leaves of the rhubarb plant are poisonous, and the stalks are very, very sour.
? Any type of meat or fish. Guinea pigs are vegetarian and looove a salad over a steak any day.
? Dairy Products - while many stores will offer 'yogurt drops' and other 'treats', dairy is not healthy to feed your guinea pig and can actually cause problems. Feed natural treats like veggies instead of store brand treats. It's less expensive and your piggie will be much happier.
? Chocolate, coffee or other caffeine-containing products.
? Alcohol (this should go without saying!!)
? Cookies/bread*

*you can feed a small piece of cereal like a cheerio from time to time as a treat, but they will likely not even like it, so it's best to just avoid this altogether!
? hamster food, gerbil food, rabbit food, or any other non-guinea pig food. Often these contain seeds, which are a big no-no, but they also have a different balance of vitamins and minerals which aren't suited for a guinea pig's dietary needs.
? corn kernels. Popcorn isn't a very good idea either. Guinea pigs choke easily and think of how easy it is for us humans to get popcorn kernels stuck in our mouths and throats!
? sugary foods like donuts, candy, or soda
? Ice cream.
? Any processed or fried foods that you would eat, including potato chips/nachos or french fries.
? Cheese
? anything spicy. jalapeno peppers, anything with cinnamon, etc.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Mine have a breakfast and supper plate (of different foods) with hay,water and Excell pellets (all fresh daily).

If they have a grazing day then I give them a handful of naice hay instead of the veg (GP2 tends to get a bit of soft pooh and it's not fair to expect him to go without if GP1 has supper)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Mine like those salad bags (not with iceberg) but romaine, lambs lettuce, red cabbage - but only a small amount if I've bought a bag for us.

Dandelions are a laxative too.

[BonkeyMollocks]

Crispy salad....Crispy salad....salad crispy .......Crispy salad ....

Mine like that too

ds feeds it to them off his plate when he thinks Im not looking

[KRITIQ]

Really good information on diet for piggies here. www.guinealynx.info/diet.html

Good luck!

[Methe]

Never knew about cabbage.. Mine love cabbage :-/

[ZZZenAgain]

I don't know if mine are just weird but they love banana skins

[ZZZenAgain]

they eat potatoes sometimes but generously peeled. I thought it was just the peel that they shouldn't eat but I am not entirely sure about that.

[ByTheWay1]

Grapes can cause kidney trouble.

No rhubarb, no spinach, no beet tops, no peas - all high in oxalates

Hay and grass are best (grass is free too!).

Hay, grass, a dry pellet that is Vit C enriched, green leafy veg, apple tree twigs and no fruit for ours.

[guineapiglet]

Mine loved banana skins too!!! BytheWay - I read on the other thread that you had guineas that were 12 years old, so I guess we can all take the diet you stick to for yours as gospel - mine loved spinach and stole it from the garden, and they also devoured apples and grapes, - so maybe the 'no fruit' diet is the key, as the rest of the diet you recommend is what most of us use I would guess - you obviously have a 'superspecies', if yours and neighbours are so hardy and longlived, I would so love to see them!!! :O

[ByTheWay1]

I will have to try and find a pic of them - they tend to get forgotten for photos unless the girls are playing with them in the house (not often due to allergies!). If I say so myself, they are beautiful.... and old.... but healthy.

[BonkeyMollocks]

YY to pictures :)

[ByTheWay1]

ok - lets try....
here's my happy chubby piggies who were a wonderful 12 years old on 2nd Jan this year... and yes - they have chewed an additional guinea pig shaped hole in their hutch divider!! The main large arch was just not to their taste! The hutch is the original one, so you can see how much damage they can do in that time! They have much clearer markings in the photo than in real life...

i193.photobucket.com/albums/z174/tttessa/IMG_3377.jpg

[BonkeyMollocks]

Wow they look gorgeous :)

You would never know that they were 12!

And both tri-colour, give me lots of hope for Big pig

[ByTheWay1]

The thing that gets me is they kind of look exactly the same as they did when we got them - bigger of course - and with chubby bums ( a lot leaner when younger - lol - applies to me too!! ).

All they need doing is a 6 weekly nail trim - which I STILL find stressful but I will not pay a fiver EACH at the vets - and a twice daily feed and cuddle - we have been lucky, no lumps or bumps...

Need to see pic of Big Pig now......

[BonkeyMollocks]

Give me a minute....

[BonkeyMollocks]

There should be a pic on my profile.
you may have to turn your screens sideways

[ByTheWay1]

Oh wow - beautiful! :) I like tricolour piggies!

Sorry - breeder told me they are classified as tort-and-white..... and mine were "sub standard" for showing , hence he sold them on.... I saw him at a show recently and told him they were still around - he was pleasantly surprised, but said he had a 12/13 year old, (not at the show unfortunately) - that might be their mum!!! So I'm guessing genetics comes into it.

[BonkeyMollocks]

Yes your right, they are officially tort and white, I find people find tri-colour less confusing :)

[threecurrantbuns]

Oh no gave mine spinach yesterday they loved it :(

And wow at 12year old guineas, are they brothers/sisters.

My two babies are brothers, wonder what you do after a long time if one dies, the other would be so lonely but imagine it would be hard to add another. I was tempted to get a third from the breeder (another brother) but thought fights might break out with three.

[ZZZenAgain]

those 12 year olds look adorable. You would never think from looking at them that they are old. One of my girls has a lump on the undercarriage unfortunately. I thought it would turn out to be a tumour but it seems it is mastitis and she will be able to live with it. Apparently it is quite common. Mine are 4 1/2 and greedy as heck.