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Small pets

guinea pig vegetables

7 replies

andrea315 · 12/04/2013 00:18

Picking up our two seven week old guineas on Saturday and I have only ever had rabbits and they love carrots, strawberries, bananas and broccoli what should feed my pigs and from what age ??

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Thumbwitch · 12/04/2013 00:21

PIggies will eat all that as well, and tomatoes, parsley, celery, cucumber, apple, kale ...
Apple and tomatoes should be cut though so that they don't spend too much time in contact with the corners of their mouths, as they can cause sores. Give the harder food such as carrots in big pieces so they have to use their teeth and wear them down, and give them dried food too.

Feed them straight away with these foods.

Avoid an excess of lettuce and spinach as they contain oxalic acid/oxalates which can give piggies kidney stones.

Lucky you - I love piggies!

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Thumbwitch · 12/04/2013 00:23

Oops, meant to say that they don't all like the same things - I've had 13 pigs so far and they have been variable in their likes. They all liked carrot, but some didn't like fruit, others not so keen on tomato, others wouldn't eat celery and so on.

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andrea315 · 12/04/2013 00:33

Thank you will give them a try :)

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/04/2013 01:13

My GP1 leapt off my shoulder and had his head and front legs wedged in the bag of parsley that DH was holding (DH was being too slow. Guinea had to do Self Service) Grin

There are a few lists further back Andrea- make sure you know what they definatly can't have (there's quite a few things that are poisonous. Some they should only have in small amounts. Some things will give them horrible wind/ gassy bloated tummy)

I give my hogs a salad plate with colour (Ohh releasing my inner Heston)
green-kale, cucumber,parsley
red- tomatoe, red pepper, strawberries, watermelon
orange- carrot, orange pepper
yellow- yellow pepper, sweetcorn, banana
purple- beetroot (raw)
white- apple pieces, celery, parsnip, yurnip , cauli stalks

Just pick a selection of veg (I give 5-6 , I try to give different for night and breakfast)

At least 2 of my 'sons' will eat veg. My two-legged son won't touch it.

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fortifiedwithtea · 12/04/2013 14:13

Your breeder should supply your babies with a bag of dried food. If you decide to change to a different brand, do it slowly by gradually adding in the new food. This avoids upset stomachs. Burgess Excel nuggets is a good one.

Muselli mixes have the disadvantage of allowing guineas to pick and choice their favourite bits meaning they may miss out on some nutrient.

Mug up on what garden plants are poisonous. I never put the run over daisies but have found they just know not to touch buttercups ( also a no no). Any plant that grows from a bulb is very toxic ie daffs, tulips etc. There are others so do your reasearch.

As for veg, guineas are like weaning DC. If they don't try it the first time, leave it a while and try again. They are really waiting for one to try it and not keel over and the other will be brave enough to give it a go. My girls came from a pet shop and their diet was really limited at first. But after they watched what my Old Boy ate, they were confident to try new veg.

I wish I was getting a baby guinea on saturday, its my birthday Smile whispers I'll be 47

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andrea315 · 12/04/2013 16:56

Thank you and they will be on burgess for guineas as my rabbits are on the bunny one and the breeder is giving me food :)

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andrea315 · 12/04/2013 16:56

Oh and happy birthday x

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