can they eat fresh grown wheat?

**maddie_jo22** · #1 04-30-07, 08:16 pm

Before I ask my question, just like to say hey and yes I'm new and love the information given on this site!

Alright, a couple months ago I fed my guinea pigs (Rosco and Suki) a multiple blend food from the grocery store that had seeds, pellets, dried carrots etc... They like to bury their food like any other guinea pig does. When cleaning out their cage I would dump the bedding into my garden to cover my newly planted flowers. Well I began to notice really tall grasslike sprouts coming up from the ground. Come to find out it's wheat from the food they hid. Now alot of wheat is growing in my garden. The only reason why I haven't plucked them out of the ground is that I got the idea of letting it grow and later feeding it to my guineas. Can they eat the leaves and seeds of this plant? is there only certain parts they can eat? can they eat it at all? is there a process I'm suppose to put it through before giving it to them? I just don't want to take any chances without knowing, especially with my little Suki being pregnant. If anyone can tell me something, anything I would greatly appreciate it.

Maddie

**this_lil_piggy** · #2 04-30-07, 09:37 pm

Hi Maddie, and welcome!

Pellets that have seeds, nuts, and dried bits in them should really be avoided. They are loaded with sugars, and seeds are a choking hazard. Wheat should really be avoided as well. Pigs are herbivores and require a diet of grass hay, leafy greens, veggies, herbs, and occassional fruit. A lot of companies like to toss wheat, and oats etc in the food to act as fillers, but their digestive systems aren't made to tolerate things like that.

Your piggies would appreciate fresh herbs and leafy lettuces much more. Being pregnant, Suki needs a diet higher in calcium than Rosco does... It would do her well to slip her some extra calcium rich things during lap time like kale, parsley, dandelions.

Are Suki and Rosco opposite sex cagemates?

**Ly&Pigs** · #3 04-30-07, 09:42 pm

They can have the grass itself, but don't feed the seeds or roots.

**maddie_jo22** · #4 04-30-07, 10:02 pm

well they were until just a couple days ago, when i found out Suki was pregnant. Rosco wouldn't stop mounting her so now they are in separate cages but the cages are next to each other. also kinda worried about Suki as she hasn't been eating much since i put her in another cage. she drinks alot of water though. i'm hoping it isn't toxemia.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #5 04-30-07, 10:08 pm

So you breed them? I hope you have a good vet lined up.

Do they have constant access to hay? That is better than grass.

**Ly&Pigs** · #6 04-30-07, 10:10 pm

And keep an eye (or rather a nose) out for her breath smelling like fingernail polish remover if you suspect toxemia. If at any time her breath smells like that, get her to a vet ASAP.

**maddie_jo22** · #7 04-30-07, 10:13 pm

no i didn't mean for them to breed. i'm kinda new to guinea pigs and bought a book about them but it didn't say anything about keeping them in separate cages. also it said that guinea pigs from the pet store are usually neutered so i thought it might be okay to go ahead and get two of the opposite sex. i didn't mean for her to end up this way and i feel bad enough already after reading everything that could happen to her during this pregnancy. i don't breed guinea pigs at all, and it would be very upsetting if i lost her & the babies.

**maddie_jo22** · #8 04-30-07, 10:14 pm

they do have constant supply of timothy hay and pellet food

**Ly&Pigs** · #9 04-30-07, 10:22 pm

Quote:

i'm kinda new to guinea pigs and bought a book about them

Please don't go by what the majority of the book says. Most have very wrong and even dangerous info in them.

**maddie_jo22** · #10 04-30-07, 10:33 pm

Well it was my first time. I thought this was a place for help not putting people down. Sorry for seeming to be rude, which I'm not trying to be. But I really love my guinea pigs and just hearing these replies makes me feel as if I had done the worst thing ever. If I am to be banned for trying to place my thoughts and concerns for myself then go ahead. I just thought people would be more considerate as to how the owner feels as well as the guinea pig. Just figured it would be nice to get to talk to other people about my babies but it feels like I'm getting repremanded for doing things I felt was right. Please do not judge the way I have treated my animals because I love them and spoil them. If this is the way I'm to be treated then by all means bann me from the site.

**this_lil_piggy** · #11 04-30-07, 10:59 pm

No one is putting you down. A large majority of us bought our first pigs at pet stores, and had no clue how to take care of them or that the pet store information was bad. We are here to help guide you take the best care of them...if we didn't give you all the information above, we wouldn't be helping you much.

We are informing you, not blaming you.

**Ly&Pigs** · #12 04-30-07, 11:45 pm

I am not sure what's up with the newbies' attitudes lately.

No one has put you down or has even said anything about how you treat your animals and we mods aren't planning on banning you either.

I always try to provide helpful and useful information to all owners. Just ask any long time member here. Also the members who've been here awhile try to provide useful and helpful information. Sometimes things I say appear to come across as rude or mean because I am just a no nonsense, don't sugar coat my replies, kind of person. I just tell it like it is. I am sure you want the best possible care so that's why I said don't always trust what you read in the various books. I am concerned for all people's pigs and not just my own.

**Wheekie** · #13 05-04-07, 12:38 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddie_jo22

Well it was my first time. I thought this was a place for help not putting people down. Sorry for seeming to be rude, which I'm not trying to be. But I really love my guinea pigs and just hearing these replies makes me feel as if I had done the worst thing ever. If I am to be banned for trying to place my thoughts and concerns for myself then go ahead. I just thought people would be more considerate as to how the owner feels as well as the guinea pig. Just figured it would be nice to get to talk to other people about my babies but it feels like I'm getting repremanded for doing things I felt was right. Please do not judge the way I have treated my animals because I love them and spoil them. If this is the way I'm to be treated then by all means bann me from the site.

I know just how you feel cause I've felt like that a couple times myself,but this really is a great place where you can learn a lotta stuff!And I know you love your babies!You wouldn't be here if you didn't!Please keep letting me know how your new mommy & daddy-to-be are doing!!

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