Veggie/fruit chart: amounts?

[pig-in-paradise]

I have a probably stupid question regarding the portion size of the fruits/veggies we're not supposed to feed daily.

Apples, for example, are a 1-2 times a week food, but how much? If I were to give a quarter of an apple per pig, I'm sure that would be too much. But how much is one portion?

How about grapes? Is one portion just 1 grape, or is it more?

It just doesn't make sense to me to limit the times per week the food can be given if I don't know the portion size.

[Ly&Pigs]

For apple it would be about 1/8th-1/10th of an apple per pig. Grapes, one grape cut in half per pig.

On most veggies there is no set serving/portion size. On things that say feed either 2-4 times per week or 1-2 times per week then usually it's because it contains something or another that is high such as calcium, phosphorus, oxalic acid, Vitamin A or high sugars in any combination. It just means feed this item only this often and sparingly. Some things in the 2-4 times per week category actually need fed only twice per week

Fruits should be fed in very small amounts only once or twice per week because of high sugar content.

[newpiggiemommy]

Is it necessary to feed fruits (once or twice per week) if you are feeding plenty of good veggies? Do they NEED the fruits?

[Ly&Pigs]

In a good balanced diet, yes they need a bit of fruit. How often you feed it is entirely up to you. If you want to feed a small amount once per week then that is fine or if you want to feed a small amount once every couple of weeks, that is fine too.

[pig-in-paradise]

Thanks Ly, much appreciated!

"Sparingly" is such a subjective word, but in this case it means "almost nothing". Yay, more grapes and apples for the 2-legged family members.

[piggychic]

Along these lines, I'm wondering about how much a piggie should eat a day? A cup, or 1/2 cup twice a day? Just wondering. It seems that they poop ALOT and I'm wondering if I'm feeding too much.

[pigsforlife]

Pigs poop. Thats just what they do.

I dont know how you can measure a cup with veggies like lettuce. I fill up probably 2 cups (will have to measure it) with veggies like bell peppers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, fruit (occasionally), mint, basil etc depending on what needs to be fed according to their menu. Then I just rip of 4-8 romaine lettuce leaves, and 4-8 hydroponic lettuce leaves. This is for 4 girls.

[Ly&Pigs]

The minimum is 1 cup of veggies per day. With really leafy type veggies such as lettuces, cilantro, kale, collard/turnip/mustard greens you just kind of have to eyeball them. If you give at least 1 large or 2 smaller leaves of lettuce per feeding and a few sprigs of cilantro then add in at least another 1/2 cup or more of other veggies per pig and that will be a good amount. With Kale and greens, they can't be fed as often (about two times per week for any of the greens I mentioned and for the kale), then it would be 1/2 large leaf or 1 small leaf kale per pig and the same with the greens.

[piggychic]

Thanks. That seems about right. Seems like I read somewhere that it's best to feed them 2 meals of veggies a day. So I've been giving them about 1/2 cup twice a day with a few treats thrown in between. I noticed that the grapes seem to make their poop watery, so I won't be feeding those very often. I also notice that the baby guinea loves carrots and the older one loves the lettuce and tomatoes.

It seems that most of the pellets are just made from hay; and if they get plenty of hay, then why are the pellets necessary?

[Wheek Weak]

Here is an excellent chart to print off and use everyday: Cavy Diet/Nutrition Chart

I use it everyday, without fail, along with a calendar to mark down what I've fed on what days.