Won't eat what they should!

[Wheekie]

I know from this site that my boys food is junk, but I can't get them to eat Oxbow! For the past 6 months, I've been trying to mix it with their other food, adding a little bit more Oxbow each time, but it doesn't work! They eat everything except the good stuff! So now I'm trying to just go 'cold turkey'...not give them anything but Oxbow, but I'm worried about how long I can try this without hurting them?! The only fruits and veggies they will touch are romaine, cucumbers, radicchio, cantaloupe and maybe a bite of carrot and orange (if I hand-feed it to them), and of course, they love their hay! Despite their diet, they are both healthy and their vitamin levels are all fine. I'm worried that this way, I'm going to hurt them cause at least the bad food gave them adequate nutrients somehow and now, they're not really getting any! And if by some miracle they do eat it, will the sudden change in diet upset their tummies?

[Haley0489]

Pellets are the least of a guinea pigs diet, and aren't exactly "necessary" if they eat a variety of veggies. Going cold turkey is probably your best option with the Oxbow, if they get hungry enough for pellets, they'll eat the Oxbow.

Have you tried Cilantro, Parsley or Basil? All of my GPs love them! Also zuchinni, tomato and bell pepper are huge hits.

[mikew]

Mine love parsley as well. I'll have to try cilantro and basil. I wasn't sure if they could have that and that is why I haven't tried it by now. I've tried the red and green bell peppers but my guineas don't like that.

[Ly&Pigs]

The problem is that by continuing to feed them the "junk" pellets, they've developed the appetite for those and don't/won't eat the good stuff. Going cold turkey with the pellets to only Oxbow is the best thing you can do. If they don't eat the pellets or very little, it's not a big deal.

[Wheekie]

Cilantro, tomato and bell pepper (all kinds) have all been tried and are failures. I'll try the others though...gladly! I feel so bad cause they don't have much variety in their diet. Thanks!

[Ly&Pigs]

Cilantro, tomato and bell pepper (all kinds) have all been tried and are failures.

How many times were they given? With some pigs it can take 2-3 weeks to get them to eat new veggies.

[megbot]

When I got my first piggie, Wiggles, she was a very picky eater. She still sort of us, she doesn't care for pellets, only likes certain types of timothy hay and orchard grass, and doesn't care for most vegetables. She does however love leafy greens, escarole, chickory, dandelion greens, dill for example. It was trial and error with her, I would up eating a lot of what I bought for her. She doesn't like carrots or bell peppers, or most fruit (except for red grapes). Sometimes she'd immediately refuse something, then I'd rub the juice on her lip and she'd have to try it, then realize she liked it. She's just stubborn I think.

When I got her sister Jiggles, Wig loosened up. She eats some other things now I think because Jiggles does. I just make sure to keep their food fresh, give them a bit to choose from, and it usually works out. I also put it on an unbleached papertowel in their cage and they go to town playing with the paper towel as well. Some things to think about I suppose

[Wheekie]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

How many times were they given? With some pigs it can take 2-3 weeks to get them to eat new veggies.

I tried them several times, but I'll admit, I didn't try them for 2-3 weeks. I'll give them another chance. What I'd really like to do is to get them to eat so many veggies that eating pellets wouldn't matter at all. Since pellets aren't that important, would that be an OK thing to do?

[Wheekie]

Originally Posted by megbot

When I got my first piggie, Wiggles, she was a very picky eater. She still sort of us, she doesn't care for pellets, only likes certain types of timothy hay and orchard grass, and doesn't care for most vegetables. She does however love leafy greens, escarole, chickory, dandelion greens, dill for example. It was trial and error with her, I would up eating a lot of what I bought for her. She doesn't like carrots or bell peppers, or most fruit (except for red grapes). Sometimes she'd immediately refuse something, then I'd rub the juice on her lip and she'd have to try it, then realize she liked it. She's just stubborn I think.

When I got her sister Jiggles, Wig loosened up. She eats some other things now I think because Jiggles does. I just make sure to keep their food fresh, give them a bit to choose from, and it usually works out. I also put it on an unbleached papertowel in their cage and they go to town playing with the paper towel as well. Some things to think about I suppose

Wiggles and Jiggles...that's precious! Thanks for that idea about rubbing the juice on their lips! Can't wait to try it!

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Wheekie

I tried them several times, but I'll admit, I didn't try them for 2-3 weeks. I'll give them another chance. What I'd really like to do is to get them to eat so many veggies that eating pellets wouldn't matter at all. Since pellets aren't that important, would that be an OK thing to do?

Yes, it would be an ok thing to do once they are eating a really good variety of veggies but I'd still provide some pellets.

[Wheek Weak]

Our rescues always come with junk pellets. We don't wean them off. We throw the junk pellets in the trash (where they belong) and start the piggies on the good pellets. It only takes a day, or two, for them to start eating the good ones.

Keep offering the veggies that they won't eat. It took a year before Ruby started eating green pepper. I've tried for two years to get the girls to eat tomato...TeeJay has finally started eating it...yay!!