How often to feed?

[AnimalHouse36]

Recently I think I've spotted an error in my ways. My guinea pigs eat about 3 times a day sometimes 4!

I usually feed them like 2-4 leaves of lettuce them 1-3 of the following:

Carrots, cilontro, parsely, cucumber, spinach, corn, aspagaus, tamatoes, the occasional bit of broccolii, fruit as a treat, ect. ect.

THen they get their pellets and hay. Is this to much? THey weigh about 2.5 lbs.

Oh and there are two guinea pigs!

Thanks in advance!

[PrayerWarrior]

They should be getting a minimum 1 cup of veggies a day. All of that sounds great. It's wonderful if you can split up their meals like that, because they are grazing animals. And the 1-3 of those things is meant for the entire day, right? Not all of those veggies listed are fed everyday?

[AnimalHouse36]

They should be getting a minimum 1 cup of veggies a day. All of that sounds great. It's wonderful if you can split up their meals like that, because they are grazing animals. And the 1-3 of those things is meant for the entire day, right? Not all of those veggies listed are fed everyday?

Well when I said what I fed I meant every meal.
Help!

[PrayerWarrior]

So you're feeding "Carrots, cilontro, parsely, cucumber, spinach, corn, aspagaus, tamatoes, the occasional bit of broccolii, fruit as a treat, ect. ect." 3-4 times a day?

[Haley0489]

Lettuce 1-2 leaves per pig twice a day. Morning/night salad.
Carrots should be 1 each.
Cilantro 10 sprigs each
Parsley, 2-4 times a week, lets say 5 sprigs.
Cucumber 1 inch chunk each, 2-4 times a week.
Spinach rarely!! It's high in ... oxalates? I believe which combine with other things and form oxalate stones. I avoid Spinach all together.
Corn 1 medium ear each, 1-2 times a week. I prefer feeding husks and silk because they can be fed on pretty much unlimited quantities and the piggies love them! [more than the corn itself even.]
Tomatoes 1-2 cherry tomatoes each. [or the size equivalent of a cherry tomato if feeding normal tomatoes]
Asparagus 1-2 times a week. No idea on the serving size of this one, I could never get mine to eat it.
Broccoli 1 floret each 1-2 times a week.

That's how much you should be feeding per week/day. Print out the charts if you haven't already and make reference to them while preparing the piggies salad. If you can't remember what you've fed already then jot it down on a pad of paper so you don't over feed. I feed my pigs just dark leaf lettuce in the morning and they have their "big salad" at night when I have the time [and energy! ] to make a proper salad.


Also, I see no bell pepper on your list. Do your pigs not eat it? It's very high in vitamin C and considered one of the most important things in a piggies diet to ensure they're getting vitamin C.

[Ly&Pigs]

Parsley is a 2 times per week food.

See the sample menus thread for good ideas on weekly menus for your pigs.

[AnimalHouse36]

Well I think I've confused everyone now! INcluding myself! So, I'll try again!

For each meal 2-3 times a day I feed them 2-4 leaves of lettuce and 1-3 of the following: Carrots, cilontro, parsely, cucumber, spinach, corn, aspagaus, tamatoes, the occasional bit of broccolii, fruit as a treat, ect. ect.

I usually have 3 of those in the house so I feed the three I have. THats what I mean.

Also, I see no bell pepper on your list. Do your pigs not eat it? It's very high in vitamin C and considered one of the most important things in a piggies diet to ensure they're getting vitamin C.

This is one my pigs favorite foods! I don't know how it slipped my mind!

[PixieStix]

Follow Ly's chart to know how often to feed those 1-3 foods that you add in. For example, even if you always have spinach in the house, don't feed it daily.

[AnimalHouse36]

Yeah, don't worry Pixistix I do follow the charts! Thanks everyone for helping!