Vegetables What size should the veggie pieces be? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**TJStamper** · #1 12-22-08, 04:39 pm

I'm not sure how small to make the pieces of veggies I give to my little guys. Do I leave the baby carrots whole or should they be in bits? Lettuce... whole or shredded up? Just not sure how to serve this stuff up ... help please!

**pennykit&amanda** · #2 12-22-08, 05:01 pm

I don't think it matters. I sometimes shred the lettuce and I sometimes leave it whole, you should give the baby carrots by hand to make sure they each get just one.

**AnimalHouse36** · #3 12-22-08, 05:05 pm

It doesn't really matter. Just for celery which should be cut up in small pieces and hte strings removed. Some days I'll throw the lettuce and such around the cage so I cut it up. Other days I just dump it in their bowl.

Quote:

you should give the baby carrots by hand to make sure they each get just one.

Thats not true. And even if you do feed by hand, the other piggie could still steal it like mine do. I like to cut them up just so that it seems that they get more.

**DC Piggies** · #4 12-22-08, 05:45 pm

It probably doesn't really matter. They're not going to swallow anything whole, so whether they take a bite out of a full lettuce leaf or small shred of a lettuce leaf, it's still just a bite of lettuce.

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 12-22-08, 08:36 pm

Most things are personal preference. You can leave lettuce leaves whole or tear/chop them up. They get eaten either way. Some things are easier for the pigs to eat if you cut them in half like cherry/grape tomatoes and grapes.

**TJStamper** · #6 12-22-08, 08:48 pm

I put two whole baby carrots in and I shredded the lettuce. I watched them for a while. They each munched on the carrots and they both took bits of lettuce and munched on that too. They seemed to really like their fresh veggies! Thanks for the advice!

**Myspoiltpiggies** · #7 12-23-08, 04:33 am

I never cut up the veg into really small pieces. The only time I cut things up into little segments is when I am feeding fruit - especially apple, so they do not get mouth sores.

**danaspiggies** · #8 12-23-08, 07:41 am

Can the piggies eat the lettuce that you buy that is already shredded?

**AnimalHouse36** · #9 12-23-08, 11:30 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by danaspiggies

Can the piggies eat the lettuce that you buy that is already shredded?

You mean the salad mixes? I feed them and my pigs are still alive.

**auburnmare5** · #10 12-23-08, 04:33 pm

I don't see much of a need for cutting all of the veggies. The only one that I cut is celery because of the choking factor. I occasionally cut carrots, etc...

**Tserisa** · #11 12-23-08, 05:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by danaspiggies

Can the piggies eat the lettuce that you buy that is already shredded?

Not shredded iceberg lettuce, but the lettuces on the "good" list would be fine bought that way.

**Wheek Weak** · #12 12-24-08, 04:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by danaspiggies

Can the piggies eat the lettuce that you buy that is already shredded?

We use the bagged lettuce sometimes (when the store doesn't have our regular lettuce). Just make sure to wash it like you do any other veggies.

**Caviekisses** · #13 12-24-08, 04:54 pm

I finally got my boys. When I went to the grocery store it's impossible to find Romaine lettuce so I've been buying it in bags and I get the baby carrots already washed and bagged.

I don't chop anything up. I guess the carrot stealing isn't a big deal because I like to watch them eat their fruits and veggies so the only time I've seen one of them steal I gave the other one his carrot.

**TJStamper** · #14 12-25-08, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by danaspiggies

Can the piggies eat the lettuce that you buy that is already shredded?

That's what I bought ... the "Hearts of Romaine".

I wash the pieces before I give it to them though.

I got REALLY sick once from Baby Carrots ... later found out there was a recall. I wash EVERYthing now ... for me and for my piggies!

Oh- and they LOVE their lettuce, green peppers and carrots I've been giving them. They even ate a couple of grapes (I cut those in half).

So cute!

**BubuCandyBlue** · #15 12-25-08, 12:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJStamper

I got REALLY sick once from Baby Carrots ... later found out there was a recall. I wash EVERYthing now ... for me and for my piggies!

I know what you mean, I get bad skin rashes from fruits, especially citric ones, like lemons. I noticed that over here, so I even have to wash those too before I peel them.

**Ly&Pigs** · #16 12-25-08, 01:14 pm

Hearts of Romaine are ok to feed but they aren't ideal as you are getting the inner leaves and the pigs really need the vitamins that are in the outer dark leaves of the romaine. You'd be better off buying whole heads of romaine.

As far as bagged lettuces go, the baby lettuce mixes and spring mixes you can get give a nice variety because they contain a lot of different types of lettuces which are all safe. Just avoid any prepackaged lettuces that have iceburg in them.