Diet Best veggies for young piggie?? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**greybear36** · #1 04-21-09, 08:57 am

I have a 12 week old male piggie who doesn't seem too keen on veggies. He squeaks every time I bring veggies for all my piggies and sometimes eats a little but seems to prefer hay and pellets. My other 3 piggies have always loved their veggies so not sure what to offer him. Also don't want to upset his stomach with him being so young. Does anyone have any advice??? Will he be ok and the hay and pellets??

Also, completely different question but how do I put a piccie on my posts??
Thanks

**akstrohm** · #2 04-21-09, 09:47 am

He needs veggies. Start with lettuce and bell pepper until he gets used to them. He will eat them eventually but you'll have to be patient. Then add in some other veggies slowly.

**greybear36** · #3 04-21-09, 10:27 am

Ok thanks for the advice, I'll keep trying!! What type of lettuce though cos heard than Iceberg is poisonous for piggies???

**akstrohm** · #4 04-21-09, 12:40 pm

Iceberg isn't poisonous, it just isn't very nutritious so it's best to avoid it. Any other kind of lettuce is fine. I feed mostly romaine, green leaf, red leaf, and curly endive, but feel free to try others!

**smplocher** · #5 04-21-09, 03:30 pm

My babies are about 6 weeks old and don't seem to care for veggeis at all either. We've had them about 1 week and maybe I've been trying to introduce too much too quickly. I got kale, cucumber, and red pepper. Nothing seems to appeal to them. I then tried just lettuce and some stalks of kale. I'm really concerned they aren't getting their vitamin C!

Susan in MN

**Ly&Pigs** · #6 04-21-09, 03:41 pm

Please read this: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...t-veggies.html

**greybear36** · #7 04-21-09, 04:07 pm

Thanks everyone!! Will it help that he's on vitamin C enriched pellets? They are what I feed all my pigs and what the vet advises as best as my older pigs are al little overweight!!!

**akstrohm** · #8 04-21-09, 04:34 pm

Vitamin C enrichment in the pellets will help, but the vitamin C gets degraded over time. Make sure you seal the bag well and store the pellets in a dark, cool place. If he is eating some veggies (especially bell pepper), he will be okay. Otherwise you might want to give him some supplemental vitamin C. Don't get the drops that you put in the water, and make sure that what you give him is only vitamin C (no sugar or anything else added). What brand of pellets are you feeding?

**greybear36** · #9 04-22-09, 02:08 am

They're called Burgess Excel Guinea Pig Pellets. They have enhanced levels of Vitamin C in them. They're kept in a sealed tin. I also feed my piggies the Excel Herbage and Forage as well as their normal hay which they love the taste of. I tried Fudge on green pepper last night and he loved it!!! Think it gave him loads of energy cos he was running round the cage like a fool all night!! Think he drove poor Patch mad!!!

I know he did me!!

**smplocher** · #10 04-22-09, 09:06 am

Where do you get the Burgess Excel Guinea Pig Pellets and the forage?

**Ly&Pigs** · #11 04-22-09, 11:35 am

Burgess is only available in the UK I believe. Are they the Supa Excel?

They aren't the best pellets but if you can't find Oxbow in the UK, they are suitable.

**greybear36** · #12 04-22-09, 11:46 am

Get them from my local pet shop. They are the only pellets I can get over here in the uk and hopefully they're better than the cereal guinea pig food. Do you think Forage could be a bit rich for a baby piggie cos Fudge's poops are soft today compared to normal and he ate a lot of forage yesterday? The only only thing I've given him new is some green pepper last night. I had this with Cookie when she was a baby and she grew out of it. He seems fine in every other way. Any advice??

**Ly&Pigs** · #13 04-22-09, 11:59 am

With the forage, you need to start slow and slowly build up. If he ate a lot of it then he may have tummy upset because of it. I'd not give it at all for a few days then start with a small amount every couple of days and increase very slowly.

Are you giving unlimited grass hay? Is the forage just an "extra"?

**greybear36** · #14 04-22-09, 12:23 pm

Yes the forage is a treat. The only hay i can find here in the uk is meadow hay which is what they have. Is that ok? Used to be able to get some Alfalfa King timothy hay at my local pet shop but they no longer do it. Would Burgess herbage be better than meadow hay?? I'm worried about his little digestive system

**Ly&Pigs** · #15 04-22-09, 12:36 pm

The Meadow hay is a grass hay and he needs that on a daily basis in unlimited amounts. It really doesn't matter the type of grass hay. Timothy is the most popular but it doesn't have to be fed. I feed bluegrass myself.

I'd keep the herbage/forage stuff for a 2-3 times per week treat added along with the unlimited hay.

**greybear36** · #16 04-22-09, 12:43 pm

Thanks for that!! I will only give the forage a couple of times a week. Thay absolutely love it and I love the smell of it!! And I will stick with peppers for now and the odd carrot cos he likes them. Really appreciate everyone's help

**Ly&Pigs** · #17 04-22-09, 12:48 pm

Are you feeding other veggies besides bell pepper and carrot? He needs leafy greens. Work on feeding lettuces again (any but iceburg). Give small amounts a few times a day.

**greybear36** · #18 04-22-09, 12:51 pm

Have just found some Oxbow pellets on Ebay. Are they a lot better than Supa Excel as they are double the price but would be worth it if they're better?

**Ly&Pigs** · #19 04-22-09, 01:13 pm

Oxbow is much better than Supa Excel.

**greybear36** · #20 04-22-09, 03:07 pm

Ok will buy some then. My piggies love kale. Is that ok for them??

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
greybear36 (04-21-09)

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," says:
greybear36 (04-21-09)

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
smplocher (04-22-09)

"Thank you, greybear36, for this useful post," says:
smplocher (04-22-09)

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," says:
greybear36 (04-22-09)