Reference Can I feed my guinea pigs fresh grass, dandelions, and other forages?

[Ly&Pigs]

Look at the Nutrition charts sticky thread. The answer is there.

 

[pigsforlife]

Ly, what about snow pea sprouts? Tried to do a search but nothing came up and it isnt on the nutrition chart.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I'd feed them in moderation a couple times per week just like with other types of sprouts.

 

[pigsmakemesmile]

I'm glad that grass is on the list. It's very fresh, natural and abundant. Everyother day I fill up a bag of fresh grass...the pigs love it...they munch away until their little lips turn green then fall asleep tired from all the nibblin. So cute even their little necks are green. I live in the country away from traffic and don't believe in fertilizer or pesticides so I have no qualms about giving them grass.

 

[DosLunas]

Sorry, I didn't see an answer for lavendar, we have about 4 plants and would love to give them lavendar if possible. I've tried nasturtiums and squash blosems with no luck. But would love to find out about lavendar. thanks

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Lavender is edible. If they've never had it before start with very small portions.

 

[julsie]

I'm a little confused -- vetch is on the edible list, as well as the poisonous list. Also, there are multiple types of vetch. We have crown vetch taking over our landscaping, and I dig it up regularly. Is it safe to feed my piggie?

 

[kala83]

Thanks for info I think I will start trying to give my girls greens now, anything to livin up there diet from just pellets would be wonderful I think.

 

[hueyeats]

The flowers and leaves are on the edible plants list.


Edible flower petals include, roses and rose hips (excellent source of C according to brandilynn of gl and the pigloo) Pansies, squash blossoms, non-dyed or sprayed carnation petals. Don't feed any rose petals that have had rose food put on them or any of the flower petals mentioned that have had chemicals or pesticides sprayed or sprinkled on them.

The flowers from red and white clover can be fed.

Fay, Ground elder is on Melissa Kaplan's harmful and poisonous plants list.
BISHOP'S WEED (Ammi majus); plant may contain toxic levels of nitrates.

My piggies love the roses & the rose hips.

 

[Whimsy]

Please try to let your guinea pigs get forages! It is so wonderful to see them popcorn and eat grass and squeak happily for hours! Put them in some nice, soft, chemical free grass and you'll know they're happy!

 

[auburnmare5]

Ly, for Raspberry leaves, can they have the leaves if the fruit is already growing or already grown? Or is it only when the leaves are young? Why?

 

[Tserisa]

Duckweed, what an excellent idea! It's so easy to grow. I'm not sure I would feed it from outside, though, because ponds are often so polluted.

I noticed clover on the list. Is it a problem in unlimited quantities like other potentially gassy foods, like cabbage?

 

[Amsley246]

So these plant you have listed, you can feel them the whole plant or just certain parts of it? I'm so excited to start my first garden this summer and be able to share it with my piggies!

 

[piggers_sienna]

Are grape vines ok to feed to the piggies as well as the grapes?

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Are grape vines ok to feed to the piggies as well as the grapes?

I would not feed the vines or leaves. Only the grapes.

 

[Gwendolyn]

You can feed duckweed?! Who would have ever thought of that for a cavy. lol

 

[seredman]

I have a question about feeding fresh alfalfa. I have a 3mo old baby girl and I know that supplements of alfalfa hay are reccommended but how about fresh as a forage?

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Fresh is always good. But on the days you give alfalfa as forage, you don't need the hay. You are feeding unlimited grass hay right and not just alfalfa hay?

 

[seredman]

Yes they have unlimited access to a timothy/orchard mix hay. I just wanted to make sure that the fresh alfalfa wasn't going to be too rich, I will just use the fresh as a forage treat then same as the regular grasses. Thank you.

 

[Should I?]

Is there any benefit to feeding grass?