Canada what do you feed in Canada

[cheesypuffpea]

There is more of us then you know Most join or just read this forum and GL but I have met a few people off here. I am hoping one day to be able to do a guinea pig meet up like they do in the USA and with Kassy'sFurryFriends Rescue in Calgary now fully operational I think it might happen in the next few years.

As for the link here it is: feedneeds.com-Home

Get their meadow hay, its amazing. Its not as green as anything in a pet store but my pigs LOVE it (as well as 4 other pigs my two friends own). The price is also REALLY good.

Thanks so much! Sorry to bother you once again, I've got a couple questions:
I thought that guinea pigs are supposed to eat Timothy hay, what's the difference between Meadow hay and Timothy hay?
Have you had any problems with dead insects and random stuff in the hay you buy from them?
Thanks for your help!!

 

[MrWhistles]

Thanks so much! Sorry to bother you once again, I've got a couple questions:
I thought that guinea pigs are supposed to eat Timothy hay, what's the difference between Meadow hay and Timothy hay?
Have you had any problems with dead insects and random stuff in the hay you buy from them?
Thanks for your help!!

There's not much difference between the two. Meadow hay is usually used when someone has an allergen to Timothy Hay. Here is a link to a chart that gives you nutritional facts on different types of hay. https://www.guinealynx.info/hay_chart.html

 

[CanadianComforts]

Ditto Mr.Whistles.

The man reason for why I suggest it is because our winters come so fast that they may or may not be able to get a 2nd or 3rd cut of timothy. 1st cut tends to have a lot of stem which can cause pokes. Not fun when some pig loses an eye. Meadow grass is usually a lot softer and just as good for them.

 

[kneedeepfarm]

Hi there! We are a family owned and operated Specialty Hay provider based right here in Ontario! www.kneedeepfarms.ca we are available at your local Pet Valu and several independent pet stores.

 

[bibliocavy]

I use the Oxbow as well for both hay and pellets, also from Global Pet Foods where I live.

 

[Gigit]

My Guinea Pigs like Tropical Carnival Guinea Pig food (I get it at PetSmart) and Timothy hay. The food I feed has Timothy hay pellets, oats, veggies, dried fruits and seeds. Here is the link to what I am feeding them. Since I am new to Guinea Pigs, perhaps somebody here could tell me if this is a good quality food or not:

(broken link removed)

 

[RodentsRus]

I would say NOT! Just pellet food is better like Oxbow.

 

[NaughtymeCavies]

What does everyone feed their piggies here in Canada? I'm using Martins right now, just wondering what everyone else is using, and how Martins stands up to healthy eating?

 

[NaughtymeCavies]

I have been feeding Proform Guinea Pig pellets for quite awhile now to all my guys (I have 30+ pigs as I show them) and I'm quite happy with their formula but they have just changed the name of their formula back to rabbit pellets and taken off the guinea pigs name AND removed Vit C from the formula although when I phoned and asked why they said that Vit C was still in their formula and it was still good for guinea pigs??? So, I'm not sure if I will continuing using it or not but up until now I have been thrilled with it. What I have been doing is mixing it with C.O.B and my pigs are ...well little piggys! Fat little creatures. They all get mixtures of fresh veggies and their pellet mixture and then I buy hay from the local farmers...usually about 10 bales at a time that gets me through the year and I try to buy orchard grass hay that isn't too rough and they do just fine on it. I also give them a treatment of Ivermectin every couple of months because yes believe it or not hay CAN carry bugs whether you buy it in bags or off the fields so they should all be treated on a regular basis. And especially if you are holding a larger herd of pigs. I breed and show Texels and I know they all do well coat wise and body wise on this system.

 

[CanadianComforts]

I have been feeding Proform Guinea Pig pellets for quite awhile now to all my guys (I have 30+ pigs as I show them) and I'm quite happy with their formula but they have just changed the name of their formula back to rabbit pellets and taken off the guinea pigs name AND removed Vit C from the formula although when I phoned and asked why they said that Vit C was still in their formula and it was still good for guinea pigs??? So, I'm not sure if I will continuing using it or not but up until now I have been thrilled with it. What I have been doing is mixing it with C.O.B and my pigs are ...well little piggys! Fat little creatures. They all get mixtures of fresh veggies and their pellet mixture and then I buy hay from the local farmers...usually about 10 bales at a time that gets me through the year and I try to buy orchard grass hay that isn't too rough and they do just fine on it.

Can you give us an analysis from the bag and a list of ingredients?

I also give them a treatment of Ivermectin every couple of months because yes believe it or not hay CAN carry bugs whether you buy it in bags or off the fields so they should all be treated on a regular basis.

I'm sorry to inform you but I believe that guinea pig mites are different than average dust mite, for example. Mites that get on cats, dogs, guinea pigs and so on need a host to live. They also can not live on other animals, for example cat mites can't live on guinea pigs and vise versa.

I breed and show Texels and I know they all do well coat wise and body wise on this system.

I invite you to read this: https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/support-news-membership/81979-alert-forum-behavior-policy.html
Guinea Pig Cage forum is anti-breeding, pro rescue and breeders don't always get the warmest of welcomes.

 

[Delaine]

I am using Oxbow Cavy Cuisine Timothy pellets, recommended by my vet. I would like to see Oxbow change their source of calcium, though. I am trying to eliminate white deposits in the urine and although my girls only get two tablespoons each I don't think I will succeed completely until Oxbow stops using limestone as their source of calcium.

 

[Little One]

I know this is an older thread but...

One of my pigs has really bad white deposits in his urine. Its not anything to worry about yet, but I would like to reduce (or eliminate) this problem. I've considered going pellet free but he loves his pellets so much it would break his little pig heart lol. I'm currently feeding Oxbow 1/8 cup per day. I was wondering if anybody has had better luck with Little Martins? Or if there was any difference. Or any other good food brand that might help.

 

[ellisa]

@Little One, You may want to try KMs and see if that helps. I believe @CanadianComforts has used Little Martins, so maybe she can share her thoughts!

 

[CanadianComforts]

Little Martins is about the same with Oxbow when it comes to calcium. You should really try KM pellets, I switched and will not go back unless I can't help it.

 

[Little One]

Ok thanks guys! I will look into that one for sure then

 

[TheMuffinPiggy]

I just switched to Oxbow pellets (adult formula) and I use Kaytee Timothy Hay. I have also tried Carefresh hay.

 

[oldnewie]

You are all so lucky to have so many choices for guinea pig pellets (&hay). Here in NZ we can only get rabbit&guinea pig mixes or plain rabbit pellets. Oxbow is only in limited availability in a vets practice in one city; Little Chintas (said to be excellent) only online, as is LM Animal Farms. It can be so frustrating. I am feeding plain rabbit pellets which don't have anticoccoid (?spelling) treatment added. I don't mind there being no vitamin C because the girls get good vitC in their grass & veggies.