Are pellets too hard for youngster?

[miccee]

My guinea pig seems to have problem eating pellets... he has to pick it up and frustratingly swing from right to left and throw it on the floor in order to get tiny little pieces into his mouth... does anybody else have any idea how to solve this problem?

I did hand feed him.. after finishing one... he keeps on asking for more... nibbling my fingers.. heh.. I used the "Shhh..." sound to stop him.. then he'll stop for a while... then continue nibbling my finger... then I "Shhh..." and move away my finger... then he'll stop... but after that he gets a bit scared of me... hmm

 

[dagwellismypigy]

no , you cant keep hand feeding him, he knows how to eat,let him do it or in a few years you'll still be hand feeding him because he never learned how to eat properly. It;s ok to do it once and a while but he shouldnt depend on you. Young guinea pigs are just that young little kids take tiny bites and can't finish a hotdog but to teens and adults thats like nuthing. What you think isn't alot of food may be making the piggy very full. If he isnt eating on his own he isnt hungry at the time. If he stops eating period you should take him to a vet. He can and will eat on his own just give him some time!!!

 

[loves2travel]

No, this is not normal at all. To make it better, you could try mixing a bit of water in with the pellets to make em mushy. But I remember, when my girls were 6 weeks old, they ate like HORSES, so I think this may be a problem. I would take your piggy to the vet.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

What kind of pellets are you feeding him?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I get the idea that he isnt left alone long enough to eat by himself, they investigate the food before they eat. I dont think anything is wrong with the pig.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I saw what type of pellets in another post you made. Ones with seeds and nuts in it. I also saw in another of your posts that your only giving him a few (a dozen or so) pellets laying on a tray. Try picking a bunch of the pellets out of the mix and then leaving him alone to eat instead of hand feeding him. If he is hungry he will eat.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I saw what type of pellets in another post you made. Ones with seeds and nuts in it. I also saw in another of your posts that your only giving him a few (a dozen or so) pellets laying on a tray. Try picking a bunch of the pellets out of the mix and then leaving him alone to eat instead of hand feeding him. If he is hungry he will eat.

wow thats exactly what i was trying to say, just it was late at night when i first posted.

 

[mncavylover]

The pellets are probably too hard for the pig. (By the way, please do adopt another for companionship--see www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm) Grab some Cavy Performance/Cuisine from Oxbow if you can, thanks!