Nutrition Calcium for young boar?

[HappyCavys]

Hello, I recently adopted a single boar (app. 7 months old) from the shelter where I volunteer, and immediately got in contact with a rescue to help find him a buddy. She suggested I look at several babies they have available, to help curb any dominance issues. They are almost 2 months old, and from what I have read, guinea pigs need calcium until they are about 6 months old.

However, I am hesitant to add alfalfa hay and young cavy pellets into the cage, since I wouldn't want my older pig eating them and getting sick, which I read can happen if they eat too much calcium at an older age.

The woman running the rescue said the babies were currently on adult food, and they would be fine, but I wasn't sure if I should supplement calcium in addition to the timothy hay and food I currently have. I am feeding my pigs Adult Cavy Oxbow pellets. I checked petsmart for calcium supplements, but didn't find any.

Can I cut up a calcium pill for the young one? Are there other calcium rich veggies I could feed him to make sure he is eating it and not my older pig? Am I over reacting about the whole thing, and the young one will be fine with the adult pellets and timothy hay?

Thank you for any help you can give me!!

 

[CavyMama]

An adult won't get sick (as in URI, etc) with too much calcium but it can lead to excess calcium in urine and stool or sludge. If you don't want to feed alfalfa hay or pellets, you can feed at different times (take one out and feed separately) and provide vegetables that are higher in calcium.

Calcium pills are not necessary. Just provide calcium in the diet - whether through hay, pellets or vege.

 

[HappyCavys]

Thank you so much! I'll look up some calcium-rich veggies now.

 

[Beatrix187]

Giving a couple sprigs if parsley a day fur the young babies would be good. But not the seven month old. And you don't need to give then baby pellets or alfalfa, the parsley should be enough