don't like it anymore

[tinkerbell]

My gps used to love to eat the red peppers that I would give them, but now they don't eat them. Even if it is the only thing I give them. Do guinea pigs have taste changes with age or what? I really want them to like what I give them because it is good for them but they just leave it and walk all over them. They also don't like/won't eat: banana, orange, kale,and strawberries. I was told on another thread that I need to add a little more veriety to there diet but now that I am (and spending more money on it too) they won't eat it.

do I just have picky piggs or can I train them somehow to eat what I give them?

please help.

thanks

Tink

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Leave the foods in overnight, they should eat it then. Still try to continue the variety.

If you have trouble with the food getting messy, put it in their pellet bowl.

 

[pennick]

I find that when I give my piggies the same item day in day out they may ignore it after awhile. I stopped giving that particuliar item for about 2 weeks then reintroduced it and you would think they had this for the first time, they loved it again. I give all the different pepper colors. One week its red, I may skip a week, then its green, yelllow, etc. I try changing the foods weekly. They love watermellon, cantalope, apple, green mellon (cant think of the name). I buy in my fruit store which they sell a fruit salad and I give my piggies a piece a day. They love it. They love the ridicio, cilantro they can never get enough of. I also buy as a staple a container of mixed greens.

 

[tinkerbell]

okay thanks. I do leave there food in over night also I have tried to to put their food in a little dish put since there is two of them they fight over it and pee in the bowl (silly piggies) I will ahve to try to give them it every other week maybe or something. thanks again

 

[Sabriel]

I use a cat/dog dish for veggies so they can get around to eating things later. It looks like this: The yellow one.

I also have one like this:

You can get it without the word meow on it.

Both can be found at the dollar store. You just have to keep looking. It also makes feeding veggies easier because you can chop everything up in the kitchen and put it in thier bowls.

 

[tinkerbell]

oh wow thanks sabriel. I have an extra cat dish (from when we had the kittens) so I guess I could use that, but aren't they still able to pee in the dish?

 

[kat_0521]

green mellon (cant think of the name)

I think you mean honeydew melon.


Luna used to be a picky eater for me. I'd take her out and hold her, then eat a bite of whatever veggie I was introducing and gently breathe on her nose to let her know it's edible. Usually she'd nibble on it and try it, sometimes she really caught onto the idea and ate it right away.

And I agree with Slap-leave the food in the bowl for several hours, if not overnight, and usually it'll be gone in the morning. Often, when piggies come back out to browse for food or water, they'll nibble on the veggies. This will lead to them loving it.

 

[Sabriel]

I find they only pee in it when the foods gone. I have to wash them quite often. I have a pretty big one for the girls. When they want more (dinner/breakfast time or not) they will either sit in front of the dish, flip the dish over or sit in the dish.

 

[guineagurl]

Luna used to be a picky eater for me. I'd take her out and hold her, then eat a bite of whatever veggie I was introducing and gently breathe on her nose to let her know it's edible. Usually she'd nibble on it and try it, sometimes she really caught onto the idea and ate it right away.

Do you mean you would take a bite of the food you were trying to feed her?
What does breathing on her nose do?

 

[kat_0521]

Let's say I'm trying to get my piggie to eat a red bell pepper. While holding her, I'll chew some of the pepper, and breathe on her nose. This shows her that I'm not trying to poison her, and that it's actually edible. (to answer your first question, Yes)Breathing on the nose lets her smell both the food and my scent-and what I'm tring to get across is whatever I'm trying to get her to eat, is a good thing. A lot of times, you can't just shove new food under a piggie's nose and expect them to instantly love it. You have to show them that it's safe to eat. Like having a parent show a child what foods are good to eat and what isn't OK to stick in your mouth. Another example is having a picky eater GP in a cage with another piggie who is used to eating whatever you give them. Without watching the other piggie to learn what's good to eat and what isn't, then the human has to step in and become "surrogate Mom".

 

[Sabriel]

I find in time it get easier. My sows will try what ever I put in the cage now. Even limes. That was funny. I got this look like "What on earth are you trying to feed us."

My picky boar will nibble on limes though.

 

[kjkuntz]

i am a new gp owner. can you feed the gp green peppers as well. can some one also tell me what kinds of fruit and veggies to give the gp. I have been giving him elfa and he loves it also have given him carrots and he loves that two. i was going to try something different but not sure what to try next.

 

[pennick]

. Yes green, red, yellow, orange (all sweet peppers are good). You have to add more of a variety to your list. Carrots only in moderation (2 times a week, and a small piece).

Here is a list of all veggies
https://www.guinealynx.com/nutrition.html#veg

 

[kjkuntz]

That is all I give him. I tried some lettace and seems not to like it a lot, is that normal?

 

[pennick]

what kind of lettuce? Regular lettuce is not good for them, not nutritious. Try cilantro, ridicio, red leaf, romaine, a good variety.