Fresh Food How much is too much (Veggies)

[TNpiggyGrandma]

I was under the impression that you cannot over feed your piggy veggies (the daily ones). I usually put in about 6 leaves of red/green leaf lettuce, a couple of slices of bell pepper, maybe a carrot or two (baby). Now this may not seem like a lot but I only have one that eats veggies at the current moment. Is this ok. It seems like most people regulate how much fresh veg their piggy's get. Should I be regulating?

Also, should I add Alfalfa to their diet. I do not feed high calcium foods ever (like Kale) so should I add that to their diet? I know babies need it but both of mine are grown up big big boys. TIA!

 

[CanadianComforts]

Grown pigs (over 6-12 months) don't really need the calcium from Alfalfa. I would say keep your diet as is if he doesn't have soft poops. I have one pig who can eat veggies like mad with no issues and another who gets funny poops with too much.

I would suggest only 1 baby carrot. High in sugars.

 

[TNpiggyGrandma]

Ok thank you!

 

[CanadianComforts]

No problem, I'm sure others will chime in with their thoughts too soon .

 

[PigPandemonium]

Hay is the number one thing needed in their diet, if they like their veggies too much they might only eat them and not the hay. Make sure you watch them, if they are not eating hay, eating less hay, or have odd poops (As said above) then you will need to give them less veggies. Guinea pigs only need about a cup of veggies per day. You said that you only have one pig that will eat veggies? You can introduce them to the other pig by chopping them into little pieces and putting them in his pellets so that he will get a taste of them. Also guinea pigs over 6 months don't need alfalfa, you should try to limit calcium, so kale and things high in calcium should be limited.

 

[bpatters]

You can definitely overfeed them veggies. They need hay worse than they need veggies -- it's what keeps their teeth ground down and their guts moving. Let them overfeed on veggies, and you'll likely wind up with very expensive piggy dental bills.

One cup of veggies per pig per day is plenty.

If they're over six months old, don't add alfalfa.

 

[TNpiggyGrandma]

Ok. I dn't use alfalfa and wont start. I don't use high calcium foods, so I won't add that. And they both eat hay like its going out of style. I will however, lower the amount of veggies I throw in there. I just don't think the one had ever had anything but junk food (seeds not pellets). I honestly haven't seen him eat anything but hay since I switched them over to pellets. Charlie will eat any and everything. While Sammy won't touch anything good for him except the Timothy. I am still working on that. But I was told that it could be a issue with him settling in since I have only had him for a week and a half (10 days today). But he is becoming happier. I found him popcorning and wheeking this morning and he never makes a peep. He had been walking around like a piggy that had lost his best friend (he has always been a single pig and he is 2). Now he has Charlie and a MUCH MUCH larger cage and lots of stuff he has never had before. Sorry, now I am rambling.

 

[madelineelaine]

So you shouldn't feed lots of kale ? D: I was planning to give my pigs lots of kale. I guess I should re think that.

 

[TNpiggyGrandma]

So you shouldn't feed lots of kale ? D: I was planning to give my pigs lots of kale. I guess I should re think that.

Try checking this out... https://www.guineapigcages.com/threads/22156/

Its been very helpful to me. Its even color coded so you know what you can feed a lot of, what you can feed sometimes, and stuff that you really shouldn't feed.

 

[madelineelaine]

thanks I modified my menu to better suit those guidelines.

 

[TNpiggyGrandma]

You are very welcome. I am still learning too!