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Won't Eat My guinea pig rarely eats hay when I am not around

Snoopy0304

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I adopted a 8 month old female guinea pig about 2 weeks ago and I noticed that she don't really eat her hay unless I hand feed her or when I am around. I noticed this because whenever I get back from school, I don't see that much poop in the cage. I am a student so I can't hand feed her hay when I am in school. I know hay should be about 85% of their diet but right now its it's not even close to being 85% of her diet. What can I do to make her eat more hay? Thanks for the help!
 

pinky

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I adopted a 8 month old female guinea pig about 2 weeks ago and I noticed that she don't really eat her hay unless I hand feed her or when I am around. I noticed this because whenever I get back from school, I don't see that much poop in the cage. I am a student so I can't hand feed her hay when I am in school. I know hay should be about 85% of their diet but right now its it's not even close to being 85% of her diet. What can I do to make her eat more hay? Thanks for the help!
What type and brand of hay are you feeding? Are you sure it's fresh?
 

bpatters

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You can keep hay in her cage ALL the time. It's a false economy to not feed her hay. That's what keeps their teeth ground down and their digestive tracts moving normally, thereby saving you very expensive dental and vet bills.

By far the most expensive way, per pound, to buy hay is from a local pet store. It will cost you three to five times as much as ordering online, and hundreds of times more than buying from a local farmer. However, where you are, there's no good locally grown hay. You might find some that's shipped in to a feed store, or you can order online.

Guinea pigs need a long strand grass hay -- timothy, meadow, blue, orchard, brome. Good places to order include KMS Hayloft, American Pet Diner, Small Pet Select, and Sweet Meadow Farm. Each of them offers various sales/coupons/etc, so you can shop around and see what you'd have to pay.

The critical thing to remember is that you have to look at the price per pound. One of them may have a box for $50, and another one for $40, but the $50 box may have 15 more pounds of hay in it.

Something to think about... If you can't afford to feed her hay, you can't afford the guinea pig. Hay is the cheapest thing she'll ever eat. She needs pellets and fresh vegetables, and when she gets sick, an exotic vet. Dog and cat vets aren't equipped to treat guinea pigs, and some are downright dangerous.
 

Snoopy0304

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I feed her oxbow timothy hay. Yes, its really green and it smell like fresh hay. Its in her cage all the time. I even put two separate pile of hay in different places but she just barely go eats them :(
 

bpatters

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Do you have the hay pile and the rest of her food, including water, right by her hidey? Pigs are always skittish in new places, and she needs someplace to hide. That may help her dredge up enough courage to eat.
 

Snoopy0304

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Her hay pile and pellets are just right outside her hide house. She needs to come out in order to drink the water though. Currently, she is alone by herself. Would that be the cause? If it is, I can try to persuade my mom to get her a cage mate....
 

bpatters

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She definitely needs a buddy, but how large is your cage? Guinea pigs need room to run, and lack of room is the main reason for aggression between cage mates.
 

Snoopy0304

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its a 2x4 C&C cage
 

bpatters

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That should be big enough for two sows.

There's a good rescue in Round Rock where you might be able to take your pig in and let her pick out her own buddy.
 
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