Diet Not sure if I am feeding my Guineas enough

[LydiaM]

OK, my vet told me to feed my boys half a cup a day of pellets (between the both of them, quarter cup each). Well I feed them every night before bed and its gone before noon the next day. They always root around the food bowl like they are starving. As to other things in their diet, never ending hay, the occasional few pieces of apple, parsley and cilantro. I have tried lots of other fruits and veggies, but they have only taken to apples. I get the pellets off of smallpetselect.com. It is healthy timothy based food with vit.C. I want to trust that the vet is right, but it is hard to see them acting so hungry. Every time I stand up and move across the room, one or both of them wheeks at me. So are they really hungry--or do they have a strong appetite? Side note- they are both 7 months of age.

 

[NikkisPigs]

I think the recommended amount is 1/8 of a cup each. So long as they have unlimited hay and actually eat their hay I don't think there's a problem. This is just what I have read though, anyone can feel free to correct me ^_^ What brand of hay do you use? When I used Kaytee brand and then switched to Oxbow I noticed a HUGE change in consumption because they liked the taste better. I've also heard that Kleenmama's is very good but I have never personally used it. Have they lost weight?

 

[LydiaM]

Thanks for your input. I get the hay from smallpetselect, just like the pellets.

 

[Artista]

OK, my vet told me to feed my boys half a cup a day of pellets (between the both of them, quarter cup each). Well I feed them every night before bed and its gone before noon the next day. They always root around the food bowl like they are starving. As to other things in their diet, never ending hay, the occasional few pieces of apple, parsley and cilantro. I have tried lots of other fruits and veggies, but they have only taken to apples. I get the pellets off of smallpetselect.com. It is healthy timothy based food with vit.C. I want to trust that the vet is right, but it is hard to see them acting so hungry. Every time I stand up and move across the room, one or both of them wheeks at me. So are they really hungry--or do they have a strong appetite? Side note- they are both 7 months of age.

At 7 months they are adults, so no more than 1/8 c pellets a day. If you are seeing white spots in their urine, then you need to cut out parsley and maybe cilantro too since it's connected with excess calcium secretion even though it's not high in calcium. You can forget about fruits no problem as it's all sugar. I don't give mine any. If you do, only small amount 1-2 x a week is all.

I give my girl a salad am and pm. I have some white spot issues from time to time so low calcium/no calcium veggies:

AM: green leaf lettuce (romaine has been connected to excess calcium as well), radicchio, 1/4 green pepper (very important for vitamin C even if the pellets have it)

PM: green leaf lettuce, 1/4 red roma tomato, 1 small baby carrot, belgium endive.

You should encourage at least the green or red leaf lettuce and green pepper.

Pigs will always act hungry especially for sugars like fruits. Check out the nutritional chart pinned here. If they really are hungry, they do have hay to eat between feedings and if the pellets are gone for the day.

Also if you have calcium issues with your pig(s) then switch them to KMS. KMS doesn't use limestone as calcium like all other pellets do and has helped or fixed the excess calcium excretion in many pigs.

 

[daisy1cow]

Just as a side note, guineapigs are awesome at making you feel guilty and give them veggies. Mine are in the dining room which is all connected and open to the living room and kitchen. Every time I just go out to the kitchen, they all run to that side of the cage, put their little paws up on the sides and look so sad and squeak at me. Rustle of a plastic bag, they squeak. Open the fridge, they squeak, unwrap a pack of toilet paper, the squeak!!! They will try every single time cuz ya never know when it is going to work!! It is so cute and sometimes I give in and they get a bit of something, usually leaf lettuce, so don't let them give you that sad eye

 

[Rywen]

It doesn't sound like they are getting enough veggies? They need 1 cup per piggie per day with the bulk of that being lettuce (preferably green or red leaf). Also try some carrots, bell pepper, cucumber, tomato). Break their pellets and veggies into 2 servings, 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 at night. That should help.

 

[thecasadys]

Our 3 (2.5 years old, 1.5 years old & 1 year old) share 1/4 cup of Oxbow pellets each day. They get 1/8 cup in the morning with their Spring Mix (or romaine or dandelion greens or some leafy green) & 1/8 cup in the evening with their green pepper (1/2 of 1 for them to share), sweet minis (usually 2 to share) & carrots (2-3 baby carrots to share). They get unlimited Oxbow hay (we switch up their different varieties). Before we go to bed, they each get a piece of freeze dried fruit (nothing added); we switch between apples, blueberries, raspberries & strawberries. Our vet loves us! She always says how good of a job we do taking care of our babies

 

[LydiaM]

Thank you all for your replies. Ill try to implement your suggestions as fits my situation.