Spike won't eat ANY hay

[Skyenoir]

Yesterday I posed the question about what kind of hay to feed my young pig, so I went out and got some alfalfa. He won't eat it AT ALL. He wouldn't eat the timothy hay, either. What do I do if he won't eat any of it? Will he be sick from not eating hay? He eats his pellets and veggies, so it isn't as if he isn't eating anything. Any thoughts?

 

[smoot]

Guinea pigs are supposed to need the fiber in hay to aid in digestion, but if little Spike has gone without, he's probably not in immediate danger. HOWEVER, hay serves to wear down the teeth so no hay means teeth problems. I tried searching Guinea Lynx to find out how long you can go without hay before it becomes unsafe but I came up empty. Maybe one of our experienced cavy parents can give us all some insight.

P.s. I've never heard of a guinea pig that wouldn't eat hay!

 

[citronsoul]

You could always try out different types of hay.

I've heard great things about Kleenmama's bluegrass hay. You can order some from here: (broken link removed)

I'd keep trying hay. Hopefully he'll get the idea that it's something yummy. Is he from a pet store?

 

[Skyenoir]

No, he is from a shelter. I just got some bluegrass and timothy hay from Kleenmama, I put it in my girl's cage and they seem to like it, but I didn't put it in Spike's cage yet, (he is still on quarantine from his neutering which is why he is not with the girls). I am also taking him to the vet tomorrow and I will ask him why Spike seems so different than my other two piggies. He doesn't like hay or a hidey house....weird!

 

[pennick]

I bet you when you put spike in with the other piggies and spike sees the other piggies eating the hay he will also start copying them and eat the hay. Piggies learn from each other.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

He probably has not had hay before and doesn't know to eat it.

Ditto what Pennick says. He will learn to eat it from other pigs.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I was thinking the same as rabbitsncavyluv. Pigs that have never had hay or veggies usually take awhile before they start eating it. When I got Bubba, he would eat some hay even though he really was never fed much hay by his previous owner, but it took quite a while to get him to eat veggies. He's doing better now with veggies and I went from supplementing him with C everyday to about every 3 days now.

 

[Skyenoir]

I guess I thought eating hay would be instinctual, not a learned behavior. That is funny! Maybe he will learn what a hidey house is all about from them, too! Although they are LOVING the ferrett hammock the most. I just hope that it will be ok with him not eating the hay until he is put in with the girls, which won't be for another week or two. I changed his vet appointment until Monday so I could go to a more cavy knowledgeable vet, so I will ask then.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Just keep trying with the hay though and don't give up. If you supply him multiple varieties of hay and keep hay in his cage at all times, he may get curious enough to try it. Also try the bluegrass and see if Spike will eat that.