Too much/too little food?

[shortlilcutie]

Ok, I've asked this question before but no one seems to give me the kind of answer I need. So here it goes again, with more detail. I have a 4 year old male piggy and i feed him all the hay he could want, as well as an orange slice, a tomatoe slice, 3 small carrotts, and 4 big leaves of romaine. I've tried feeding him at different times of the day, but it's still the same. I still have him begging for food at least one other time. Am I supposed to be feeding him more? Should I feed him all that two or three times a day? What's the deal? TIA! (thanks in advance)

 

[NoVeil]

Does he have access to pellets at all times? You didn't mention any and if he doesn't, he certainly could be very hungry!

 

[shortlilcutie]

Does he have access to pellets at all times? You didn't mention any and if he doesn't, he certainly could be very hungry!

i knew i was missing something in the list...yes he has pellets at ALL times.....any other ideas? and he eats/chews on toilet paper rolls, wood, bedding, etc

 

[Treen]

Unlimited hay, a couple of tablespoons of pellets and some veggies and occasional fruits is a good diet. And I don't think any pig is ever satisfied with how many veggies they get - they always want more and it doesn't necessarily mean they're underfed! I give my pigs their veggies in three sittings over the day (every eight hours). They're in my living room so giving more frequent feeds means I get more peace! Do what suits you, but however often you split the feeds, I'm sure he'll try it on to see if he can get another!

I'd suggest you give fruits less regularly - oranges and tomatoes are very sugary and acidic - guinea pigs digest vegetables much better. Try different vegetables like bell peppers, spring greens, parsley and chopped celery. Picking grass and dandelion leaves for them (not from by a roadside or where dogs and cats toilet) is great too.

What I aim for is variety - a small amount of several different vegetables in each sitting, rather than giving larger amounts of the same things repeatedly. They love the variety and it also stops you having to worry about the problems of them eating too much of a particular vegetable. Some veggies are high in calcium and it's thought that eating a lot of them may contribute to bladder or kidney stones, and many people believe that eating large quantities of carrots can put strain on their liver. If you don't feed too much of any one thing, you can step out of the paranoid state of mind and just watch them enjoying a variety of lovely fresh foods!

This is a good page on nutrition https://www.guinealynx.info/nutrition.html and will give you ideas for other veggies to feed.

 

[kimklempa]

Boredom

He may just be bored, have you thought of getting another piggy? We thought our first piggie was always hungry but once we brought home piggy #2 they do not beg as often, just first thing in the am and then around 6 pm

hope this helps,

Kim

 

[shortlilcutie]

He may just be bored, have you thought of getting another piggy? We thought our first piggie was always hungry but once we brought home piggy #2 they do not beg as often, just first thing in the am and then around 6 pm

hope this helps,

Kim

that is what i've been thinking!!! the only thing i'm scared of is that what if he doesn't get along with the new piggy i buy? I live in a small apartment and I wouldn't have enough room to make another cage of the appropriate size for the new pig! that's the only thing i'm scared of...I really want to get a baby male guinea pig....because I do think he is bored and lonely....ahh!! thanks for your help Kim!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

that is what i've been thinking!!! the only thing i'm scared of is that what if he doesn't get along with the new piggy i buy? I live in a small apartment and I wouldn't have enough room to make another cage of the appropriate size for the new pig! that's the only thing i'm scared of...I really want to get a baby male guinea pig....because I do think he is bored and lonely....ahh!! thanks for your help Kim!

I recently got one of my male piggies a new friend (a baby male). When I went to pick his friend out there was 4 little baby piggies, I watched them closely for about an hour seeing which one would go best with my older male. I picked the one that cuddled and was shy, because Buddy,
(aka Cinnamin) loves to cuddle and is not shy at all. They have been in their cage together for a little over a week. They absolutly love each other!! I named the baby Sprinkles!! He is so pretty a little shy still but coming around. There are different ways to your older piggy to get a long with your new piggy. Go to https://cavyspirit.com/fighting.htm for more info.

 

[shortlilcutie]

I recently got one of my male piggies a new friend (a baby male). When I went to pick his friend out there was 4 little baby piggies, I watched them closely for about an hour seeing which one would go best with my older male. I picked the one that cuddled and was shy, because Buddy,
(aka Cinnamin) loves to cuddle and is not shy at all. They have been in their cage together for a little over a week. They absolutly love each other!! I named the baby Sprinkles!! He is so pretty a little shy still but coming around. There are different ways to your older piggy to get a long with your new piggy. Go to https://cavyspirit.com/fighting.htm for more info.

thank you so much! i think that's what I'll do!!!! i'll get a new piggy sometime this week!!! thanks for everyones help!!