Unlimited Pellets?

[Sierra]

I know you are supposed to give unlimited amounts of hay, and have it available to cavies all the time, but what about pellets? I know adults eat around 1/8-1/4 of a cup of pellets a day, so should I measure that out and put that in their bowls and only allow them that much a day or should I add more if they eat that all or should I just not worry about the measurements and give them unlimited pellets as well? Because one guinea pig website I went to said that you should give guinea pigs unlimited hay and unlimited pellets, I'm confused.

 

[Denise]

There are differing opinions on that subject here. Some measure and take away and some just put it in and leave it.

 

[My Baby Mu]

I put it in and leave it. I give mine about 1/8 or a cup a day. I leave it in there cause I don't know at what points in time when he is hungry. I don't give him unlimited pellets I give him 1/8 of a cup. Once I notice that his bowl is totally empty in the morning the I give him more the next morning.

 

[Sierra]

And they seem to be doing okay with that? What do you do, Denise?

 

[NoVeil]

I fill up the bowl and refill as needed. If they poop in it, which they frequently do, I dump it and start fresh. Some pigs won't eat the pellets a lot, moreso if you offer a lot of fresh food. Other pigs are total pellet hounds that hang out by the bowl. General rule of thumb seems to be 1/4-1/3 cup of pellets per pig per day. Find what works best for you and your piggers

 

[My Baby Mu]

Mine is fine with doing that.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

I just keep my bowls full at all times, I never understood that 1/8 of a cup per day. Because mine eat more than that in a day. And I don't want them to be hungry.

 

[My Baby Mu]

Mine is still a baby so he would probably eat less them an adult.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Mine is still a baby so he would probably eat less them an adult.[/QUOTE


Ya yours probably would eat less. Mine are picky and spoiled and get mad if there isn't food in there bowl all day long (they check frequently). And squeak if there isn't any so I just make sure it is full at all times.

 

[Sierra]

So I take it piggies know how to watch their weight and they will stop when they are full, because I don't want a fat piggie, or is that possible?

 

[Denise]

Sierra, I leave it. I add about a handful to the bowl and when it's empty, I refill it. They seem to really love the Cavy Cuisine, so I am refilling the bowl about every other day.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

So I take it piggies know how to watch their weight and they will stop when they are full, because I don't want a fat piggie, or is that possible?

My piggs aren't fat, they know when they aren't hungry. And they don't over eat they just want to make sure their bowl is full they are a bit obsessive about that. They are all a nice weight like they should be. I think if you gave your piggs unlimted fatty treats. They would get fat.

 

[Denise]

Pigs can get fat if given the wrong kinds of foods. The right kinds of pellets are compressed Timothy Hay/Alfalfa Hay, which they are to be given in umlimited amounts of anyway. Am I not correct in this? =) or do I need to wrap my head around it in another way?!

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Pigs can get fat if given the wrong kinds of foods. The right kinds of pellets are compressed Timothy Hay/Alfalfa Hay, which they are to be given in umlimited amounts of anyway. Am I not correct in this? =) or do I need to wrap my head around it in another way?!

I always thought the same thing pellets unlimted and hay- fatty foods or wrong foods very little or none (preferably none). hmmm I wonder if we are right.

 

[Sierra]

Okay, thanks, I understand now. Boy, there is so much I know now I didn't know before!

 

[TinaFabulous]

So I take it piggies know how to watch their weight and they will stop when they are full, because I don't want a fat piggie, or is that possible?

My pig isnt fat either! Some piggies just grow to be bigger than others. Mine wont overeat, and I would hate to see him hungry. Shes likes to have it full all the time but will only eat when shes hungry. Not feeding a hungry pig is like a horrible crash diet, I could and would never do it.

 

[loves2travel]

i think i will be putting in only very little at a time and adding when there is little to none left. that way if they poop in it and i have to throw it away, i wont be wasting very much

 

[Sierra]

That's what I was thinking of doing.

 

[MilesWaterson]

I've been feeding my two 40g of dry food between them and about 90g of fruit/veg per day. I started with much more dry food, but they did tend to poop in their bowl and they were eating about 40g per day anyway. I weigh them once a week and they are still putting on weight, although they are 18 weeks old now.

 

[roosterboy]

I don't throw away the food when there is poop in it. I just dump it out into the cage bedding and put some fresh food, either then or later.

I don't know if they deliberately poop in the food to mark it, or if the poop just finds it's way in there, but either way, I think the piggies don't mind very much. We're talking about animals that treat their poop chute as a Pez dispenser. They probably prefer it.

BTW, I give them what I think they will eat in about a day's time, to keep it fresher and cleaner. I also give them fresh greens every morning and timothy hay here and there as well.