Guinea Pig Pages

Feeding

Guinea pigs are herbivores (like cows). To stay healthy they need regular supplies of hay, grains, fresh vegetable and water. They will also enjoy an occasional fruity treat such as a slice of apple or pear. Fresh vegetables are especially important because guinea pigs, like humans, need vitamin C every day. Good sources of vitamin C include kale, parsley, spinach, capsicum and other green leafy vegetables (but not lettuce).

There are many commercial varieties of pellets and grain mixes for guinea pigs. Make sure the package states that it is for guinea pigs, because other types can contain potentially hazardous ingredients such as sunflower seeds. Also check the ingredients list carefully. Some feeds are loaded with sugar, often in the form of molasses. This is not only bad nutritionally, it will also make plain food taste too bland, and you're piggies will develop a preference for sweet things. As with humans, the result with be obesity and a loss of condition. Your piggies don't need sugar, so look for food without it. You may have to try a few types of feed before you find the brand your piggies enjoy. Our fussy eaters will not eat pellets at all, and simply pick out the grain and bran!

A supply of hay is important, as this is a staple food. Many pet stores now keep supplies of hay in convenient plastic bags. Make sure you open the bag when you get it home, so that the hay can breathe, and so that moisture doesn't build up inside. Hay can be messy, so we keep ours outside in our storeroom. To avoid dropping strands of hay everywhere, we fetch it from the storeroom in a small plastic box. We use garden scissors to cut the hay into small lengths, then pop it into the box and take it to the cage. As a guide to how much you should feed, we give our two piggies the following at each meal: a handful of hay (enough to last them 'til the next feed), a half-cup of commercial mix (including chaff, grains and pellets) and a vegetable. Your piggies will enjoy variety, so don't give the same vegetable every day. We feed our piggies twice a day -- morning and evening, and we find they eat more in the winter than in the summer.

Your pets will also need fresh water. This should be supplied in a drink bottle, with a ball-valve that prevents leakage. Don't be surprised if your piggies don't drink very much. They can get by on very little water if they have plenty of fresh greens - but a supply of water is still important for when they do eventually get thirsty.

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