Is it ok to give guinea pigs Readigrass everyday?

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Skelly

Skelly

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Just wondering as my local petshop sells it in bags for 95p :)
Jess.
x
 
From what I've heard they shouldn't have it everyday as its high in calcium. I think its best to give about 3 times a week, someone else may be able to confirm this?
 
BellasMummy said:
From what I've heard they shouldn't have it everyday as its high in calcium. I think its best to give about 3 times a week, someone else may be able to confirm this?
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I don't know if this is true either, hopefully someone can tell us, as far as I know it's just dried grass, so it would have no more calcium than normal fresh grass would it? ?/ Confused.com lol :))
 
It's RYEGRASS! nothing to do with alfalfa. So yes, they can have it everyday...several times a day, it's just a type of grass, doesn't have excess calcium or anything like that.
 
I dunno about anyone else, but it smells incredibly sweet to me - almost like a freshly baked cake - I haven't looked into nutrition info etc. but I'd say it'd have too much sugar to be fed every day.

I guess its like dried fruit - much higher sugar content than the raw form.
 
Amanda1801 said:
I dunno about anyone else, but it smells incredibly sweet to me - almost like a freshly baked cake - I haven't looked into nutrition info etc. but I'd say it'd have too much sugar to be fed every day.

I guess its like dried fruit - much higher sugar content than the raw form.
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hmm, but (sorry if it's a stupid question) does grass have any sugar content to begin with? If not, then I don't think it would be like dried fruit :{

This from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and doesn't shed much light on the matter but thought I'd post it anyhoo: "ReadiGrass is 100% pure dried British grass with nothing else added. It is dried at a low temperature to remove the water but seal in the nutrients, colour and aroma of fresh grass. This results in a feed that is more nutritious than hay, yet it still contains the digestible fibre essential to your animal’s health."

I've just had a look at that discussion on the rabbit forum, and it lists readigrass's calcium content as higher than alfalfa (which is known to be too high in calcium) so that makes me dubious! but having had a look at other sites, alfalfa's calcium content is listed as more than 1%... so who to trust?! lol
 
Readigrass is kiln dried ryegrass

I'm going to keep banging on about it until someone listens! :)) joking! It has been vet recommended (vets who actually know what they're talking about...ie. 'cavysavvy') for guinea's post-op kidney stones.
 
LOL, i believe you Lizzie! :)):)) was just throwing other info in the mix. I've been giving it them nearly every day anywy :)
 
I mix it into my feed, so they get it everyday anyway! :)) and it's always the first thing they pick out!
 
Is it this your talking about Skelly?
https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Hay...Hay.19/Readigrass+(Pure+Dried+Grass).213.html

I'm sure that its fine to feed in small amounts daily, but for me its used as a treat as one of pigs has bladder issue's and i know that when he has this every day it sets off his IC, so i tend to give it once a week. Both my pigs also get chalky wee after giving readigrass and as I'm following a low ca diet readigrass also contains quite alot of ca.
 
Thanks for your input everyone :))
Thanks for all the info and links, it says it only has 0.8% ca, is that alot? (Probably a stupid question, but I'm so confused! :))
Jess.
X
 
0.8% ca is about the same amount as feeds like Burgess and Wagg have in them...to put it into perspective...
 
having read through all of this thread, my question is, do they need to have readigrass in their diet, mine dont have it, but loads and loads of hay,would it be a good idea to give it in the winter, when they cant go on the grass outside? also, does anyone use Amazon to order their hay from? and if yes is it much cheaper than from pet shops?
 
Hi There -

Readigrass isn't necessarily really I don't feed it as I find my pigs get huge calcium stains so avoid it.

I can't help with Amazon for hay but I have used www.hayforpets.co.uk I find them very good and reasonable prices include delivery.

HTH
 
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