My Piggies Are Going Crazy

[CheeseMommy]

We started putting them on a stable schedule with "breakfast" "snack" and "dinner". In the morning, I give them their vitamin and pellets (with fresh hay and water). When we get home, I give them a baby carrot each. And dinner they get their veggies.

Here is the problem... this has made them CRAZY. Now they demand food all the time, not just in the morning crying for food before I come in... but any time we enter the room or they hear us!

It got to the point where we were staying up way past our bed time and at 3 AM (way after they had their dinner). They just decided to bully us into giving them food. It was crazy, just on a whim they started screaming for more veggies (until we gave in LOL).

Is it normal for piggies to be this demanding?

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Yes! My two boys often wake me up if they feel that they should have more pellets in their bowl and they know I'll oblige if it stops them chewing on the bars. They clearly know that if they demand, they receive and they have you wrapped around their paw.

 

[Wiebke]

We started putting them on a stable schedule with "breakfast" "snack" and "dinner". In the morning, I give them their vitamin and pellets (with fresh hay and water). When we get home, I give them a baby carrot each. And dinner they get their veggies.

Here is the problem... this has made them CRAZY. Now they demand food all the time, not just in the morning crying for food before I come in... but any time we enter the room or they hear us!

It got to the point where we were staying up way past our bed time and at 3 AM (way after they had their dinner). They just decided to bully us into giving them food. It was crazy, just on a whim they started screaming for more veggies (until we gave in LOL).

Is it normal for piggies to be this demanding?

Yes - and you have to stay firm. Food is served only at certain times, and that it is! Piggies are not stupid - they will push the boundaries as far as they can get away with, but they will quickly stop if you ignore them consequently, even if it makes for a few bad nights.

Use piggy whispering tips to assert your authority in no uncertain terms when they are misbehaving. This tells them that you are the top pig and you say what goes in this house. You can first tell them that you love them, but make it clear (as would the adult piggies in their group) when they go too far.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

PS: I would not recommend to feed carrot on a daily basis. It is sugary and fattening.

I would also be careful about not overdoing the vitamins as you have to factor in what is added in the pellets as well as in the veg you feed. Too high a level, especially when they are young, can conversely lead to scurvy issues later in life when vitamin absorption suddenly drops for some reason or other. Please do not stop suddenly, but decrease any amount gradually for the same reason. With a balanced diet you should not need any extra vitamins, unless they are ill or stressed for some reason and their immune system is lowered. then a short high boost of 2-3 weeks is much more effective.
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

 

[piggieminder]

Mine get very demanding, when we open the fridge for our own needs, go in and out the back door (we must be getting grass!), etc. etc., they get a handful of fresh hay. Keeps them quiet and gets them interested in their hay boxes, I was concerned my younger boars didn't eat enough hay but they always run to a fresh handful and are eating a lot more of it now.

 

[Swissgreys]

Just like @piggieminder a couple of mine can be very vocal and demanding.
Plus I have kids who would give in and feed them every 5 minutes if they could.
So every morning I chop up their daily veg portion and then an extra container of 'treats'. The treats are just a few pieces of their daily veg ration.
The girls know that they can only feed the piggies from this 1 container, OR fresh grass OR hay. That's it - no extra fruit, pellets, or 'junk food' (shop bought treats).
It doesn't stop the piggies wheeking, but I know their diet is fine, they are a good weight, and are very healthy.

 

[rome_italy]

my piggies (and my children) can scream as much as they like, but I don't care. Anyway, the problem is that I cannot steal any food from the fridge because my daughters scream from their bedroom: "ehi! Woman! you are eating, aren't you?" and also the piggies think that the fresh grass or some veg is on the way (I keep the bag of grass into the fridge) and start squeeking.
Therefore, if you are eating something in secret, you need to learn how to do that without making any noise...
If they are only squeeking as a bad habit, they will learn the new rules; if they need, like me, eating little but often, don't be strict in such matter and give them very little amount here and then, preparing the daily dose in the morning.
Another tip: there is an appreciate food which is only very good for them and won't make them become fat. That is the grass. They can eat grass in place of vegs and you won't need to use the scales.