Not Eating Pellets

[Thelove4piggies]

So our 2 girls aren't eating the pellets. They r on some store bought crap that these other pple were feeding them and I switched to a hay based pellet- mixed both together and are not eating the pellets at all- haven't ate pellets in 3 days now- love their greens and hay. Peeing and pooing ok.

Any suggestions or should I be worried?

 

[Swissgreys]

I went through the exact same thing with my three guinea pigs.
They just stopped eating pellets.
I do know a lot of people don't feed pellets, because as long as they have unlimited hay and a variety of fresh they don't really need pellets.
But I just stopped feeding one brand and tried a new one.
Thankfully they loved the new brand.
And now 3 months later that brand of pellet has been discontinued - arghhh!
So I am also on the hunt for a new pellet.
I don't think they 'need' them, but I do want them to have the option.

 

[Adelle]

It sounds like they are just taking a while to adjust and protesting! As long as there weights are stable they should be fine for a couple of days, when i suspect they will probably start eating them!

If not you may need to try another hay based pellet- fussy girls!

 

[Thelove4piggies]

Ok- agree there probably just being fussy but urkes me now cause I spent money on pellets and already mixed the old with the new in a big tub- Grrr these darn things better get eating. Lol

 

[Wiebke]

So our 2 girls aren't eating the pellets. They r on some store bought crap that these other pple were feeding them and I switched to a hay based pellet- mixed both together and are not eating the pellets at all- haven't ate pellets in 3 days now- love their greens and hay. Peeing and pooing ok.

Any suggestions or should I be worried?

Pellets only make 5-10% of a good diet, so you need not worry. You have got two options: you can either try a gradual switch, which often doesn't work, or you have to stay hard and go cold turkey to see whether your girls eventually give in and start eating their new pellets. Dry mixes and mueslis are full of sugar, which piggies are addicted to the same as all mammals (including humans). What you are experiencing is the same reaction you get from a kid that is being put on a healthy diet...

I would strongly recommend to just serve a tiny portion with every veg meal. Serve smaller portions of veg and pellets 2-3 times a day in a bowl each per piggy, so everything gets eaten in one go and you haven't got a bowl of unloved pellets hanging around that only ends up being peed in. This also minimises food hogging by the more dominant piggy. Make sure that you serve 2 vitamin rich veg or herbs daily to cover for the vitamin C enrichment of the pellets.
In the interval between feeds, your girls won't go hungry eating unlimited hay, which should make up to 80% of the daily food intake and is the crucial part in long term health. Pellets are the least crucial part.

Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet