Picky Eater! Help!

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GuineaPigLover7891

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi. I have two boars. Patches (older) and Carmal (younger). Carmal is good about eating his veggies, but his favorite is green beans. Patches on the other, is a very picky eater. He will only eat green beans, and, if I’m lucky, corn. This is probably partially my fault. This is my first time owning guinea pigs so I didn’t vary their diet. I mostly just hand fed them their veggies to tame them. So I only fed them the foods that they really liked. I’ve put them on a food schedule. They get fed three times a day at 8:00, 12:00, and 9:30. They get 1/3 of two cup each meal time. I was going to do 1 cup, but it is suggested that you do 1 cup per pig. Patches may be eating the veggies but I haven’t seen him do it. I’m just worried that he may become over weight. In their veggie portions there is: romaine lettuce, carrots(little strips), a little bit of green beans, corn, radicchio, cucumbers, red peppers, and 1 cherry tomato (split in half). If anyone has any suggestions on how to get Patches to eat a variety of vegetables please let me know.

Thank you in advance!
 
Hey!
I had some difficulty with my two cavies when I first got them. For example, one day they demolished the asparagus in a minute and the next they didn’t touch any of it. Happened with carrots and snap peas too! I usually give them around 4-5 different types of vegetables a day and try to provide a different variety each day.
One thing I tried and worked was to place my piggies in their play pen with the type of fruit/veg that they’ve “gone off”, hiding it in their toys, tunnels, mazes etc. They eventually find it and eat it no problem then! 😀
 
DJ711 said:
Hey!
I had some difficulty with my two cavies when I first got them. For example, one day they demolished the asparagus in a minute and the next they didn’t touch any of it. Happened with carrots and snap peas too! I usually give them around 4-5 different types of vegetables a day and try to provide a different variety each day.
One thing I tried and worked was to place my piggies in their play pen with the type of fruit/veg that they’ve “gone off”, hiding it in their toys, tunnels, mazes etc. They eventually find it and eat it no problem then! 😀
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Ok thanks for the advice. Can I ask how you got them in their play pen when they were still shy?
 
Sounds like they have a great choice of veggies offered. Don't teeth issues affect older guinea pigs and then affect their eating, would a teeth check be an idea to rule out issues?
 
Ah. My 3 pigs literally eat anything, but my son is a picky eater so I share your concern. But as long as guinea pigs are getting vitamin C somehow daily that's good :-)
 
@GuineaPigLover7891 I’d usually try and coax them out of their hide by offering some fresh parsley, it has a long stem so they would creep out to eat it all. Once out I’d put my hand flat in the cage with some more parsley on my hand and after a few minutes they’ll be comfortable enough for me to pick them up.
When they’re eating the parsley off my hand they’d have part of their body on top of my palm and they are usually comfortable enough for me to pick them up then by gently cupping them up into my hand
 
I have the same problem with mine. Autumn doesn't like any peppers, but I've noticed that she's a fan of green colored vegetables. She likes eating herbs, except Basil and Mint. You could also try giving your piggies herbs: Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Kale (I know it's not a herb, but just suggesting), celery, etc. Have you tried hand-feeding them before? That might help, too.
 
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