Seems Like Every Vegetable Is Harmful For My Piggies...!

[eathayandlove]

For over 6 months, I have been feeding my guinea pigs parsley or cilantro for the sole veggies responsible for their daily Vit C. I usually buy a bunch and feed my two guinea pigs a handful each day. After the bunch of parsley runs out, I buy a bunch of cilantro and start the cycle over again.

But now that I referenced this website: http://www.happycavy.com/what-can-guinea-pigs-eat/#asterisk, it seems like parsley nor cilantro is good to feed on a daily basis! The other vegetables I have tried giving my guinea pigs are bell peppers and zucchini, but my guinea pigs seem to only like the leafy greens. Lettuce and endives have too little Vit C per 100g and I don't know where I can find raspberry leaves that is pesticide-free (I live in Mississauga, Ontario)! I am at a loss for what I need to give my guinea pigs for their daily vegetables. Is my current feeding routine lacking in the fact that it only contains one type of fruit/vegetable per week? I do feed my guinea pigs carrots and cucumbers once in a blue moon, but my fridge usually doesn't have guinea pig-friendly food.

(I should mention that my guinea pigs are both female and are turning 5 years old this year.)

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi there, Firstly welcome to the forum.

Whilst I'm no expert, I think it's important to have a varied diet, I think just feeding a small range of veggies high in vitamin C is okay, but the problem I believe with that is that some of those contain high volumes of calcium, and that should be avoided. I would recommend try altering the diet, slowly. If they are used to eating only a couple of types of food, it means they are definitely selectively eating. It will take time to break the habit, and sticking to your guns. If they are hungry they will eat what you leave them...given long enough.

This link may help.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...-ratios-explained-diet-advice-included.30297/
If you are concerned about low volumes of Vitamin C in their diet, especially if you try altering their diet to an all round selection, then you can of course supplement this a powder form of Vitamin C sprinkled over their dry food. Sorry don't have a link of that for your part of the world.

If necessary dedicate a draw or shelf in your fridge for your veggies & salad food for your lovely fluffy friends.
The picture of your piggies are gorgeous by the way.

 

[helen105281]

Cilantro (Corinader in the UK) can be fed on a daily basis just not in huge amounts. It is good to include other veg too though for variety. Mine have coriander, cucumber, celery, peppers, green beans and a tiny amount of spring greens (collard greens in the US?)

 

[eathayandlove]

Thanks for the advice; I now realize that their veggie diet is way too simple.

Do you guys have any tips on how to encourage your piggies to eat a new food? My gps have no problem switching hay or pellets, but they won't touch any veggie that is not parsley, cilantro, cucumber, or carrot. For eg, I've tried slipping in thin slices of zucchini with their leafy greens, but the zucchini is always left untouched a few hours later. I've also tried giving them a bowl of zucchini - and only zucchini - so that they have no other choice but to eat it, but my gps would rather skip out on their veggies than eat the zucchini!

 

[Sherlocksmum]

I think most piggies have preferences so it could just be the veggies you've tried they don't like. I tried my piggies with zucchini and they didn't like it, but it's quite a bitter food. From the looks of what they already eat they might have a preference for sweeter foods (though try not to feed too much sugary foods), so you could try introducing other sweeter foods before trying introducing other foods so it's not too much of a shock for their taste buds.

 

[Wiebke]

Feed fruit + tomato only twice a week; so it doesn't cause sores on mouth and lips.
Any other veg and herbs on our list that can't be fed daily (see Helen's post) should be fed 2-3 times a week.
Spinach, kale and any Asian cabbages are very high in calcium and should be fed only occasionally.

The trick is to eventually work up to a mix of daily veg and rotating veg that your piggies will eat and that won't break the bank or your fridge. Introduce only one new veg per meal. If they don't eat it, leave it for a few hours so they can get used to the smell and texture and then serve it again a couple of days later. It is a bit like getting children to eat greens...

The motto is everything in moderation. By serving small quantities of several things each day, you can ensure a healthy mix of nutrients. We recommend ca. 50g/1 cupful of mixed veg per piggy per day in as many servings as you like.