What Are The Staple Leafy Greens For Your Piggies?

RosieMaia

RosieMaia

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi there!

Now that winter is here, I wanted to check what fresh greens do you give your piggies on a (nearly) daily basis.

I always try to buy local, organic produce. In the spring, summer and autumn, I usually give each piggy a butterhead lettuce leaf daily, accompanied by either a sprig of some herb, or a radiccio, chicory, or kale leaf. In the winter though, I'm concerned about lettuce and the other leafy greens being grown indoors and/or hydrophonically, with a lot of artificial fertilizers and nitrates to encourage growth.

Do you continue feeding leafy greens in the winter? If so, what kinds? Do you take any special precautions (e.g. soaking in water to remove nitrates)?

Thank you! :)
 
i give spring greens,broccili,savoy cabbage,bell peppers ,cucumber,celery,corriander,swede,parsnips,brussel sprouts,green beans as my staples for the winter.
 
Grass! They get some bell peppers and occasional lettuce and herbs but grass is what they love best, if you can access any.
 
Hm, no, unfortunately... We live right next to a lovely park, but lots of dogs are walked there, there's no way for me to know whether the grass has been peed on or not. :( I'm growing grass indoors, but not nearly enough for it to be the "main course", it's more of a dessert/treat.

If I washed the grass and cut it from a relatively deserted area further away from the main alleys, do you think that would be fine?
 
Hmm not sure. I think your idea of growing idoors is safest. We are lucky enough to have fields around us.
 
I mostly feed grass and plantain that I grow myself! Supplemented by the odd dandelion, bell pepper, lettuce, cucumber or celery.

I keep meaning to grow some more natural plants for them like yarrow but I haven't got round to it yet!
 
Yes, I feed mine yarrow occasionally. Reportedly, it is very good for certain GI conditions like bloat and IBS and is an anti-inflammatory, but I'm not sure if this is traditional medicine and how much - actual science. But the piggies like the taste. :)
 
BenjiAndButtons said:
My two boys go mad for kale!
Click to expand...
Mine love kale too but you shouldn't give them too much as it is high in calcium. I get my 5 a pack once in a while and view it as a treat. Try spring greens or savoy cabbage instead. Cucumber is always a hit so is bell pepper. At the mo they are having black cabbage (Cavolo Nero) and they like that trouble is it is quite pricey so they only have 2 leaves a night between them.
 
And do any of you take any special precautions for the winter veggies? Presumably they're all grown indoors, with any number of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Or is it just me that's worried about that?

I personally try to buy organic produce only, and then soak it for 15-30 minutes to remove partially the nitrates from the fertilizer, but still...
 
Romaine lettuce, occasional mixed greens/spring mix, bell pepper (Leela loves them!), cucumber, carrots, sprigs of parsley. Occasionally small bits of fruit (clementines, apples, bananas.)
 
my herd love yarrow,milk thistle, young dock leaves,wild cress and mint ,white and red clover ,wild kale,silver fern.
 
Mine can't get enough spinach or chicory, absolute favourites, which they would love by the bagful every day if allowed. Closely followed by parsley, cucumber, celery and peppers
 
Mine love any sort of leafy veg/herb. Their fav is coriander but they love all the herbs, lettuce, spinach, kale, radish leaf and celery leaves. All of these only occasionally though except the coriander which they get 2-3 times a week along with various other non leafy veggies.
 
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