Why does she do this?

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Hey, sorry guys not a paticulary nice subject here! When squeak is having a cuddle on my lap, she seems to eat her own poops (I couldn't remember the proper word for it! rolleyes) more than I've seen her do in the hutch. She eats about 3 or 4 when shes on my lap but i rarely see her do it in the hutch? Does anyone know why this is?
Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs need to eat some of their poos (it is called coprophagy). The poos they eat are a special variety that contains the excreted vitamin C (therefore often called "vitapoos" ) which they need to preserve as they can't make their own (unlike rabbits). The vitapoos are often lighter in colour to the normal poos and they are produced and consumed at a different time to the normal poos.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

She could be doing this now because of the absence of hay at lap times. "I'm peckish, what's available?" sort of thing. Caecotroph is another word often used for edible poops.

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

Guinea pigs need to eat some of their poos (it is called coprophagy). The poos they eat are a special variety that contains the excreted vitamin C (therefore often called "vitapoos" ) which they need to preserve as they can't make their own (unlike rabbits). The vitapoos are often lighter in colour to the normal poos and they are produced and consumed at a different time to the normal poos.

Yes I had read about this before. I thought it was weird how she mainly did it during lap time

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

She could be doing this now because of the absence of hay at lap times. "I'm peckish, what's available?" sort of thing. Caecotroph is another word often used for edible poops.

Ah it could be that... Hehe thanks!

 

[Jess]

Guinea pigs need to eat some of their poos (it is called coprophagy). The poos they eat are a special variety that contains the excreted vitamin C (therefore often called "vitapoos" ) which they need to preserve as they can't make their own (unlike rabbits). The vitapoos are often lighter in colour to the normal poos and they are produced and consumed at a different time to the normal poos.

'Vitapoos' hahaha |)

 

[Pigjes]

Yep, that's what I call them too

One of my past piggies, Kooky, kissed me right after she ate one on the mouth ... uh ... well, it tasted like hay and the multivitamins I take, her mouth didn't smell of poo at all.

Vitapoos are bigger than normal pose. I think that piggies feel them coming and that's why they know exactly that it's a vitapoo. If they are on your lap, well, no need to waste a good poo, is there?

I read that a pig produces about 150 a day of those.

 

[sport_billy]

One of my past piggies, Kooky, kissed me right after she ate one on the mouth ... uh ... well, it tasted like hay and the multivitamins I take, her mouth didn't smell of poo at all.