Diet
Guinea pigs eat for more than 16 hours of the day. It is important that they are eating the right things.
Water - Water should be changed at least daily and be provided in a water bottle or a bowl. Do NOT add vitamins or medications to the water.
Hay Hay Hay: The most important part of their diet. They should be given fresh hay for eating daily. This helps to prevent their teeth from overgrowing and keeps their digestive system moving. Hay should be of good quality. Meadow, ings and timothy hay are suitable for feeding daily. Alfalfa hay is only suitable for pregnant sows, nursing sows, young guinea pigs, or malnourished guinea pigs. Vary varieties and brands of hay for added interest. Place in a hay tray to allow them to forage.
Fresh Veggies/Fruit/Herbs: Fresh veggies are the the second most important part of a guinea pigs diet. They ensure your guinea pig gets a variety of nutrients (including vitamin C) and they are important for good dental health. Variety is really important so guinea pigs should have at least four different fresh foods each day (about 1 cup of mixed fruit/veggies per day per piggy). Guinea pigs should be given mainly vegetables and a small amount of fruit. Popular foods include: cucumber, peppers, lettuce (not iceberg), celery (cut into small pieces), greens, corn husks, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, carrot, apple, pear, melon, and kale. A more comprehensive list of safe vegetables and fruits you can give to your guinea pigs are listed at the bottom of this document. There are also links with more information about suitable veggies for guinea pigs with special dietary requirements (e.g., pigs who have had bladder stones).
Readigrass: A handful can be fed daily with hay. Very nutritious for guineas and particularly good for indoor guineas or over the winter when guinea pigs haven't access to fresh grass.
Nuggets - Should make up the smallest part of a guinea pig's diet and should be limited. Guinea pig nuggets should be fed rather than mixed guinea pig food. This prevents selective feeding and doesn't contain the chemical colourings the mixed foods do. Recommended brands include: Harringtons and Excel which do not contain these chemical colourings.
Safe fresh foods for guinea pigs:
VEGETABLES:
Artichoke
AsparagusBell/sweet peppers - red, green, yellow (not hot or chilli)
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts and stalk leaves
Beetroot (raw, not the leaves)
Butternut squash
Celery (chopped finely so they do not choke)
Carrots including tops and leaves (not too many as they are high in sugar)
Cauliflower stalks
Cabbage (in moderation)
Corn on the cob (strings, leaves & stalks are edible too)
Celeriac
Cucumber
Chard (in moderation as high in calcium)
Chicory
Courgette
Garden and water cress
Green beans
Kale (in moderation as high in calcium)
Lettuce - Romaine, Cos, Lollo Rosso, little gem, Lambs Tongue (not iceberg)
Mange tout
Peas in pod
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Pak choi
Rocket
Radishes (if mild)
Spring greens
Spinach (feed in moderation as high in calcium)
Sweet potato
Swede
Tomatoes (including cherry)
FRESH HERBS:
Basil
Coriander
Dill
Mint
Parsley (curly and flatleaf)
Thyme
FROM THE GARDEN:
Agrimony
Apple tree leaves/branches – guineas love chewing on branches
Blackberry leaves
Chickweed
Clover Cow
Parsley
Coltsfoot
Dandelion (flower and leaves)
Grass
Groundsel
Hazel branches
Mallow
Pear tree leaves and branches
Plantain
Raspberry leaves
Stinging Nettle
Wild Strawberry (berries and leaves)
Yarrow
FRUIT
Apple (don't over feed, can cause mouth sores)
Apricot
Bananas including skins (small amounts)
Blackberries
Bilberries
Blueberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Cantaloupe Melon
Grapes (in moderation, high in sugar)
Guava
Gooseberries
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Mango
Nectarine
Papaya
Pineapple
Pear
Plum
Peach
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelon (can cause diarrhea - high water content)
DO NOT FEED
Potatoes
Tomato stalks and leaves
Onions
Iceberg lettuce
Avocado
Rhubarb
FOXGLOVES KILL.
AVOID SHOP BOUGHT TREATS: These look appealing but are full of chemicals, colorants and sugars which are not good for guinea pigs. You are better to treat your guineas to fresh grass or another veggie favourite (e.g., cucumber).
Other information:
http://aprillodge.co.uk/care/diet/
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/feeding-your-guinea-pigs-a-balanced-diet-incl-ca-p-ratio.37030/
Information for guinea pigs requiring a special diet (e.g., bladder stones): Guinea lynx provides a list detailing the values of specific nutrients and minerals in fresh food. For example, if you click on the calcium header at the top of the chart, it will order the list low to high. http://www.guinealynx.info/chart.html
Guinea pigs eat for more than 16 hours of the day. It is important that they are eating the right things.
Water - Water should be changed at least daily and be provided in a water bottle or a bowl. Do NOT add vitamins or medications to the water.
Hay Hay Hay: The most important part of their diet. They should be given fresh hay for eating daily. This helps to prevent their teeth from overgrowing and keeps their digestive system moving. Hay should be of good quality. Meadow, ings and timothy hay are suitable for feeding daily. Alfalfa hay is only suitable for pregnant sows, nursing sows, young guinea pigs, or malnourished guinea pigs. Vary varieties and brands of hay for added interest. Place in a hay tray to allow them to forage.
Fresh Veggies/Fruit/Herbs: Fresh veggies are the the second most important part of a guinea pigs diet. They ensure your guinea pig gets a variety of nutrients (including vitamin C) and they are important for good dental health. Variety is really important so guinea pigs should have at least four different fresh foods each day (about 1 cup of mixed fruit/veggies per day per piggy). Guinea pigs should be given mainly vegetables and a small amount of fruit. Popular foods include: cucumber, peppers, lettuce (not iceberg), celery (cut into small pieces), greens, corn husks, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, carrot, apple, pear, melon, and kale. A more comprehensive list of safe vegetables and fruits you can give to your guinea pigs are listed at the bottom of this document. There are also links with more information about suitable veggies for guinea pigs with special dietary requirements (e.g., pigs who have had bladder stones).
Readigrass: A handful can be fed daily with hay. Very nutritious for guineas and particularly good for indoor guineas or over the winter when guinea pigs haven't access to fresh grass.
Nuggets - Should make up the smallest part of a guinea pig's diet and should be limited. Guinea pig nuggets should be fed rather than mixed guinea pig food. This prevents selective feeding and doesn't contain the chemical colourings the mixed foods do. Recommended brands include: Harringtons and Excel which do not contain these chemical colourings.
Safe fresh foods for guinea pigs:
VEGETABLES:
Artichoke
AsparagusBell/sweet peppers - red, green, yellow (not hot or chilli)
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts and stalk leaves
Beetroot (raw, not the leaves)
Butternut squash
Celery (chopped finely so they do not choke)
Carrots including tops and leaves (not too many as they are high in sugar)
Cauliflower stalks
Cabbage (in moderation)
Corn on the cob (strings, leaves & stalks are edible too)
Celeriac
Cucumber
Chard (in moderation as high in calcium)
Chicory
Courgette
Garden and water cress
Green beans
Kale (in moderation as high in calcium)
Lettuce - Romaine, Cos, Lollo Rosso, little gem, Lambs Tongue (not iceberg)
Mange tout
Peas in pod
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Pak choi
Rocket
Radishes (if mild)
Spring greens
Spinach (feed in moderation as high in calcium)
Sweet potato
Swede
Tomatoes (including cherry)
FRESH HERBS:
Basil
Coriander
Dill
Mint
Parsley (curly and flatleaf)
Thyme
FROM THE GARDEN:
Agrimony
Apple tree leaves/branches – guineas love chewing on branches
Blackberry leaves
Chickweed
Clover Cow
Parsley
Coltsfoot
Dandelion (flower and leaves)
Grass
Groundsel
Hazel branches
Mallow
Pear tree leaves and branches
Plantain
Raspberry leaves
Stinging Nettle
Wild Strawberry (berries and leaves)
Yarrow
FRUIT
Apple (don't over feed, can cause mouth sores)
Apricot
Bananas including skins (small amounts)
Blackberries
Bilberries
Blueberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Cantaloupe Melon
Grapes (in moderation, high in sugar)
Guava
Gooseberries
Honeydew melon
Kiwi
Mango
Nectarine
Papaya
Pineapple
Pear
Plum
Peach
Raspberries
Strawberries
Watermelon (can cause diarrhea - high water content)
DO NOT FEED
Potatoes
Tomato stalks and leaves
Onions
Iceberg lettuce
Avocado
Rhubarb
FOXGLOVES KILL.
AVOID SHOP BOUGHT TREATS: These look appealing but are full of chemicals, colorants and sugars which are not good for guinea pigs. You are better to treat your guineas to fresh grass or another veggie favourite (e.g., cucumber).
Other information:
http://aprillodge.co.uk/care/diet/
http://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/feeding-your-guinea-pigs-a-balanced-diet-incl-ca-p-ratio.37030/
Information for guinea pigs requiring a special diet (e.g., bladder stones): Guinea lynx provides a list detailing the values of specific nutrients and minerals in fresh food. For example, if you click on the calcium header at the top of the chart, it will order the list low to high. http://www.guinealynx.info/chart.html
