bronze Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 As the title says we seem to have got the playgroup guinea pigs for the summer as noone else had even thought of them. My best friend used to keep them so I am comfortable with them but any tips of whats best for them what treats are good whats poison etc would be very much appreciated. I would trawl through but I'm a) lazy b) dont have the time with it being end of term thanks in advance Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Greens are good as GP's can't make their own vitamin C Never give them lettuce as it has no real nutritional value and if they get a taste for it Carrots are good for their teeth They will drink/waste lots of water too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Just make sure they get their daily vitamin C. My guinea pig loves cucumber, greens, carrots and kale. I also give the grass cuttings when the lawn is mowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrookhamChooks Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Grass, grass and more grass. It is after all what a guinea pig is designed to eat! I leave patches of long grass in the garden, and just pull handfuls when needed. Be careful with lawn clippings they can ferment rather quickly. Also, if you need to buy hay, it is MUCH cheaper to go to a horsey type feed merchants and buy a proper bale of hay. Usually better quality stuff than the pet shops sell in tiny bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Oh good theyve got grass alright I have to say they always seem a bit miserable at playgroup but I put them in my spare hutch and run at the end of the darden where it hasnt been mowed for a while and they seemed in 7th heaven. they have the 6 week old chicks next door so I'mm be interested to see the dynamics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Burgess super excel is great as they cannot cherry pick what they like out of it - bit like chook pellets . Its on offer at P@H at the mo - 25% off i think. Yesterday my vet said food should be 80% hay & 20% greens & pellets. She does know her stuff mind. Get some sticks for them to chew on - pear or apple tree branches (unsprayed) but NOT plum. Or mine love the willow balls you can buy. Spring greens are great, go a long way & are cheap at the mo. Lettuce is apparently a no-no, although a little bit of romaine hearts is ok. Iceberg big no - apparently a diuretic (I must eat more then ) The sad thing is you will do all this hard work and then they will go back to their miserable life at school Oh and no straw as it is too sharp, apart from Russel rabbit which is beautifully soft and makes lovely bedding. And guess what I use in the cage .... Aubiose!! Hope that ramble helps Bron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrookhamChooks Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 And guess what I use in the cage .... Aubiose!! Thanks for that, I'd been meaning to ask if anyone had tried their piggies on Aubiose. Does it compost faster than shavings? We use Burgess Supa Guinea too, jolly good stuff (and smells yummy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 I think it's all been said Bron. Make sure that they get plenty of hay though - they need it to keep their digestion going. I'd love to have guineas again, but I think that we've got enough animals for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
