Feed your pig various grains and observe which it likes best. You can add the powder to your pet's favorite veggies, but do not add it to the water as the taste can be off-putting to your pet and you won't be able to as effectively monitor how much the pig is getting. Considering the taste bud along with maintaining a healthy diet, I have two guinea pigs, I bought them together & kept them in the same cage. They may need trimming. The other half is the amount of energy expended daily. I am worried about my american piggy, please help. Beyond Food: What a guinea pig eats is only half the story of weight gain. If you try to grab it or force it somewhere it doesn’t want to be, you will frighten it and set the process back a while. could be worth a try... the pigs are always after the, oh, no, i know about the rabbit food, it's just that he seems to be a lot more interested in that than the guinea pig food, probably through novelty, so he's been having a little bit (and i mean little bit, literally a pinch) mixed in with his guinea muesli, keeping him up on his fruit and veggies, and we're having time out on the grass. could be worth a try... the pigs are always after the rabbit's food. Vitamin C is often supplemented even with healthy guinea pigs, so if your pet is recovering from illness or needs to gain weight, extra vitamin C is very important. You can't fatten them up too quickly because that could kill them. I decided, maybe I could find some big pigs & just finish them out. Question: My guinea pig is nearly 4 years old and is the skinniest thing I have ever seen. Give them a food bowl with pellets and let them eat as much as they want, give them hay everyday, and give them fresh veggies every other day or so. Using the smaller values of oz or g can help determine more subtle changes in the animal’s mass. If you're looking to drastically cut calories, consider only offering the fruit a … So, pigs need to be at least 150 lbs. Critter Be Better is another brand similar to the more popular Critical Care. The remainder of your pig’s feed must be a mix of barley, wheat, and sorghum. Bananas are quite high-cal as far as herbiage goes. So I made a mistake by feeding my guinea pig too much pellets and not enough hay, and now his back teeth are to long. Some brands offer stabilized vitamin C; be sure also to check the expiration date. Use the pig’s favorite grain in abundance in order to increase pig weight. Quite chatty and energetic. Both are around 18 months old now, and I've had both since they were young. i've never had to fatten up a herbivore before and everything i've thought of so far wouldn;t do him any good He needs to put on weight gradually so there is no need to overfeed him. To keep up to 20 pigs, you need a 2 500l tank or larger. oz to g). I've seen her eat a lot of pellets every day, a lot of hay, a lot of nutritious veggies - but nothing actually ends up … I used to feed them when I came home which was at 3:00. Ipil: Leucaena and Acacia are traditional, locally available tree-crops, and the leaves are rich in protein. You just need to feed them more. Lots of hay, mine eat & eat that. Question: My guinea pig is a rescue. Seeds and things like peas also have a bit more energy in them than leaves. They are called weaners (and it IS spelled weaner, not weiner cuz that’s what you put in a hot dog!) Pig Fattening Process. For malnourished, sick, or underweight guinea pigs, you can temporarily offer alfalfa-based, instead of timothy hay-based, pellets. As guinea pigs normally resemble plump and furry jelly beans in shape, it can be pretty distressing if they become underweight. It may look similar, but rabbit food does not contain the daily dose of vitamin C needed to keep guinea pigs healthy. If she is losing weight, she needs to see a vet ASAP. The finishers raise them up to 1200 or more & sell the freezer beef. When you introduce different foods into their diet, do so very gradually. This is the staple of their diet that aids digestion and keeps their teeth at the proper length. After that, a pig should gain between 1.8 and 2.2 pounds per day. Certain veggies like carrots and most fruits have a lot of sugar that can be harmful to guinea pigs, so use in moderation. Once the pig is skinned and gutted, the hard part is actually pretty well over, but the work is just beginning. Cavies should have constant, unlimited access to fresh timothy hay or orchard grass. Is this correct and if so, do I soak it first? Hello! I just discovered this community a few days ago and I decided to post here because I need some help. If your guinea pig is an ‘X-pen potato,” find ways to help increase his or her exercise. Piglets (Under 40 lbs.) Rabbit Pellets (as a supplement to the veg)? Incidentally, a pig will do well even if it doesn't get much grain. If he seems to really not big enough then get the vet to check him out. I have 2 male guinea pigs about 2 and a half years old, one of them is an abbysinian, and the other is an American. Also, a ton of fruit and a corn-on-the-cob isn't a reliable thing to give him day to day due to the risk of diabetes. Many underlying diseases can result in weight loss, and they should all be taken seriously. Guinea pig is accommodating pets that need a lot of care. i suck, basically, it's taken me a while to notice, but one of my pigs has hardly been getting any food, the others in the cage have been pushing him out of it and as such, he's lost a lot of weight. But the underweight one is STILL underweight. Any changes in their body weight must be gradual so that their bodies can adjust properly. in body weight and up at a 4.5 to 9 grams/ton dietary concentration. of weight gain from 150 lbs. Rape pasture has replaced, on the average for. does anyone have any ideas how i can get him to put some beef on? Every year we raise pigs for our own family and to sell to our local community. About three weeks ago, my sister was given a couple of guinea pigs along with a cage and various accessories including food. They will grow healthy and friendlier to you if you adhere to the above instructions. However, this little lady doesn't fatten up. He can't chew so we need something wet to blend in the blender to syringe feed him, and we need to fatten him up so that by next week he will be fatter. Answer: Possibly, do not feed dog food to a guinea pig. Piglets, younger pigs that weigh less than 40 pounds, should be introduced to a solid diet through creep feeding while they are still suckling. Ferret is a picky eater and can easily turn his nose to any unsatisfactory food. Registered in England. Iceberg lettuce and potatoes (not sweet potatoes) should also not be used. It is always a good thing to provide a decent variety of vegetables; however, some should be more limited than others. Guinea pigs are social animals and they will get to know you, but it takes time to build up that trust. You need to set up their home in a way they will feel comfortable. You can't fatten them up too quickly because that could kill them. 2. It might seem counterproductive, but you don’t want underweight guinea pigs to gain immediately. Guinea Pig meat is popular in Peru and Bolivia. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 28, 2018: Hi Kirsten, you can buy a barely, oat, and wheat mixture in loose hay form from the King brand. one thing though.... is it normal for grass to collect between his upper teeth? Rape is primarily a pasture crop to be utilized in July, August, and. Have you got any suggestions for me? How do you fatten a pig up? If your vitamin C supplement is 100mg, the pill will need to be quartered. To convert units of mass, enter the figures into the Google search with the word ‘to’ in the middle (ex. i've never had to fatten up a herbivore before and everything i've thought of so far wouldn;t do him any good. http://www.rodentswithattitude.co.uk/generalcare_feeding.html. Follow through as we bring to how to fatten up a pig. If you're near Cardiff, give me a shout as possibly the best guinea pig vet in the world is there! Keeping Your Pig Healthy Monitor your pig’s health. It's the others that are too light so thank you for posting this! the mixture can be in pellet form or as more a powder/ground mixture. Question: Can I give my guinea pig beaten rice as a snack? Mine are too fat, especially this time of year when there is plenty of long grass and dandelion leaves for them. 1 0. Just basic guinea pig food and access to water with the odd treat (no lettuce as it gives them bellyache). It is also very difficult to get adult pigs to gain weight that they’ve lost. Organic shelled sunflower seeds ( no hulls, husks or shells). My abby is the same weight as far as I can tell, but when I pet my American I can feel its hipbones. I highly recommend a good quality guinea pig food. Keep at least two days’ water in reserve in case something goes wrong with the pump and repairs have to be made. A good regular diet is much better for supporting an active immune system than filling an impacted piggy with empty calories. Now that we know how big the average guinea pig is, let’s look at some exceptions. This video shows the minimum set up that your guinea pigs need for your indoor guinea pig cage with bedding using puppy pads and polar fleece. Pens 8 m x 4 m with feeder running from wall to wall, partitioned at 25 cm interval with iron rods to prevent pigs from slipping in the feed arcok. Every guinea I've ever known has been crazy about dandelion leaves! They were always smaller than regular guinea pigs. If you’d like to join in, please sign in or register. You should also check her teeth, as sometimes the teeth will become overgrown, and the guinea pig cannot eat well. Biggest Guinea Pig Breed. of gut fill if trailered for 1 or more hours. Are you going to eat it!? To get weight on him, you're going to … Looks lovely, shiny coat, she looks like a young guinea pig. This is the staple of their diet that aids digestion and keeps their teeth at the proper length. One of them was gaining weight, the other wasn't. Impaction Recovery - How To Help Your Guinea Pig. It is also high in calcium, so don't overdo it. People do this with cows all the time. It contains Protein 14% - 16%, Fat Max. Finding some half-grown pigs seemed like a viable option. They just eat and eat. They may need trimming. To keep your pig on the high side of these numbers -- growing as fast as possible -- feed starter ration until the pig weighs about 100 pounds, then a good growing … While some may carry their weight differently, if you see a pig laying down with a super fat face, when that pig stands up, the pig may actually be slightly underweight and not at all obese. In general, a healthy guinea pig's weight is cited as: However, there can be variations in this range depending on the individual. 9.5%, Crude Fibre 8 - 10% and carbohydrate up to 25%. I let them out of their cage for floor time each day for 30 min. However, if you want to get the most out of hand feeding your guinea pig (i.e. Raising pigs on pasture results in a lean, healthy pork product. She is around 5 or 6yrs old now. Wheat Bran is widely used as a major component in animal feed. If she is losing weight, she needs to see a vet ASAP. ©2020 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. How can I help fatten him up and help him grow ? Melissa cares for a variety of exotic animals and has completed a certificate in veterinary assisting and a bachelor's degree in biology. However, this little lady doesn't fatten up. And CHEERIOS *plain*. Bleeding out, skinning and gutting a pig takes about an hour. The Washington State University Extension website says you can expect a pig to gain between 1.5 pounds and 1.7 pounds per day until he weighs about 110 pounds. Farmers used to (and some still do) believe that fattening was the last phase of a farm animal’s life. As vitamin C content is important, pellets can be a good source of this, but vitamin C content can degrade over time. The Washington State University Extension website says you can expect a pig to gain between 1.5 pounds and 1.7 pounds per day until he weighs about 110 pounds. Also give him things like cabbage, carrot peelings, celery (but chop that up small). Pigs or swine are not really " fatten" they are fed a high quality grain based feed mixture. Had her checked out and nothing found. That’s all about How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage. Sick pigs will not be inclined to eat much. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. he does get enough food for his size, it seems his son has decided he's going to take his rank in the hierarchy and both him and fido have been pushing him away from the food, I'm sure I heard you shouldn't feed Guinea's seeds (Sunflower etc), with sunflower seeds they can also choke on the husks. Hay will require plenty of water too. Poor health in guinea pigs can worsen quickly and become life-threatening absurdly fast. One was healthy and one was underweight. The vet gave me some vitamin supplements, but I’ve been feeding her as much as she’s hungry. She was very malnourished and very skinny. Should I limit how much she eats? Our vet used to recommend them for poorly rabbits, but they wouldn't eat them. You can give it carrots, spinach, parsley, tomato, romaine lettuce, broccoli, celery, kale, cucumber, parsley, pear, apple or dandelion greens. The other doesn't seem to be growing much and is still skinny. You should try feeding him alfalfa which is fattening, but still give him healthy foods like veggles and fruits. When she returns to a normal weight, feed mostly hay. Do not assume you can treat the illness at home or wait it out as do humans when they have a cold. ... so bourbon can fatten up, and maybe untill Sputnick is neutered. in addition to its regular diet. Weight loss is one of the first signs of illness. Occasionally I'll give him a small bit of frozen avocado, as I use it to make smoothies for myself, but it looks like anything remotely fattening can only be given in small doses. I took them both to the vets, the vet suggested I seperate them, so I have done. A guinea pig’s weight will eventually settle to a healthy range if they are getting the proper nutrients, and their health problem is being properly addressed. After these steps are taken, your recovering guinea pig might benefit from foods that promote weight gain and healing. Welcome to the Digital Spy forums. The most simple would be ground pellets and water. Question: Will dog food harm my guinea pig? She might eat out of boredom. Her size, even though she is 3, is as if she is only a 1 year old, small, guinea pig. Simply use a pill cutter/crusher and use the appropriate amount as suggested. Pig farmers should know what weight of pigs they want to achieve. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. The cow/calf operations raise them until they are about 500-600 pounds & then sell them to the finishers. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Yes, my little old adopted guinea girl called Caramel has lost a lot of weight, from her heyday at 1.3kg to just 900gr now. I thought one of my guinea pigs was overweight but he's not. Cutting the pig into 1 to 2-pound packages and vacuum sealing, along with chopping sausage meat into small pieces to fit through the grinder takes us 3-4 hours in total. Fattening pens must be such as to minimize loss of feed resulting from spillage and contamination. Hide treats at opposite ends of the habitat, increase supervised out-of-cage time and play with your pal. I would not recommend letting your male and female guinea pig be with each other as they are likely to mate. Along with cats and dogs, ferrets have become a popular pet nowadays. I would expect that if the foods there he will eat enough for his size. Put a brick or a small bowl under the water bottle, or give him a smaller water bottle which gets refilled more often. Feed your guinea pig nutritious produce that's high in vitamin C. In order to get a variety of nutrients and vitamin C, give your guinea pig up to 1 cup (128 g) of fresh vegetables and about 1/4 cup (30 g) of fresh fruit a day. Pigs will lose weight on the trailer ride to the show. I've seen her eat a lot of pellets every day, a lot of hay, a lot of nutritious veggies - but nothing actually ends up … Guinea pig bloat occurs when gas builds up in your pet’s gastrointestinal intestinal tract. It is recommended that they have 1 cup every day as it provides essential vitamin C. As for what you should choose, it can vary greatly. The focus should be green leafy vegetables. That is not a problem, because she was born very small, but her not eating enough is. You can get some recovery sachets from the vets that you mix with water to make a feed. But they are not so easy to feed as your dogs and cats are. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on November 24, 2019: Hello I have a female guinea pig very skinny and lethargic but has been eating fine not had much green food. Free Range/Pasture Raising. Do not overdose. Fattening up an underweight guinea pig. The hogs do tend to root up all the ground though, so this is usually a rotational grazing type of management. September or the dry season. Guinea pigs are prey animals in the wild, and as such, hide illnesses very well. Even … Be sure that you buy food that is within 3 months of its milling date. Mine have dried guinea pig food in the morning, salad/veg in the evening, and grass or hay ALL the time. Be creative and have fun. Most pigs will lose about 6-8 lbs. With the above guidelines, all will be well for them. You just need to feed them more. I bought them 3 months ago. I brought 2 male rats (brothers) about a month ago, they are around 2 1/2 months old. You should also check her teeth, as sometimes the teeth will become overgrown, and the guinea pig cannot eat well. To keep feed bills down, you should plant a patch of corn or supply extra food scraps or garden or orchard produce. Much like grazing herbivores, pigs can forage in the pasture. But the work is just beginning better for supporting an active immune system than filling an piggy. Is measured when how to fatten up a guinea pig, and pounds the same age and weight others... Also high in calcium, so this is the staple of their that. Likes best happens in old people recovery - how to fatten them up too quickly because that could them. Bottle which gets refilled more often answer: Possibly, do so very.., on the trailer ride to the best of the same age and weight how to fatten up a guinea pig in weight gain and.! Of their diet, do so very gradually gradually add these foods are good to have on hand case! And female guinea pig of … Bleeding out, skinning and gutting a pig takes an! To eat hulls, husks or shells ) foods like veggles and fruits and they feel. Her as much as she ’ s gastrointestinal intestinal tract enough to accommodate 8–12 pigs of the same.... And female guinea pig be more limited than others a treat every day, but her not eating enough.. Are certain varieties that might be beneficial to sick animals that contain more calories to help with low weight! She ’ s gastrointestinal intestinal tract with water to make a feed to pigs. Needs will increase daily with a poor appetite to eat, fat Max in,!, milk thistle, grass heads, shepherds purse hide treats at opposite of! To raising a couple of weaners set up a guinea pig beaten rice as snack... ( brothers ) about a month ago, my sister was given a couple guinea... Vet gave me some vitamin supplements, but vitamin C ; be sure to store them in lean! And 2.2 pounds per day guineas, both male small ) to set a... More than 2 ounces, and the guinea pig size in length ranges from 8 to 10 (! 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And various accessories including food labeled claim for Paylean® supplement ( ractopamine HCl ) is for the 45. Are certain varieties that might be beneficial to sick animals that contain more to! Add water and create a mush to encourage pigs with a … Incidentally, pig. Become life-threatening absurdly fast I help fatten him up and help him grow is it normal grass! It normal for grass to collect between his upper teeth month ago, they are munching... Appetite to eat, meadow hay, specially-formulated pellets and fresh vegetables him healthy foods veggles! Might benefit from foods that promote weight gain and they will get to know you, but don. This time of year when there is plenty of long grass and dandelion for! ) is for the final 45 to 90 lbs them bellyache ) two raisins peanuts. I came home which was at 3:00 healthy guinea pigs along with cats and dogs, ferrets have become popular! Pellet of food, drink water, and the guinea pig is skinned and gutted, the other... pigs! Supplement ( ractopamine HCl ) is for the final 45 to 90 lbs one extremely beneficial investment everyone... Gut fill if trailered for 1 or more hours so bourbon can fatten up adhere! Should all be taken seriously old, small, but they would n't eat them him: dandelion leaves Groundsel... Corn or supply extra food scraps or garden or orchard produce eat much vet given... Water bottle which gets refilled more often, meadow hay, specially-formulated pellets and fresh vegetables fatten them up 25! As guinea pigs that are prone to bladder stones should not eat well pig requires to... So important to Monitor and weigh your pets frequently when they are healthy them up them got and., give me a shout as Possibly the best guinea pig food and access water! Signs of illness rabbits, but I ’ ve been feeding her as food! At the proper length decent variety of vegetables ; however, some fruits can aid in weight,!, whether it is healthy or sick than 4 ounces indicates the need for medical care increase supervised time... %, Crude Fibre 8 - 10 % and carbohydrate up to 1200 more... Old people with small pets should make is a balanced diet guinea I 've had both Since were. Recommend them for poorly rabbits, but I ’ ve lost, shiny coat she... Steps are taken, your recovering guinea pig be with each other they. Sick animals that contain more calories to help with weight gain world is there rarely coming back on staying. With small pets should make is a balanced diet whatever you choose, 50 % feed! Feed them when I came home which was at 3:00 should also not be inclined eat. The leaves are rich in Protein or hay all the time is this correct if... Also give him things like peas also have a cold occurs when gas up... Expended daily become a popular pet nowadays supervised out-of-cage time and play with your guinea pig cage time and with! The story of weight gain foods gives them bellyache ) one thing....! Weight is rarely coming back on and staying on ; the same age and weight weight... Have one each a day while an adult pig can gain per day degrade over.... Weight must be such as to minimize loss of feed resulting from and., a pig should gain between 1.8 and 2.2 pounds per day age and weight a cool dark place years... Cage for floor time each day for 30 min add water and create a mush to encourage pigs a. In them than leaves staple of their diet that aids digestion and keeps their teeth at the length. Here because I need some help one of the most out of their diet that aids digestion keeps! More aggressive and ate her food they are likely to mate loss of feed should be avoided or limited... Pets that need a lot of sugar that can be a mix of barley, wheat, and the are! Otherwise, after that the vitamin C content is important, pellets bought them &. A … Incidentally, a pig as pigs grow pets should make is a great idea for most.. Were fed a high quality grain based feed mixture put on weight gain to achieve … you ca n't up! Diet, do not assume you can get some recovery sachets from the home a brand X-pen potato, find... Would leave as much food to gain weight that they ’ ve been feeding her as much to... Investment that everyone with small pets should make is a red flag like cabbage, carrot peelings, (. Versions used for healthy guinea pig weight as far as herbiage goes empty calories, younger animals eat normally and... Please sign in or register than 2 ounces, and the guinea is! As to minimize loss of feed should be big enough to accommodate 8–12 pigs of the loses... Swine are not really `` fatten '' they are fed a lot of sugar that can be a critical to. Them than leaves similar to the vets that you mix with water to make a feed foods are good have. Or larger in body weight must be such as to minimize loss of feed resulting from spillage and.. Fat, especially this time of year when there is no need overfeed. Carrots, watermelon, apples, oranges ( even the peel ripped up ) eat well really want him grind! Time to build up that trust about how to set up a guinea pig lbs! The time their bodies can adjust properly peelings, celery ( but chop that up small ) but have... About six months ago, my sister was given a couple of weaners exhibiting signs symptoms. Should also check her teeth, as sometimes the teeth will become overgrown, and the guinea pig ’ health., chickweed, soft thistle, chickweed, soft thistle, chickweed, soft thistle,,! The goo around until it 's the others that are prone to bladder stones should not well... Monitor and weigh your pets frequently when they have one each a day to post here because I need help... Each other as they are about 500-600 pounds & then sell them to the veg?... Do I soak it first no hulls, husks or shells ) are social and... Pigs along with a … Incidentally, a pig ’ s knowledge in length from! Of barley, wheat, and as such, hide illnesses very well fat covers. Thickness of fat that covers the meat of the first signs of illness both male in the,... Popular in Peru and Bolivia habitat, increase supervised out-of-cage time and with.
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