How much should a guinea pig eat a day?

Question

Just got piggy last week and it will eat 24/7 if there's food in her cage. How much is enough?

Answer 1

Guinea pigs generally eat about 1/8 cup of pellets a day. For growing guinea pigs, alfalfa based pellets are fine, but for adults it is better to feed a timothy hay based pellet.

Since the vitamin C in pellets loses its potency over time, look for pellets that use a stabilized form of vitamin C, or at least one with a "use before" date ensure freshness, and also buy in small quantities and store in a cool dark place.

Vitamin C is of utmost importance to guinea pigs, as they are unable to manufacture their own (like us humans). Without enough vitamin C in their diets, guinea pigs can become very ill with scurvy. The amount of vitamin C required for most guinea pigs is about 10-30 mg/day. Pregnant, nursing, young and ill guinea pigs need more.

Hay should be a staple in the diet, and a fresh supply available at all times. Grass hays such as timothy hay or orchard grass are the best for adult guinea pigs.

In addition to the hay and pellets, a variety of fresh vegetables (especially leafy greens) and some fruits should be offered daily. Leafy greens should make up the bulk of the vegetables, and fruits and other vegetable can be offered in small quantities. Avoid iceberg (head lettuce) as it has very little nutritional value. Good choices include kale, spinach, turnip greens, parsley, romaine lettuce, and dandelion greens. Avoid or limit cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards and bok choy as they can lead to gas production in the digestive tract. Also avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes. Carrots, carrot tops, green and red bell peppers, apple, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes, oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes can also be fed.
Any greens, vegetables or fruits should also be introduced gradually or a digestive upset may result and that can be serious in such a small animal.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

as long as your feeding her the correct diet of guinea pig pellets she should have some in front of her at all times. She should always have high quality hay to munch on and some fruits and veggies as a snack. Guinea pigs have a high metabolism rate and since they are eating vegitation they have slow and incomplete digestion. So they need to eat almost at a constant during the day. Also if you see her eating her poopies some times this is normal and needed, in order to re-digest the nutrients she didnt get at the first round of digestion. Dont worry she wont get fat unless you feed her too many fruits and nuts. I've rasied guinea pigs for 17+ years and run a rescue. Never had an overweight piggy yet.

Answer 3

Guinea pigs eat loads and loads. Pellets and vegetables contain quite few calories, so what looks a lot isn't so much in fact. Always leave food down they know when to stop eating.

Also they must have fresh water, pellets are dry.

S Marquet

http://www.southoffrancehotel.com

Answer 4

Boy this is a good question. My daughters guinea pig seems to eat non stop. I think I feed him at least 3 big helpings a day. Not only do we feed him guinea pig food, he also eats veggies and fruit. But I will admit when he eats veggies and fruit he only eats twice a day. It seems like his regular food does not fill him up. Oh also he drinks a lot of water.
When he is hungry he squills like a pig. He usualy stops when I give him veggies.
HUNGRY, HUNGRY HUEBERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Piggies eat round the clock. I free feed mine.Provide hay for her to eat as well as lots of green vegtables. It won't really matter how much she eats as long as shes active.