Guinea Pig Food, Feeding Hay & Treats FAQs
Got a question about choosing guinea pig pellets or nuggets over other types of guinea pig food? To help you learn more about feeding a healthy diet to your gorgeous guineas, we’ve put together some really useful answers from our nutrition team at Burgess, the pet care experts.
What should a healthy diet for guinea pigs consist of?
Guinea pigs have very delicate digestive systems which need to be treated with care. These small rodents need a really high-fibre diet, so feeding them unlimited high-quality hay or fresh grass is vital. Alongside this, you should provide high-quality guinea pig nuggets and the occasional treat.
Plus, don’t forget to supply your piggies with a constant supply of fresh, clean water in a bottle with a solid sipper tube, attached to their accommodation.
How much hay should I feed my guinea pig?
The majority of your piggies’ diet – around 85-90% – should be tasty, top-quality feeding hay and grazed grass (never feed grass cuttings as this will make your guinea pigs unwell). As a guide, provide each pet with at least their own body size in fresh guinea pig feeding hay every day.
Avoid cheap bedding hay, which has poor nutritional value. Instead, go for deliciously nutritious dust-free hay for guinea pigs such as Timothy Hay, Meadow Hay, Green Harvest Hay, Hay with Dandelion & Marigold or Hay with Hedgerow Herbs – all nutrient-rich options that have been grown and harvested specifically as feeding hay.
As well as being important for maintaining a healthy digestion, fresh, nutritious meadow hay is also good for dental health as the gnawing action required to eat it helps to wear down their continually growing teeth.
How many nuggets should I feed my guinea pig?
Around 5% of your guinea pigs’ daily diet should comprise of a tablespoon-sized portion of high-fibre guinea pig nuggets. To help you work out the correct portions, there are on-pack feeding guidelines you can follow.
Although they make up only a small portion of a guinea pig’s feeding needs, high-quality nuggets are really important. The carefully balanced vitamins and minerals they contain support healthy eyes, skin and coat and promote a healthy digestion.
Place the nuggets in a gnaw-proof ceramic bowl, so your guinea pigs don’t scare themselves by accidentally knocking it over! Scattering some of their daily portion around their accommodation is also a great idea as it encourages their natural foraging behaviour and will keep them happily busy.
What makes guinea pig pellets good quality?
Good-quality guinea pig nuggets are formed from a range of ingredients – including grass meal and wholegrain wheat, beneficial dried herbs such as mint and oregano, along with other nutritious ingredients like dried nettles and dandelions. These make up a typical forage-based diet and provide a natural guinea pig food.
Guinea pig nuggets should be high in beneficial fibre to support your guinea pigs’ digestive health, contain vitamin C and antioxidants to support their immune system, and be fortified with vitamins and minerals to support healthy eyes, skin and coat.
The best way to ensure your guinea pigs are getting everything they need from their diet is to stick to the five-step Excel Feeding Plan, which was developed in conjunction with one of the world’s leading small animal vets. This will provide your piggies with the perfect daily balance of fibre and nutrition.
What fruit and veg is suitable guinea pig food?
Your cavy chums can be fed fresh greens as these are a great source of vitamin C, additional nutrients and provide some variety to their diet. However, you need to be careful about which greens you feed and how much. As a guide, feed no more than a teacup-sized amount a day to avoid tummy upsets, which you can split between morning and evening feeds.
Each day, you could alternate:
- A small bunch of parsley
- A couple of dandelion leaves (ensure they have not been sprayed with pesticides or are from an area where wild rabbits graze, as they could carry disease)
- Half a curly kale leaf
- One small floret of broccoli
- 1/8th of a green bell pepper
Guinea pigs don’t naturally eat fruit or root vegetables, but you can include them in small amounts as treats. This could be small pieces of carrot or celery, a cherry tomato, a little bit of banana or an apple quarter. While fresh fruit is a nice treat, it’s high in sugar and too much of it can cause your guinea pigs to put on weight.
According to the PDSA, guinea pig food should never consist of onions, garlic, mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, avocados, nuts, potatoes, seeds, rhubarb, cabbage or tomato leaves.
Always ensure any uneaten fresh food is cleaned away before it spoils.
How do I switch from another brand to Burgess Excel guinea pig nuggets?
If your pets haven’t eaten Burgess Excel guinea pig food before, they’re in for a treat! As well as a choice of yummy nuggets with mint or blackcurrant & oregano, there’s also a variety specially for indoor guinea pigs.
You can safely transition your guinea pigs’ diet over a period of 7-10 days by gradually reducing the old food and replacing it with Burgess Excel guinea pig food.
In the first few days, measure out your guinea pigs’ normal food intake for the day. Take out a small amount and replace it with the same amount of the new nuggets. Mix them together so that your guineas eat a combination of the two.
Each day, slightly reduce their old food and replace it with some of their new food. At the end of the transition period, your guinea pigs should be eating their new nuggets happily with no issues!
What about guinea pig treats?
When you want to treat your guinea pigs, choose naturally healthy snacks that have been developed especially for small pets who need a high-fibre diet. Healthy treats such as Herby Hearts, Meadow Munchies, Hay Bars and Wildflower Forage help to prevent boredom and promote emotional health.
Plus, don’t forget to supply your piggies with a constant supply of fresh, clean water in a bottle with a solid sipper tube, attached to their accommodation.
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