Guinea-pigs (love them 
) are very spoiled, sensitive and exotic (mine assure me this is true)
Similar to horses, their guts are designed to "trickle feed" - pretty constant eating.
They need lots of fibre.
They eat their first passed poo (usually when they're resting of an evening) to get the full benefit. In their 'wild' state as prey, they'd be scoffing with one eye on the sky to make sure nothing swoops over to grab them. Then when they are 'safe' they digest their part digested poo at leisure (nice)
As an owner, you don't see these poohs, they are soft, and usually you see your pig ducking his head under the belly (they do a stand on tiptoe stance ) then glare at you like you want to steal it.
They can't vomit. So whatever goes down, goes through.
So- what they cannot eat:
potato/potato skins
onion
any bulb/bulb plants (so things like daffodils in the garden)
avocado
mushrooms
iceberg (too watery)
meat/fish/chicken
eggs
buttercups
daisies
foxglove
ivy
seeds (choking)
honey
stoned fruit (like peaches/plums/cherries. I have no idea why, unless it's the stone itself that is the issue. Mine like to 'help' if I'm eating a nectarine)
rhubarb / leaves
Things in moderation:
dark greens- cabbage(especially Savoy) , spinach, watercress,kale,sprouts. Can be an issue with bladder stones , high in oxilates (sp) .And wind . They can fart like you wouldn't believe !
high calcium veg like brocolli, parsley,dandelion leaves
clover is high in protein
Alfafa hay also high in calcium/protein so only for pg/nursing sows and tiny piglets, not regular adults
fruits- high in sugar. Apples and pears need "cutted up" otherwise they can get sores on their mouths
root veg also quite high in sugar - we fattened up little GP2 for winter with fresh beetroot but no leaves
they love carrots with leaves though
all veg has a high water content so potentially can make them loose bowelled if they eat too much. Things like cucumber and watermelon are lovely in summer to hydrate them.
rich fresh grass, especially if they gorge themselves in the spring can lead to bloating. Build up the time slowly.
We give hay all year. In winter (when they are indoors) we use the hay cookies (pressed discs of hay) mainly because they don't need the warmth as much, the hay cookies take longer to eat and so much tidier . But then I forget to buy them, give them loose hay. They're delighted and fling it everywhere , I'm "Oh FFS pigs"
They aren't meant to eat bread, but GP1 joined me for Mothers Day Breakfast and helped himself to a slice of toast 
Or Strawberry Cornettos . GP1 believed in "Sharing is Caring"
Keep a close eye on their intake- if they stop eating, there's a reason. They don't starve themselves voluntarily
Water- if they suddenly reduce or increase their intake. (It might be warmer. The bottle might be blocked. They might be blocked from feed/drink by a bully cagemate. But it's a sign of diabetes and bladder issues)
Check their poo (not like that Dr on TV 
) just is it a good shape, firm, and loads of it. Difficult if you have 2+ bottoms, but ours handily have their own Pooh Nest Sites
Check pee. Should be cloudy (dries white) but not too chalky.
Blood in urine is a warning (bladder/kidney/trauma)
Pee can colour with foods like beetroot
And - they are FUSSY.
They all like different things.
Mine are "You know we don't like turnip. Why d'you flipping well give it? Too lazy to put it in the bin. Oh, I'll give it to the guineas. Well, no"
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Small pets
Guinea-Pigs Food "No-No" Thread:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/10/2015 12:07
Your pigs are doing hay cookies all wrong. They're supposed to wee on them a lot from all angles. Then they're really easy to mush up and spread about.
Going
if you give them the basics of water, pellets (between 30g-50g per pig) and as a guide their own body weight in hay.
Then add the veg. A lot of veg has negitive calories (takes more to digest than the calories it provides) like celery.
I give a variety of 5-6 veg, easy on the fruit, root veg is higher calories.
Ours like a selection of things to pick at and when they get to the kale they know they've reached rockbottom
Our Rex weighed 3lb , they are like rabbits in build, huge claws and feet.
The Teddy is slimmer (he's also neutered)
The ladies are ex breeders so are (IME) more likely to run to lardiness.
Ours have tunnels and playthings so they can pootle about and Ive noticed the sows are more mobile and interested in Life In General since we got our new boar.
We weigh ours regularly ( every week/two weeks) and DH keeps a spreadsheet (computer techie type).
I 'feel' when they are a bit lighter or heavier, by their body condition too.
If I want to fatten them, sweetcorn, beetroot, naice hay , fresh cut dandelions will tempt them.
They do lose weight if there's any change to their routine (like when GP2 died and we got GP3. Our GP1 lost weight but regained some). GP1 was nearly 4yo when he died and was looking that scrawny but baggy rat faced way that old animals get but still eating and pootling to the end.
Mine panic if they can see their own feet.
Grass from the mower risks contamination from oil , and if it's left lieing it ferments.
We hand cut grass when they can't go out (then the grass will regrow, if you pull up the roots it'll take longer )
Dandelions - leaves,stalks , flowers . All good. And if they eat a flower stalk first they look really cute with the flower in their mouths
Like most foods, give in moderation. (Laxative)
Runner beans - I've bought some today. Some sites say guinea pigs can eat them. Others say not. Help!!
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