Has anyone used an automatic food dispenser with Guinea pigs?

[Beesandfrogsandfleas]

Sometimes we visit relatives overnight and the pigs miss their breakfast - can leave extra hay and nuggets out but thought one of these would be good for fresh food? Wondered if they work and if they’re safe for pigs (presumably designed for cats/dogs)
Thanks!

[BlankTimes]

Not tried one but one of our pigs would push the other out of the way if there was only one food-source.

[Beesandfrogsandfleas]

I suppose you could use two at either end of the cage! Mine are used to sharing a bowl and both look well fed (I watch them eating too). One gets to grab something first but they both always eat.

[Beesandfrogsandfleas]

Not all the time obviously - if all I did was watch them eat I’d have no time to mumsnet!

[EastMidsGPs]

I doubt my two would have the gumption to use one. Moving their bowls causes confusion!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Mine struggle with anything new (their brand new lovely water bottles are ignored )

We had a bowl for our DCat that had a lid that turned slowly to expose food . Something like that would get walked on and risk getting a leg caught.
I know there are automatic feeders for chickens but would find it easier to use ( are chickens smarter than guinea-pigs? )

If you give them lots of bedding hay, eating hay in a rack or hay cookies , maybe Readi-Grass , then they will eat supper and go onto the dry food in the morning.
Should be ok with pellets and water? Maybe a sweetcorn , they last a couple of days.

[Itsear]

Yes, I have a van ness one for small cats that I use for the guineas. Just had a look and unfortunately they don’t seem to sell the one I have anymore (had it for about 2 years). It is just a basic one that food drops down as it is eaten from the bottom so they don’t have to be clever to use it.

[Itsear]

www.thepetexpress.co.uk/dog-bowl-accessories/van-ness-auto-feeder/?gid=1014&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_vCfqqyL3gIVDg8YCh1OcwvbEAQYBSABEgLHZ_D_BwE#size:3lb

It is similar to the above

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

I'd probably just give them an extra large portion of dry-ish veg (so no tomatoes or cucumber but baby sweetcorn, peppers, kale, parsley etc and leave them to it. They'll probably try and eat it all within the first five minutes but should still have some left in the morning.

Mind you, you will be in serious trouble for not having fed them their breakfast, but they might forgive you. Eventually.

[TheHobbitMum]

I think mine would destroy that (tip over) to get into it, although I like the thought. Mine would ignore me and never forgive me if I missed out on one of the many feeding times they've become accustomed too. They think they are mini Hobbits and need to eat like one

[EastMidsGPs]

I was out on a course on Monday and didn't get back until after 6.
S&N didn't get out, didn't get cuddles until late and of course tea was very late (according to them.)
Never Sadie's favourite she totally ignored me Monday night, grudgingly acknowledged me on Tuesday and is sort of coming round today ... she's still tho!

[Beesandfrogsandfleas]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

TheHobbitMum - they are indeed hobbits! Mine get peeved by the fact that I only feed them two times a day, which means there are lots of times they don't get fed, which must mean I am starving them! I expect a call from the SSPCA any day now!

EastMids - I did far worse than that the other day. Didn't get home til 9 which was bad enough, but I invited the friend who dropped me off in for a cuppa (we'd been chatting in the car for ages and I thought I should, not thinking he'd say yes). He didn't go til 1! I had thrown some pellets and hay in at about 11 but they didn’t think get their veg til he went. They were, naturally, on the point of death. Their bowls had been licked clean, for the first time ever. They did, just about, average enough energy to get out of bed to eat, but it was close!

(They get pellets and beg twice a day, and hay when necessary, so they were, actually ok. But not in their opinion!)

[Beesandfrogsandfleas]

I caught myself googling guinea pig pictures when I was away from them overnight I must have it bad

[craftybanana]

I’ve got an auto cat feeder which I use for mine if we’re going to be back late. Works absolutely fine! It does have nibble marks all over it now, where one of them has tried to break into it though!

[letsgetreadytosamba]

Mine are only impressed with dinner if it’s acvimpanied by exaggerated rustling of a bag. I guess I could get Alexa to play them
A bag crinkling as the dispenser opens or I could “drop in” with a bag on hand...

Please report back.