Guinea Pig Diet

Guinea Pig Diet 

A good guinea pig diet is actually quite simple, but getting the balance right is really important.

Hay should make up around 80% of their diet.

Good-quality, fresh hay should be available all the time and guinea pigs should be grazing on it for most of their day. It should be green, fresh and sweet-smelling rather than dusty or musty. Hay is essential for their teeth and digestion, as well as providing important enrichment. It should be spread across the floor of the enclosure not just in hay bags or racks. Guineas like to forage and having it spread on ground encourages them to eat more.

Fresh vegetables should be offered twice a day.

Guinea pigs should have a variety of fresh vegetables each day, around 1 cup per guinea pig per day is a useful guide. If there is consistently lots of fresh food left uneaten, you're probably offering more than they need.

Veggie time at NEGPR! 

This is definitely the best time of day for the guineas here and it causes quite a stampede amongst the old girls! 😂

The guineas here get a variety of vegetables every day, including celery, cucumber, peppers, radish, tomatoes, carrot, baby salad leaves, fresh herbs, baby sweetcorn and corn on the cob.

They also get treats such as apple, grapes, blueberries, melon, strawberries and little pieces of satsuma. 

Some guineas arrive not particularly keen to try everything, and it can take time for them to try new foods. Others are just naturally much pickier eaters.

The important thing is to provide a good-quality hay-based diet, plenty of fresh food and variety, while getting to know what your own guinea pigs enjoy. 

Nuggets 

Guineas can have guinea pig nuggets to complement their diet of hay and veggies. About a handful a day per guinea pig. This can be in a bowl or scattered to encourage foraging. Recommended brands are Excel burgess and Science Select.