LL
Newbie
Posts: 8
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Post by LL on Jun 10, 2014 1:03:39 GMT
Hi, I'm a newbie who will be getting 2 little baby pigs in a few days after the cage arrives. I have new fleece washed twice and awaiting a third wash. I purchased hay and Kaytee fortified daily diet pellets. The first ingredient of the pellets is alfalfa, will I need to switch pellets when piggies are older? Is there anything I'm missing in pig prep? Thanks
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 10, 2014 14:02:53 GMT
The pigs should be at least a month old and able to eat Timothy hay-based pellets. Those pellets won't hurt them, but when you get to the last third of the box/bag start mixing in Timothy pellets. Start with mostly alfalfa pellets and some Timothy pellets, and slowly increase Timothy decrease alfalfa until the alfalfa pellets are gone. That will take a while, and give them a chance to adapt. Use Timothy hay now, not alfalfa. Alfalfa doesn't have the same digestion aiding effects that Timothy has. Unlimited hay and fresh water. 1/8-1/4 cup pellets per day pet pig. Give limited amounts of parsley or cilantro as treats, both are good sources of vitamin C, and don't cost much. Avoid friuts and veggies high in A or calcium, so carrots and the dark grern leafy veggies. What kind of cage are you using? A cage should have space for the pigs to run around and to have places to get away from each other. 1 water bottle per pig, in case one pig decides to block access. Skip store bought toys and use toilet paper and paper towel rolls, a piece of fabric piled on the cage or draped over the side as a pass through hiding place. Cardboard boxes and paper bags are big hits with piggies. Enjoy Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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LL
Newbie
Posts: 8
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Post by LL on Jun 10, 2014 16:16:26 GMT
I got the Midwest Habitat since it's 2'X4' and can be expanded later if needed. Thanks for the info on the food. I noticed Oxbow has baby (w/ alfalfa) and adult (w/ Timothy hay), should I use one of these? What is your stand on salt licks? In all the research I've done they were never mentioned, yet there they are at the store making you think it's needed.
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Post by Bean on Jun 11, 2014 8:42:28 GMT
Welcome to the forum - I bet you're very excited to meet your new pigs! If you're getting them from a pet shop, it's always worth double checking they're both boys or girls - the sexing page at Cavy Spirit has some good photos to help you. It's quite disturbing how often mis-sexings happen. Salt licks are useless - they don't need them so save yourself a bit of money! A diet of mainly hay, a few pellets and some veg/ grasses will give them everything they need. Avoid all the 'treats' too - they have lots of sugar, fats and other stuff pigs just don't need - the best treats are things like a dandelion or a bit of celery, they will be super excited and it's good for them. Hope you have a camera ready for when they come home!
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 11, 2014 14:13:42 GMT
Ditto what Bean said about salt licks and treats. Actually avoid pretty much everything sold in stores excited the basics; water bottles, pellet bowls, houses, hay and pellets. While the Midwest is probably the best manufactured cage, it is still limited in size. I would definitely either add on or create a play pen outside the cage with easy access fron inside. Pigs will not only usexall the space they are given, they do zoomies-running as fast as they can from one end of the cage to the other, usually along some predetermined route. That takes space.
If you have all baby pigs, the baby diet is great. If you have mixed ages, go with the adult diet. Give then Timothy hay to eat, even if they are on baby food. Alfalfa is a high energy legume, not a digestive tract-aiding hay. Timothy promotes digestive tract health by moving the food through and out the other end. Unlimited hay and water. Everything else is optional.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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