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Post by europhyllia on Apr 26, 2023 0:24:17 GMT
I just received a new foster pig. She's almost 4 years old. The rescue only had her for a short time.
I was told this pig has no idea what greens or veggies are and are only eats pellets and hay.
Is that a thing? I put greens and veggies in her enclosure and indeed it is untouched. Is she going to learn to eat them or will she really never try to eat greens?
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Post by Bean on Apr 26, 2023 6:47:04 GMT
Hi, and welcome to Wheekers.
It's quite normal for pigs in new homes not to eat as much for a while - they need to get used to their surroundings and start to relax a little. And if she hasn't been given many veg before, it could just be too much new stuff all at once, and she needs more time to want to try things.
I'd keep offering small amounts of a few different things each day, and one day you might just find they disappear! If she has somewhere nice and cosy to hide in her cage (even just an upturned box with a doorway cut out), that will help her to feel safe and get used to all the sights, sounds and smells of her new home.
Good luck, let us know he she gets on.
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Post by bazookagoof on Apr 26, 2023 20:08:35 GMT
I'll second what Bean said, try small amounts of different things- I've had several pigs and most of them enjoy the same things, although every once in a while one of them doesn't care for what the others go crazy for. I've never known a guinea pig who didn't like a carrot.  |
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 26, 2023 22:44:45 GMT
Hello and welcome.
I totally second providing a variety of veggies/greens for her to try, and putting them near a hiding/safe place where she feels safe eating them. I usually start them with pieces of whatever we're eating, carrot peels, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, celery, etc. That way you don't buy veggies for her, and have her not eat them.
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Post by europhyllia on Apr 29, 2023 22:07:44 GMT
Hi again
I've actually been fostering for this cavy rescue for a few years so her set up includes all of the usual (hidey tunnel, etc. although she prefers her 'bed'.
She's actually quite outgoing and confident. Since she lost her sister to cancer while still at the rescue I have her right next to my own pigs so she's not lonely. When my pigs wheek she does too. The funny part is that she has no reason. My piggies get excited about their greens and veggies and she just doesn't want any. I did give her vitamin c wafers which she loves.
I've been told by the rescue that neither her nor her sister have eaten veggies.
I did get her to try a little bit of grass but that might have been by accident with her thinking it's hay. Everything else has been rejected: spring mix salad greens, carrots, cucumbers, apples, blueberries, bell pepper, cilantro, parsley.
She likes things that are dry.
I had some freeze dried strawberries and she eats them. Freeze dried only. Fresh food no.
Since she's housed right next to my own piggies offering her some is no problem at all. It just seems so odd that she's not liking it at all.
The rescue let me know this when I picked her up but of course I thought it will just be a little while and she'll find she likes it... But nope. Not interested at all.
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Post by bazookagoof on Apr 29, 2023 23:23:06 GMT
Sounds a bit like a kid who doesn't want ice cream after dinner! Still, if she's eating everything else that she should be eating, then there's likely nothing to worry about, then. By the way, I started giving my guys vitamin C wafers too, recently. They both cheerfully accept them. |
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Post by Bean on Apr 30, 2023 7:08:12 GMT
Even refusing grass? That's hardcore! I've never had a pig who wouldn't eat any veg at all (and we used to foster guinea pigs and rabbits too - it's great fun having extra visitors, isn't it?!).
We did have a pig years back who had never been given them in her life and didn't eat them when she joined us. But once she'd finished quarantine and joined the others, that soon changed! Sometimes they need to have that element of competition for resources to think it might be worth getting interested!
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Post by europhyllia on Apr 30, 2023 12:52:49 GMT
Even refusing grass? That's hardcore! I've never had a pig who wouldn't eat any veg at all (and we used to foster guinea pigs and rabbits too - it's great fun having extra visitors, isn't it?!). We did have a pig years back who had never been given them in her life and didn't eat them when she joined us. But once she'd finished quarantine and joined the others, that soon changed! Sometimes they need to have that element of competition for resources to think it might be worth getting interested! Yes that's what i'm hoping for. She's a sanctuary foster meaning due to her age the plan is for her to live out her life here. So eventually I'd like to try to integrate her with mine. Never done that since the other fosters were short term. |
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Post by 3piggles on May 1, 2023 0:27:17 GMT
I'm a foster failure, as I kept the two guinea girls I was fostering, lol I think, if she can be included with your pigs after quarantine, she may change her mind. As Bean said, sometimes the aspect of competition takes over, and it just might in her case. Meanwhile, if she's getting the nutrients she needs, and it sounds as if she is, she's not going to have any health problems or anything, from not eating raw veggies. Keep us informed |
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Post by Bean on May 2, 2023 6:57:45 GMT
That's great that she'll be able to get to know your gang eventually (I'm curious, how many do you have?) and it'll be interesting to see if she follows the others' lead at feeding time.
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