Not sure if it is a good thing or not but last night my daughter had decided to get the girls to work a bit more for their veggies and had strung some Red Pepper and Cucumber on string across the cage, just above head height, so they had to chew it off of there.
I was a bit worried about it slipping too low and them getting caught in it and wasn't sure if it woudl cause they neck issues through looking up rather than down at the food but it seemed to work ok and the piggies enjoyed it and ate it all but it did seem to slow their eating. They had to work for it rather than wolf it down.
Considering New Diet
rjespicer I have thought about it but had the same concerns as you. It might be a fun thing to try when I can watch them go at it. I've been hand feeding them a lot too and hiding veggies around their cages for fun and enrichment (and of course I always remove things they don't find/want).
bpatters ok. I'll take a look around for it. I am betting trader joe's will have it.
bpatters ok. I'll take a look around for it. I am betting trader joe's will have it.
They seemed to enjoy it and had cleared most of the veggies by the end of the evening. However I took it down before we went to bed. I think it is something that needs supervision when we try it but all 3 of them were having a good old chew and tug at it.
May try a main line with strings with the veggies hanging down from it so there is less of a worry about them getting caught in it but will still supervise if we do.
May try a main line with strings with the veggies hanging down from it so there is less of a worry about them getting caught in it but will still supervise if we do.
So my older pig refuses to eat cucumber, but I know she has eaten zucchini in the past. I have seen it listed on a few "good food for gps lists", but wasn't sure how much is appropriate to give her.
Also, I've been introducing red bell pepper to the pigs little by little (1 thin slice chopped up). Once they seem used to it, how much is appropriate to give them? A tablespoon? I know 1 cup of veggies/leafy greens per day is good per pig, but I am just unsure of actual amounts of certain veggies (i.e. zucchini and peppers). They are also getting 1 baby carrot-ish amount of shredded carrots per day.
Also, I've been introducing red bell pepper to the pigs little by little (1 thin slice chopped up). Once they seem used to it, how much is appropriate to give them? A tablespoon? I know 1 cup of veggies/leafy greens per day is good per pig, but I am just unsure of actual amounts of certain veggies (i.e. zucchini and peppers). They are also getting 1 baby carrot-ish amount of shredded carrots per day.
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bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
The peppers are good, and they need a good-sized chunk of it. It depends on the size of the pepper, of course, but the usual recommendation is for 1/4 of a green pepper and 1/5 or 1/6 of a red one. One baby carrot per day is fine, but it doesn't need to be shredded. They've got teeth like razor knives, and have no problem whatsoever chewing and eating a carrot.
Our 3 girls LOVE wheat grass if you can get it.
Just keep an eye on it once they have eaten the leave as they like to tug up the roots and shoots but after a while the "dirt" it is grown in can get a white fuzz on it if you leave it in for too long. We tend to take them out after a day just to be safe.
In addition to the veggies and fruit you list we also give ours Escarole, Endive, Radicchio, Parsley, Lacinato Kale and occasionally Dandelion.
we tried things like Chard and Mustard greens and Collard greens but they didn't seem that keen on them. They were ok with Beet tops but they weren't so keen on Radishes or Radish tops. We occasionally get Carrot tops as well but they aren't that keen on the carrots themselves.
We tried planning the diet but our local store doesn't always have everything in stock plus the wife and daughter have a tendency to give them stuff they know they like like blueberries and dandelion as treats even though they are only supposed to give them occasionally.
Just keep an eye on it once they have eaten the leave as they like to tug up the roots and shoots but after a while the "dirt" it is grown in can get a white fuzz on it if you leave it in for too long. We tend to take them out after a day just to be safe.
In addition to the veggies and fruit you list we also give ours Escarole, Endive, Radicchio, Parsley, Lacinato Kale and occasionally Dandelion.
we tried things like Chard and Mustard greens and Collard greens but they didn't seem that keen on them. They were ok with Beet tops but they weren't so keen on Radishes or Radish tops. We occasionally get Carrot tops as well but they aren't that keen on the carrots themselves.
We tried planning the diet but our local store doesn't always have everything in stock plus the wife and daughter have a tendency to give them stuff they know they like like blueberries and dandelion as treats even though they are only supposed to give them occasionally.
We actually grow fresh timothy hay in a small patch in our yard to give our girls. They DEFINITELY go wild about it :)
I might give them some radicchio, since they've had it before and seem to like it.
Our of curiosity, how much lettuce do you guys give your pigs? Does a large leaf/day seem reasonable?
I might give them some radicchio, since they've had it before and seem to like it.
Our of curiosity, how much lettuce do you guys give your pigs? Does a large leaf/day seem reasonable?
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