Mr. Bubbles and Scruffy
Got the first bit of radish and beet greens for the garden. The wife got the radishes and beets and the piggies got the greens. Didn't think Mr Bubbles would eat them but he did. Funny how he won't eat the store bought ones but he will eat the home grown ones. I tried twice to plant lettuce and it sprouted and died right after. Guess home grown lettuce isn't it the cards. I am planting a second round of radishes and the carrots are doing well.
Mr Bubbles will eat just about anything. So will Sammy and Dean. The mustard greens and store bought radish and beet greens are just about the only things they don't like. They'll only pick at the kale and chard. I stay away from the gassy stuff like broccoli. Other than that the sky's the limit with them. All 3 of them get bell pepper at every feeding and eat it all.
BJ is another story entirely. He'll eat carrots, but it takes him all day to nibble down 2 small baby carrots. Same with a quarter celery stick and a chunk of cucumber. He will not eat the middle part where the seeds are, so I cut that part out. He'll also nibble on green leaf lettuce, but no other variety. His main source of food is hay and pellets. He's maintaining his 3.4 lbs of body weight on that. He'd eat a whole cup of pellets if I let him, but I only give him an eighth of a cup per day. There's always hay for him to munch; as much as he wants. Won't even sniff at bell peppers of any color.
The newbies are not picky at all other than Oreo and cucumber. He won't eat that, or bell peppers. The girls don't like bell pepper either. I try to get all of them outside at least twice a week to eat their fill of grass. Oreo, Ginger and MaryAnn don't eat much. That's only because they are still not quite accustomed to being out there. They'll eat as much as I give them if I pick it and bring it to them in their cages. The 4 boys have no problem eating outside until they get their fill.
BJ is another story entirely. He'll eat carrots, but it takes him all day to nibble down 2 small baby carrots. Same with a quarter celery stick and a chunk of cucumber. He will not eat the middle part where the seeds are, so I cut that part out. He'll also nibble on green leaf lettuce, but no other variety. His main source of food is hay and pellets. He's maintaining his 3.4 lbs of body weight on that. He'd eat a whole cup of pellets if I let him, but I only give him an eighth of a cup per day. There's always hay for him to munch; as much as he wants. Won't even sniff at bell peppers of any color.
The newbies are not picky at all other than Oreo and cucumber. He won't eat that, or bell peppers. The girls don't like bell pepper either. I try to get all of them outside at least twice a week to eat their fill of grass. Oreo, Ginger and MaryAnn don't eat much. That's only because they are still not quite accustomed to being out there. They'll eat as much as I give them if I pick it and bring it to them in their cages. The 4 boys have no problem eating outside until they get their fill.
My vet said pretty much the same thing. BJ gets unlimited hay, the pellets and vitamin c drops in his water. I don't particularly like putting those drops in his water, but he drinks all of it every day. As long as he keeps that up, I'll continue doing it that way.
None of the other guys will drink their water with the drops in them, but they all get plenty of vitamin c from their bell pepper. Between Mr Bubbles, Sammy and Dean they get a whole one every day. That's in addition to the unlimited hay and eighth cup of pellets. The 4 of them go through an entire full sized bale of hay every couple of months or so. With the addition of the 3 rescue piggies, who all eat lots of it, I expect to go through a bale per month.
None of the other guys will drink their water with the drops in them, but they all get plenty of vitamin c from their bell pepper. Between Mr Bubbles, Sammy and Dean they get a whole one every day. That's in addition to the unlimited hay and eighth cup of pellets. The 4 of them go through an entire full sized bale of hay every couple of months or so. With the addition of the 3 rescue piggies, who all eat lots of it, I expect to go through a bale per month.
Mr Bubbles had a nail trim today. Came out fine. He even bathed himself in his carrier on the way home. He didn't even take a nap after. Just had his hay and drank some water. I picked some fresh grass for him and all of the pigs who had nail trims. He's clearly gotten used to having his nails done.
Yes! 3 more tomorrow for the girls and Oreo. It'll be their first under my care. By all accounts from the humane society and their records, they should be used to it. We'll see!
The parsley I grew was ready to harvest, and there was enough for all 7 guinea pigs to get a full serving. Mr Bubbles really digs all of the homegrown stuff. There have been a couple of bell peppers come ready to pick for him and he loves those too. I even managed to get one carrot with a lot of greens on it. It was a baby carrot and between that and the greens, it was enough for everyone to get a small treat. Since BJ doesn't eat the greens, he got the carrot and the other 6 got an equal share of the greens. The cilantro will be ready soon. I bet they'll love that. Only one out of the second round of radishes sprouted and grew. That's going to be ready about the same time as the cilantro.
I've been getting an occasional strawberry or two from the plants I have. Sammy and Dean are the only ones who will eat those. It's only one or two every week, so they're not getting too much sugar from them. There were enough beet greens to get a couple of feedings out of. Mr Bubbles really enjoyed them. Funny how he won't touch the store bought ones, but will devour the ones I grow. I'm kinda flattered! I really like growing veggies for the piggies. Too bad I can't get the lettuce to grow. I might try tomatoes next year, although I've never had much luck with them.
I've been getting an occasional strawberry or two from the plants I have. Sammy and Dean are the only ones who will eat those. It's only one or two every week, so they're not getting too much sugar from them. There were enough beet greens to get a couple of feedings out of. Mr Bubbles really enjoyed them. Funny how he won't touch the store bought ones, but will devour the ones I grow. I'm kinda flattered! I really like growing veggies for the piggies. Too bad I can't get the lettuce to grow. I might try tomatoes next year, although I've never had much luck with them.