The sound of your fridge being opened and the rustling of a bag is enough to excite your guinea pig. It’s like saying “walkies” to a dog! Here are some top tips on what to feed your guinea pigs and the different plants you can grow and pick for them to eat.
To help your guinea pigs live a long and healthy life, their diet should be as natural and varied as possible.
Guinea pigs are herbivores who need a full belly of fibre at all times. In the wild, they would live in dense foliage and spend their days grazing, so a healthy daily diet should include the following:
Hay makes up 85% of a guinea pig’s diet. Your small furry friends need constant access to hay or grass. They’re on their feet all day and constantly eating. In fact, your guinea pigs should be eating a pile of hay the same size as themselves every day.
It’s also great for helping to keep their teeth healthy! Spread the hay around their whole enclosure, run space and under hiding spaces. Offer a mixture of varieties such as:
Avoid short, brown or yellow, dusty-smelling hay as it lacks in nutrition and may harm your guinea pigs.
5% of a guinea pig’s diet should be made up of good-quality pellets. They should be fed around an eggcup’s worth (20g) per day. Guinea pigs should not be fed muesli mixes as they are high in sugar and can lead to dental problems. Here at Woodgreen, we feed our guinea pigs on Burgess Excel pellets, which you can buy online from Pets at Home* or from most pet shops.
The remaining 10% of their diet should be made up of plants and vegetables. This is about a handful per guinea, per day. Give them a variety of different fresh foods each day. You can also pick and grow your own foods to feed them – see our list of safe foods below.
It’s vital that your guinea pigs have access to fresh water every day. Many guinea pigs prefer to drink from a bowl. Bottles are suitable but can often leak and be tricky to clean.
Foraging for your guinea pigs is a cost-effective and organic way of feeding them. Some forage, like stinging nettles and rose petals, can be dried out and given as treats later in the year. Other plants such as vegetables, or soft leaves like mallow can be fed on the day.
As an extra, occasional treat, you can give your guinea pigs a small piece of fruit, such as:
Dry mixes made with lots of colourings, dried fruits and cereals can have a negative effect on your guinea pigs’ health. If the mix is made with lots of dried soft fruit or peas your guinea pigs are likely to suffer with dental or urinary problems.
Colourful treats, sticky honey-based treats, salt licks and mineral blocks can all be harmful to your guinea pigs. If you’re feeding them a good quality natural diet, you won’t need any form of supplements.
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Although growing your own food and foraging for your pet rabbits and guinea pigs was once a traditional way of feeding them, it slowly became a lost skill as pets became more commercialised.
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Guinea pigs are herbivores and require a full belly of fibre at all times.
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A self-led online course suitable for anyone with guinea pigs, thinking of them as pets or who would simply like to learn more.
Read more about 'An introduction to guinea pigs – Online course'