Chicory, also known as curly endive, has been turning up at our local market as of late. I had given the pigs a sample a year or two ago but most of them weren't impressed. On the lookout for fresh additions to their usual diet, I figured I'd pick up a batch and give it another try.
Seasonal availability: Peak season is late fall through winter but can be found year round.
How to pick: Look for sprouts with firm, crispy, brightly colored leaves. Avoid those with yellowed, wilted leaves.
Preparation: Remove from stem and wash thoroughly before feeding to your guinea pig.
Always up for trying new foods (and getting into mischief), Belka and Revy were immediate fans. Peaches and Poof also dug right in, chewing up the curly leaves with gusto. I was surprised by finicky Truffle and Abby-Roo, both of whom had apparently decided that the "new" greens were in fact quite tasty. Guess the second time's the charm!
Have your pigs tried chicory before?
Preparation: Remove from stem and wash thoroughly before feeding to your guinea pig.
Always up for trying new foods (and getting into mischief), Belka and Revy were immediate fans. Peaches and Poof also dug right in, chewing up the curly leaves with gusto. I was surprised by finicky Truffle and Abby-Roo, both of whom had apparently decided that the "new" greens were in fact quite tasty. Guess the second time's the charm!
Have your pigs tried chicory before?
Always fun to watch. Sometimes I think they enjoy the sport of veggie thieving more than the actual food itself!
ReplyDeleteGoes down a treat here in Scotland too.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love a piggy nose for finding fresh food, and the tug of war and stealing from another piggy!
Chickory is always a big hit here.
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy, here you go:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.calicavycollective.com/2014/03/am-i-overfeeding-guinea-pig.html
Hope that answers your question!
Thanks Alice ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy, that's a good question! Let me get back to you on that - I'll be writing a post about it soon so check back :)
ReplyDeleteHi Alice! I have a food related question. We have ample food in our piggy cage at all times. But, I find that our two piggies tend to "pig out" every chance they get and we're refilling bowls and hay numerous times throughout the day. I'm not overdoing it, am I? I don't want them to get sick or something from over eating.
ReplyDeleteAlice, in your opinion, which fruits and veggies/greens are good for guinea pigs, and which ones should we stay away from?
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThere's a handy list on GuineaLynx, complete with nutritional info here:
http://www.guinealynx.info/chart.html
Foods that are harmful to feed your guinea pig include:
Meat
Dairy products: yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.
Allium family plants: onion, scallions, shallots, leeks, etc.
Potatoes
Eggplant
Tomato stems or leaves
Baked goods: bread, cookies, cake, etc.
Cereal
Avocado
Coconut
Hot peppers
Mushrooms
Peanut butter
Nuts
Pickled vegetables
Coffee
Soda
Tea
Houseplants (many are poisonous to guinea pigs)
This is by no means a comprehensive list - as a general rule, when in doubt then don't feed! You can find more plants to avoid here:
http://www.guinealynx.info/forages_poisonous.html