[Gpdd] CARE Feeding question

[Suzy Dunser]

Hi Lynn,

I'm really glad you asked that question, because I've wondered that,  
too. When I read things on websites, I think I give my piggies way  
too many veggies, but, well... Anyway, here's what my two get (they  
share this): In the morning, I refill the pellet bowl, give them new  
water and a new handful of hay, and their main food for the day,  
which consists of most of the following (depending on what I have) -  
5 or 6 1" chunks of celery plus leaves; half a carrot in two chunks,  
1/4 apple in two slices, 2 small broccoli florets plus leaves, half a  
tomato in two chunks, a ring of red bell pepper in 1" pieces, and  
sometimes a radish with leaves, green beans (5 or so), or cucumber  
slices. With that they also get either foraged leaves (sow thistle,  
groundsel, chickweed, dandelions, plantain) and grass, if I go out to  
get it, or mesclun mix, if I'm feeling lazy. (-: By the afternoon all  
of this will be gone. In the afternoon they get a big handful of  
fresh grass and sometimes other foraged stuff, and sometimes (but not  
usually) they get a little treat (more leaves, cucumber or apple) at  
night. Besides the hay I toss in (which they burrow through and walk  
on as well as eat), they have a small rack with hay in it, so I know  
they always have some clean stuff.

Twice a week I also put two halves of a chewable Vitamin C tablet  
(100g) in their cage; I never see them eat it because it's not their  
favourite thing, but it does disappear by the next day, so at least  
one of them is getting some C! One reason I give them so many veggies  
is that the pellets available here (in NZ) don't have Vitamin C  
added, and I'm not sure both of them are eating the chewable C, so  
I'm trying to make sure they get a reasonable amount from their food.  
They've been here 6 months now, and both seem equally healthy, so I'm  
hoping they are getting enough. As for getting enough food, well, it  
seems lately that everyone who comes in comments on how huge they  
are... I should really weigh Cocoa again to see if he's hit LAPS  
status yet!!

So here's another question: How do you know if your piggie is too  
fat? I'm somewhat disadvantaged from my human perspective - I can't  
imagine any animal getting fat from vegetables (and 1/8 apple a day),  
but then, I'm not a herbivore...

Cheers,
Suzy with Rocky and Cocoa