A clear, practical guide to feeding guinea pigs well — at every life stage.
A well-planned diet supports not just health, but a longer, happier life for your guinea pigs 🤍
Must-Eat Priority List(in order of importance)
- Hay
- Vegetables
- Pellets
- Vitamin C supplements
1) Feed by Age First 🐹
Guinea pig diets must change with age.
We generally group them into three stages:
- •Young guinea pigs: 0–6 months
- •Adult guinea pigs: 6 months–4 years
- •Senior guinea pigs: 4 years and above
2) Hay — Their Lifelong Staple 🌾
No matter the age, hay must be available at all times.
It supports digestion, dental health, and overall wellbeing.
Best choices:
- •Timothy hay — top recommendation
- •Oaten hay — acceptable as a secondary option
Why Timothy hay?
It’s higher in fibre and lower in natural sugars, making it ideal for long-term, unlimited feeding.
3) Alfalfa — Only for Young Guinea Pigs 🌱
Young guinea pigs (0–6 months) need Alfalfa hay.
It’s higher in calcium and protein, supporting growth and development.
- •Can be offered **unlimited** during early growth
- •From around **3 months**, gradually reduce alfalfa
- •Increase Timothy and other grass hays
- •By **6 months**, fully transition to Timothy as the main hay
Variety Is a Good Thing 🌾
Offering multiple hay types helps provide more balanced nutrition — as long as Timothy remains the main hay.
In Australia, you’ll often find Pasture hay in supermarkets.
We like to call it “guinea pigs’ obsession hay” — they go absolutely wild for it.
- •Extremely high palatability
- •Best given in **small amounts**
- •Adds enrichment and dietary variety
4) Vegetables 🥬
Fresh vegetables are an essential daily part of the diet.
Variety matters, but balance matters more.
Below is a real-life veggie rotation based on what works well in everyday feeding.
Leafy Greens (Daily Base)
Cos (Romaine) Lettuce
Our everyday staple. Gentle, hydrating, and easy on the gut.
For three guinea pigs, we use around half a head per day.
🚫 Iceberg lettuce is not recommended
Mixed Leaf Salad
A great option for busy days. Easy to portion and share between multiple guinea pigs.
Vitamin C–Rich Vegetables
Capsicum
An excellent Vitamin C source. Red and yellow generally contain more Vitamin C than green. Smaller, sweeter ones are often better accepted by picky eaters.
Tomato
Another good Vitamin C source. Helpful when guinea pigs refuse capsicum.
Hydrating Vegetables
Cucumber
Refreshing, especially in summer. Too much can cause bloating, so use to balance higher-calcium greens.
Tip: If guinea pigs are out for a few hours without a water bottle, cucumber helps with hydration.
Calcium-Rich Vegetables(Feed in Small Amounts - moderation is important)
Parsley (curly or continental)
Very popular. Best paired with Cucumber or Cos lettuce.
Kale (including Turkish kale)
High in calcium but fits well if cos lettuce is the main green.
Tip: Rinse thoroughly to remove insects.
Carrot Tops & Silverbeet
Feed in very small amounts/moderation.
Vegetables for Variety
- Fennel: Green leafy parts preferred.
- Corn Silk & Leaves: Mildly diuretic, good for chewing. (Corn itself is for humans!)
Herbs to Rotate 🌿
- Sage
- Mint
- Basil
- Endive
Fruit — Always in Small Amounts 🍓
Blueberry, Grape, etc. — Fruit is a treat, not a daily food.
5) Pellets — How to Choose 🥣
Pellets help support balanced nutrition.
If you choose Oxbow, you can select directly by age:
This is exactly how our own guinea pigs are fed.
Other Pellet Options (for Mixing)
- •Selective Naturals
- •Burgess: The blackcurrant version is popular but can cause weight gain if overfed.
- •Origins: Higher Vitamin C content.
Our approach: small amounts for variety, with Oxbow as the main pellet.
6) Vitamin C — Non-Negotiable 🍅
Guinea pigs cannot produce Vitamin C on their own.
Even with vegetables, supplementation is recommended.
We regularly use Oxbow Vitamin C tablets as a long-term essential.
Oxbow also offers other supplements:
- •Joint support
- •Skin & coat
- •Digestive health
- •Urinary support
Choose based on individual needs. (We personally keep a small supply on hand — just in case.)