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My guinea pig wants to eat chicken

Published on: July 08, 2022 • By: Pikachu · In Forum: Reptiles & Exotics
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Pikachu
Participant
July 08, 2022 at 09:42pm
So I just got this 5 month old baby guinea pig and we don't know what they've been getting for her and the store but it's for some reason she wants to eat chicken and we know she's not supposed to but she keeps trying to attack us for the chicken.What could that be caused by
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Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
July 10, 2022 at 11:19am
Hello!   I suppose that if you are a guinea-pig, you don't happen to know that you are a herbivore and not a carnivore or that the chicken is, in fact, animal flesh and that you're not supposed to eat it.  You just know instinctively that some things look like food and some don't.  Guinea-pigs in the wild wouldn't eat animal flesh because (given that they can't catch or prepare a chicken or other bird for themselves) the only way they would encounter it, would be on a carcass:  smelly, unappealing, dead-looking, covered in fur and feathers.  Carnivores would be attracted to this but guinea-pigs wouldn't.  However, when given cooked chicken they probably wouldn't see the same thing:  cooked chicken looks like something vaguely fibrous with a different smell, and I suppose that it is follows that they may try to nibble it.  Cooked chicken can look more like plant matter than flesh.  Even so, it's no good for them;  guinea-pigs don't have the equipment for digesting meat and meat carries all sorts of bacteria that they shouldn't be exposed to.  This hopefully goes without saying, but please do continue to feed your guinea-pig a herbivorous diet!
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HeatherQuick
Participant
August 02, 2023 at 12:56am
Hello, As I know, guinea pigs have a natural inclination to chew and bite things, including fingers, when they are interested in something or during play. However, if your guinea pig is showing aggressive behavior like attacking for the chicken, it could be a sign of hunger or frustration. Guinea pigs require a constant supply of hay and fresh water, and it's important to ensure that they are getting sufficient amounts of these essentials. I think to discourage the behavior, remove the chicken from the area and provide fresh hay and vegetables instead. Offer some of your guinea pig's favorite vegetables, such as carrots, bell peppers, or cucumbers, to distract her from the chicken. You can also try to redirect her attention with toys or other activities that she enjoys
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