Dried herbs for guinea pigs: scent, taste and foraging fun alongside the hay

A guinea pig eats small amounts all day long. In nature, that means grasses, leaves, flowers and herbs. At home, hay is the foundation, but a handful of dried herbs brings back a bit of that natural variety. They smell strong, feel different from hay and make a guinea pig curious. Mixed through the hay, they can help keep a guinea pig eating its hay.

This category consists almost entirely of products from Zooply, our own premium brand. Herbs and treats are precisely the areas where things most often go wrong for many animals: too sweet, too fatty or full of additives. That is why at Zooply we deliberately chose pure dried leaves, flowers and herbs, and mixes where the packaging shows you what is inside. We give them every day to the guinea pigs in our shop in Bodegraven and in our breeding facility.

In short

• ✓ Dried herbs are a supplement to unlimited hay and guinea pig food with vitamin C, never a replacement.
• ✓ A small pinch through the hay or hidden in the enclosure is enough; if your guinea pig eats less hay, give less.
• ✓ Leaves, flowers and herbs can be given more often; dried fruit is sweet and only for now and then.
• ✓ Change the type regularly, so it stays interesting and you can see what your guinea pigs love.
• ✓ Build up new herbs gradually and keep an eye on the droppings.

What will you find in the Dried herbs category?

Zooply dried leaves

Leaves make up the largest part of the range and fit best with a guinea pig's natural menu. You can choose from, among others, Nettle Leaf, Dandelion Leaf, Ribwort and Broadleaf Plantain, Birch Leaf, Mulberry Leaf, Linden Leaf and the fruit leaves Raspberry Leaf, Strawberry Leaf and Apple Leaf. Most come in packs of 300 to 450 grams. If you want several types at once, the Leaf Mix (including dandelion leaf, birch leaf, echinacea, ribwort plantain and nettle leaf) and the Fruit Tree Leaf Mix (leaves of strawberry, apple, pear, plum, apricot, cherry and raspberry) are handy.

Zooply dried flowers

Cornflower, Chamomile, Marigold and Marigold Petals, Rosebuds, Rose Petals and Sunflower Petals are light in weight and strong in scent and colour. A little through the hay makes the hay spot instantly more appealing. The Flower Mix and the Meadow Flower Mix (marigold, chamomile, rose, cornflower and parsley) combine several flowers in one bag.

Zooply herbs, stems and green oats

Parsley Stalks, Dill Stalks, Red Clover Stems with Leaves, Green Oats, Echinacea and Lucerne have a firmer texture. Guinea pigs really have to chew on them, which suits their continuously growing teeth and molars. Lucerne is richer in protein and calcium than ordinary hay; for adult guinea pigs, give it in moderation.

Zooply herb mixes

The herb mixes bring together leaves, flowers and sometimes some vegetables or fruit. The seasonal range consists of Spring Dream, Summer Dream, Autumn Dream, Winter Dream and Flower Dream. You will also find the Dutch Herb Mix, the Tropical Herb Mix, Salad Bar and the Vitamin Herb Mix, which is specially put together with ingredients containing vitamin C, such as rosehip. The Raspberry Bush, Strawberry Plant and Apple Tree mixes combine the leaves of a plant with pieces of its fruit. Check on the product page which ingredients each mix contains: some contain fruit and are therefore sweeter.

Zooply dried vegetables

Bell Pepper, Pumpkin, Beetroot, Parsnip, Cucumber Slices, Spinach, Carrot Slices and Carrot Pieces are dried vegetables. Dried, they are more concentrated than fresh; a few pieces is enough. Dried bell pepper is popular with guinea pig owners, but it does not replace fresh bell pepper.

Zooply vegetable and snack mixes

Mixes such as Vegetable Mix, Dutch Pot, Grandma's Vegetable Soup, Poké Bowl with Vegetables, Herb Dream, Flake Mix and the seasonal mixes Spring Mix, Summer Mix, Autumn Mix and Winter Mix are treats rather than herbs. They also contain peas, flakes, grains or fruit. They are handy for giving by hand, but keep the amount small.

Zooply dried fruit

The category also contains a lot of dried fruit, such as Apple Slices, Apple Cubes, Banana Slices, Pear, Cranberry, Rosehip, Rowan Berries, Raspberry, Strawberry, Pineapple, Papaya and mixes such as the Fruit Mix and Yellow Fruit Mix. Dried fruit naturally contains a lot of sugar. For guinea pigs it is an occasional treat, for example for taming, and not a daily herbal supplement. The Vitamin C Mix, with red bell pepper and rosehip among other things, also falls into this group.

Flakes, grains and seeds

You will also find Corn Flakes, Wheat Flakes, Pea Flakes, Puffed Grains, Carob, Linseed Nuggets, Pumpkin Seeds and Peanuts in Shell. For guinea pigs these are starchy or fatty extras. Seeds and peanuts are mainly intended for rodents that naturally eat seeds; we do not recommend them for guinea pigs.

How do you give dried herbs to guinea pigs?

The best way is to mix them through the hay. Scatter a small pinch over a fresh portion of hay in the rack or at the hay spot. Your guinea pigs will start searching and automatically eat the hay around it too. That is exactly the idea, because hay remains the most important thing for the gut and for wearing down the teeth and molars.

You can also hide herbs: in a tunnel, under a house or in a wad of hay inside a cardboard tube. Guinea pigs are not climbers or puzzle-solvers like rats, but they love to snuffle along the ground. A few hidden pinches give an indoor guinea pig something to do. Giving them loose by hand is also fine; it helps a shy guinea pig get used to your hand.

How much and how often?

The Zooply packaging for the leaves, flowers and herbs states among their properties that they can be given daily. Daily here means: small amounts, not a full bowl. The packaging of products such as the Zooply Dandelion Roots gives a guideline of about one small handful of herbs per animal per day, and that is the total of all herbs combined. For a guinea pig, it is better to stay below that. A good rule of thumb for yourself is that the herbs are finished within a short time and your guinea pigs then simply carry on with the hay. If the hay is left untouched while the herbs are gone straight away, you are giving too much.

With dried fruit and snack mixes containing fruit, you should be more sparing. A few pieces at a time, and not every day, is more than enough. Keep an eye on the total of all extras together: herbs, treats and fruit all add up.

Herbs and vitamin C

Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C themselves. They need guinea pig food with vitamin C and fresh vegetables such as bell pepper every day. Dried herbs with rosehip, such as the Zooply Vitamin Herb Mix and the Vitamin C Mix, are a nice supplement, but you cannot count on them as the only source. Vitamin C decreases during drying and storage, and the amount a guinea pig gets from a pinch of herbs is limited. So always stick to the fixed foundation: hay, guinea pig food with vitamin C and fresh vegetables every day.

Build up gradually and pay close attention

Start with one type at a time and a very small amount. In the days that follow, look at the droppings: they should be firm and dry. If all goes well, you can try the next type. That way, if the droppings become soft, you immediately know the cause. If your guinea pig gets soft droppings, stop all extras and give only hay, guinea pig food and water. If it does not improve quickly, or your guinea pig eats less or sits still, contact a vet with experience of rodents.

Young guinea pigs above all need a calm foundation with plenty of hay. You can give them herbs too, but build up extra carefully.

Storing dried herbs properly

Store herbs dry, dark and well sealed, so their scent and quality are preserved. A sealable storage container works better than a bag that has been folded open. If herbs smell musty, feel damp or show mould, throw them away. Also remove herbs from the enclosure that have become wet in the bedding.

Useful combinations

Dried herbs work best in combination with the foundation of the guinea pig menu:

• Hay: offer Zooply hay without limit and mix the herbs through it.
• Hay racks: a pinch of herbs between the hay in the rack makes the rack extra appealing.
• Guinea pig food: the daily pellets with vitamin C that herbs supplement.
• Treats: for when you want something to gnaw on or to use for taming alongside herbs.
• Tunnels: handy places to hide herbs for a foraging game.

Frequently asked questions about dried herbs for guinea pigs

Which Zooply herbs are a good start for guinea pigs?

Start with a simple leaf that most guinea pigs love, such as dandelion leaf, ribwort plantain or nettle leaf. If you want variety straight away, choose a leaf or flower mix without fruit, such as the Leaf Mix or the Meadow Flower Mix. That way you will soon see what gets your guinea pigs excited.

My guinea pig eats little hay. Will herbs help?

Mixing herbs through the hay often makes hay more appealing. Also refresh the hay more often and try a different type of hay. In addition, check that your guinea pig is not getting too many pellets, treats or fruit, because then it will be full. If your guinea pig suddenly eats clearly less, loses weight or produces fewer droppings, contact a vet with experience of rodents.

Is dried fruit good for guinea pigs?

In small amounts it is fine, but dried fruit is concentrated and sweet. Use it as a reward or to help your guinea pigs get used to your hand, and then only a few pieces. For daily variety, leaves, flowers and herbs are a better choice.

Can I give the Zooply Vitamin C Mix instead of fresh bell pepper?

No. The Vitamin C Mix and the Vitamin Herb Mix are a supplement. Your guinea pig needs guinea pig food with vitamin C and fresh vegetables every day. Dried products lose part of their vitamin C during storage, so they cannot replace fresh vegetables.

Can guinea pigs have pumpkin seeds and peanuts?

We do not recommend them for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are herbivores adapted to grasses and leaves. Seeds and peanuts are fatty and suit rodents that naturally eat seeds better. For your guinea pigs, choose leaves, flowers and herbs instead.

How long do dried herbs keep?

Check the packaging for the shelf life. Store them dry, dark and well sealed. As long as they smell fresh and feel dry, you can give them. If they smell musty or show mould, throw them away.

Dried herbs for guinea pigs at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find a large range of dried herbs from Zooply, our own premium brand. We give them every day to the guinea pigs in our shop and breeding facility. Combine a small pinch of herbs with unlimited hay, guinea pig food with vitamin C and fresh vegetables, and your guinea pigs will have something to discover every day.