lars the viking
New Born Pup
My pigs absolutely loves dry pine needles (from our own organic garden of course). If safe, how much can he have ?
Are dry pine needles safe to eat ?
- Thread starter lars the viking
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Winniepeg
Adult Guinea Pig
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I don’t know whether they are safe to eat and personally wouldn’t chance it . Quite possibly a more experienced member will clarify an answer. I stick with the food recommendations in the Diet Guide here and can’t see pine on the recommended food list.
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
Pine needles and wood contain terpenoids which are toxic chemicals the plant has evolved to deter herbivore grazing. The terpenoid content can vary a lot in response to environmental stresses the plant experiences.
So I would say no not safe, and if they have eaten them before and been ok, that may not apply to a younger leaf from the same plant or one grown at a different time of year or in different weather!
So I would say no not safe, and if they have eaten them before and been ok, that may not apply to a younger leaf from the same plant or one grown at a different time of year or in different weather!
lars the viking
New Born Pup
The piggies would happily play with a fresh pine branch - but not eat it. It therefore came as a surprise to me, that Palle (boar 2yo) eats the dry long needles with great pleasure. However pine is an unsafe food, so he will not be given pine needles again. Thank you for your responses.