are nettles OK?

[Laura M.]

I was picking grass for my piggies when I felt a pain in my finger - I think it was a nettle, because it is throbbing painfully an hour or so later, but then it got me thinking: are nettles toxic? (I don't want it to sting their insides)

Basically: what if my guinea pigs eat nettles (accidentally)?

 

[Eriathwen]

Nettles are a great forage to feed, piggies love them. But they should be allowed to dry or at least wilt before feeding to get rid of the sting. A small bit mixed in with grass will most likely have wilted by the time you made it home making it safe. But you can pick the entire plant for them if you wanted, as long as prepared as above. Just remember to wear gloves and leave some of the patch for native butterflies

 

[Swissgreys]

Fantastic advice from @Eriathwen

My piggies love nettles, but I do feed them sparingly as they are quite high in calcium.