Are these garden plants poisonous to piggies?

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DavidEscapes

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Hi

I am just about to build my run in the garden and want to check on the safety of the plants surrounding it since they will likely grow into the run. Some also grow through the cracks inthe crazy paving the run is to be placed on.

All the plants growing in the area are...

  • Forget me nots
  • Bluebells
  • Dandelions
  • Canterberry bells
  • Majoram
  • Oregano

Any that are unsafe will have to be cut right back and de-rooted if they are growing through the cracks.

Many thanks

David
 
Bluebells are the only bulbous plant on that list, so its getting de-rooted. There are plenty more in other parts of the garden anyway :)
 
I must've just got the right combo of words.......i thought i'd look for you, i've now saved it to a fav on my puter here at home! good one to keep for references!

Yup a good BIG dig down to get rid of them grrrr

Bluebells are such pretty plants too ......... but not for piggies! glad you can still appreciate them in other parts of your garden :)
 
Dandelion, marjoram and oregano are fine. I am not sure about Canterbury Bells or Forget-Me-Nots. However, 'If in doubt, leave it out'.

It is great that your cavies will have access to the above vegetation. However, their access should be limited - the above vegetation should be eaten in moderation, and your cavies should introduced to each over a period of time.
 
Guinea-pigGaga said:
Dandelion, marjoram and oregano are fine. I am not sure about Canterbury Bells or Forget-Me-Nots. However, 'If in doubt, leave it out'.

It is great that your cavies will have access to the above vegetation. However, their access should be limited - the above vegetation should be eaten in moderation, and your cavies should introduced to each over a period of time.
Click to expand...

All the sources I can find on those two say they are non-toxic to humans and livestock, so it looks unlikely that they are going to cause problems with piggies.

I will be cutting everything back to the roots anyway regardless of whether it is safe or not (unsafe gets de-rooted), so nature will take care of slowly introducing them :)
 
There is also grass and wild strawberries growing through the cracks in the paving stones there so the piggies are going to have plenty to nibble on.
 
As a general rule, plants which grow from bulbs are poisonous. If you are in doubt, do leave it out; it is better to be safe than sorry.

Guinea pigs can eat dandilions and they do love it. Mine love to munch on them. However, do not over do it with them because they can cause diarrhea.
 
Not sure about the rest, but Dandelions are actually a piggy favourite and it's very good for their digestion! So maybe you could set aside some Dandelions for them? They would love it :)
 
Dandelions are good for them but too many can cause diarrhea. What I mean by that is that if they ate loads at the same time it may have an effect. This is because Dandelions do have a large water content in them.
 
Dandelions are good for them but too many can cause diarrhea. What I mean by that is that if they ate loads at the same time it may have an effect. This is because Dandelions do have a large water content in them.
 
Strawberry greens they can eat (and will probably enjoy that considering what my Minx used to do my potentillas which are from the same family!); dandelion is a favourite, but should not be fed in huge quantities in one go as it is diuretic (i.e. it makes piggies pee a lot).

However, beware of creeping buttercup on your lawn - that is poisonous, as are all ranunculae plants. Have an eye out on foxgloves as well.

Herbes are fine; they won't nibble much on the stronger ones anyway.
 
I haven't ever seen buttercups in that area but will obviously look out for them, we don't have any foxgloves.

As for all the other plants I think it is unlikely there will be too much of anything as the piggies will probably just eat the new shoots the the moment they peek through the cracks in the paving :)

On the subject of feeding. Any limit as to how often I should give them a tray of this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/230g-barley-s...et_Supplies_Small_Animals?hash=item414d86ee2e
 
Hi, I grow and feed barley grass, they love it :) and it's great in winter or if they haven't got access to grass, but only once/ twice a week. This is because of high level of calcium. With piggies with a history of bladder stones I would limit it more.
 
Buttercups were everywhere all over the lawn last summer, we had to dig a few up! I hope that there is not so many this year!
 
*SRH* said:
Buttercups were everywhere all over the lawn last summer, we had to dig a few up! I hope that there is not so many this year!
Click to expand...

We get plenty on the lawn, but the piggies won't be able to access them so thankfully we don't have to pull them up :)
 
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