Can they eat lavender?

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AbiS

AbiS

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Toby and barney are very fussy piggles and I'm quite limited in what I can give them. A few days ago I was sat outside with barney on my knee and I was close to a lavender bush. I hadn't realised that one of the stalks was in barney's reach and he started to munch the flower with gusto! I removed it immediately as I didn't know if it was safe.

Does anyone else give their piggies lavender and if so is it all safe or just the flowers or leaves?
 
Just done a bit of research for you. Lavender isn't on any dangerous food list and some websites forums have accounts of it been feed to piggies however it does have concentrated essential oils in which wouldn't be good for them. So while there would be no harm off an accidental nibble I don't think it should go onto the menu :)
 
I agree same as sage and rosemary while a little doesn't harm its not something to feed on a regular basis or at all. Mine love rose petals :)
 
rose petals? how random!

When we put these 2 out on the lawn the first thing they do is go round eating any dead leaves that have made it into the run before they then start to demolish the grass!
 
Only found out by accident as my chinchillas have them and the piggies were going mad for them :))
 
They can eat fresh yes and dried, mine prefer them when they are dried not sure why but if offered both they will choose the dried one :)
 
I get mine from two places one is chinchillas 2 home shop, http://www.chinchillas2shop.co.uk/foodstuff.htm I get some of my stuff from here but I tend to buy from here if making a big order as postage is pricey.

And Shelled Warriors http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/dried-flowersweeds-48-c.asp they are a tortoise accessory shop but sell dried leaves and flowers and cheaper then chins 2 shop as free postage and can buy smaller amounts. I get my dried flowers from here at the moment, I also buy the dried dandelion, raspberry leaves and nettle etc...

Obviously check with safe food list but a lot can be fed to guinea pigs :)
 
I shall definitely try some fresh ones, thanks. (And perhaps not a good idea to extract dried ones from the pot pourri, don't they add scented oils to it?)
 
if they aren't keen on the fresh you leave them out in the sun or on a low heat in the oven you can dry them out yourself, I do this with leaves for the chinchillas :)
 
If buying lavender plants make sure it's the real thing. We bought some from Homebase & when we checked later it was ornamental & not the real thing so couldn't feed it to our piggies. Since then we've bought some from a garden centre. It's also good for attracting bees to your garden.
 
I just want to clarify before I poison my piggies.. I have pink, red, cream an yellow rose bushes into garden (previous tenant obviously liked roses!) so I can pick some petals off the rose bud and they can eat it?
 
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