Crabapple

[wind1]

Back in the summer I asked a question about whether guinea pigs could eat the leaves off a crabapple tree as I have one in the garden and have to rake the leaves before I put the guineas out. The replies I had said no to the leaves and also to the apples. I have just been looking through the shopping list on here and seen crabapple listed as ok to eat. I get loads off the tree so could I feed them to the guineas or not?
Also I have asked this question on another thread but will put it on here too. Can I feed readigrass in unlimited amounts like hay. At the moment my guineas get a big handful between 2 each morning but can they have more throughout the day?

 

[spudnik]

are crav apples the sour small apples? if so then i would not feed them at all, as for readigrass i wouldnt give it unlimited as i think its got a loot of calcium in, some calcium in the diet is needed but you dont want too much.. what your giving now is fine

 

[dazie]

I personally wouldnt feed my piggies crab apples there is just something about them that doesnt sit right with me.

 

[maryh]

I would not feed crab apples.I will look into this and let you know what I find out.

Readigrass:- my piggies have it available all the time,but they eat more hay than grass.

 

[maryh]

Have looked in a couple of reliable botany books and apparently there are several different types of crabapple.The British one(Malus sylvestrus) is a descendent of the cultivated apples and as such is not toxic,in fact I beleive that some cattle and goats will eat them.However they are very bitter and acidic so I would not recommend them for gps,I doubt that they would eat them anyway.The other varieties of crabapple are imported ornamental trees and shrubs and are therefore most likely to be toxic.

 

[essie]

Mine like the odd crap apple, the ponies do too we find them out riding and the ponies pick them of the trees,but I wouldn't feed loads at a time,
I feed them quite a bit of Just grass which is the same as Redigrass, but I supply hay at the same time they will eat the just grass if given a chose.

 

[wind1]

Thanks for replies. Perhaps they should be removed from the guinea pig shopping list or at least have a warning against them.

 

[maryh]

A slight unfortunate spelling slip here! lol.

I would imagine the crabapples you mention are native British so will not hurt the pigs,especiialy in small amounts.It is interesting that ponies and horses like them.,because a lot of foodstuff that horses eat is quite safe for piggies as well.

I have used Just grass but see little difference in it to Readygrass.Which do you prefer.?.