Foraging food for piggies

Piggy101

Piggy101

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So I live in the woods, and I cant let my piggies out on the grass safely I mean I've had hawks come and take chickens when they were a few feet away from me. So I go out and get them stuff to munch on and store it in bags in the fridge. It's sometimes really confusing finding out what's safe and what's not. Most of what we have isnt grass its weeds. I read that maple is poisonous on some forums but on two websites they had a list of safe foods and toxics foods and maple was said to be safe. I also cant find out if yellow popular or popular leaves are safe or not. Any leaves/branches you guys know are safe for piggies would be great to know. Lot of the stuff I usually pick for them ( clover, grass, Timothy grass and wild carrots ) is running low lol. We have WAY more trees than grass so. And some places said oak branches and leaves are safe then others said they arent. If you guys have any experience foraging stuff and know of some things that grow wild would be great!
 
This link has forage that is safe for piggies. Otherwise I don't have a clue which branches are safe for them.
 
See people have told me I could get a book about plants and stuff around my area but just because something is safe for humans doesnt mean it is for the piggies so
 
Hi 🙂
I don't know if you live in the UK so you might not have all of these but here are some plants/ weeds growing in my garden that are safe for piggies. I feed them all as a treat rather than a regular part of their diet.

Dandelions (flowers, stalks and leaves are all good though don't feed too many as the leaves can cause soft poos)

Stickyweed (not sure how often it can be fed I just give it as an occasional treat)

Hawthorn leaves (I'd stear clear of the branches because of the spikes)

I hope this helps 🙂
 
This is link to Saskia’s (From the LA guinea pig rescue centre) info for forage food that is safe for quinea pigs .Its a great source of info for you in the USA. My boys love dried stinging nettles which I actively encourage in my garden 😊
Have fun
 
Funny how when the nettles are dried they don’t sting - apparently they also make a great human soup ..... I haven’t enough to try that (excuses) 😂
 
I agree that’s why the link to Saskia’s you tube vid- ( from the LA guinea pig rescue) is perfect as it SHOWS all the plants that are safe in the USA
 
Piggy101 said:
I live in the US but we have some of that :) thank youu
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Just a thought Piggy101 you could get some little plant pots and sew some grass in them and they can eat the grass - as you know 80% of their diet should be hay so I’m sure you can make up the 20% with foraged foods etc ! Let me know how you get on 😊 Have fun foraging !
 
You could also buy pots of piggy safe herbs or buy seeds and plant them yourself. I have quite a collection of them now
 
I have like 50 pepper plants and 10 tomato plants and a bunch of sweet potatoes and celery xD and I'm trying to make a garden still but we have all hillside with clay so I'll have to bring loads and loads of good dirt from one place and bring it there mom would kill me if I planted more stuff xDDD
 
What about if you planted them in pots? Would your mum be ok with that? They could sit on a window sill and wouldn't take much space that way. I have basil, thyme, mint, parsley and corriander
 
Yes great idea Eddie & Elvis I have done the same - piggles can eat strawberry leaves and lavender so your Mum might like those in the garden 😊
 
Possibly! I'd like to grow a bunch for the winter. I think it's best for them to eat stuff you grow rather than buy from the store which it's the same for humans too lol. Have you guys ever freezes stuff you've grown then fed to them? I dont know if you can do that but
 
thats a great idea I always prefer fresh - I’ve never frozen anything - my only concern is that if you did freeze stuff you’d have to defrost it for them and it would go soggy and limp and then the teeth wouldnt get the wear that’s essential -
 
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