Foraging Safely

[Hobie]

I have been reading your posts about foraging and would love to do it for my gpigs but I'm so nervous that the items I pick may have pesticides on or wildlife urine. How do you know that items are safe? I particularly want to try hazel leaves and have a wood nearby but am not sure what hazel leaves look like and would be nervous to try them in case they are contaminated with anything. I worry about things picked outside of the garden

 

[KaitlinH]

I'm not really sure. I'm very nervous to forage for my guineas too. From what I've read/watched, I think you just have to give them a good wash and find out about what is used on the plants in areas you are picking from. I'm not 100% sure so I'm looking forward to see the rest of the replies on this thread

 

[rome_italy]

if you are worried of wildlife urine you can wash it as you do with vegs, literally filled with pesticides, even the ones not allowed according to an article I have read on newspapers... and it was referred to a test done in whole Europe, even in UK... more than 80% of vegs, especially salads, potatoes and fruit were found with toxic residuals. Honestly I trust the grass more than the vegs... and if the grass can have a minimal percentage of risk of being contaminated by toxic urine (very rare event, though), vegs have a high risk of being contaminated with salmonella... which can kill pets.
Don't worry too much; my piggies' diet is based on grass and although I pick it up from private lawns, I always meet a lot of cats living just there.
I show you the advice given by one of the best exotic vets here: he posted this advice on fb some months ago:
(it says: "there is grass for everyone! Arm yourself with this highly technological equipment and go and pick up good food for your herbivore pets!")

 

[flowerfairy]

I pick grass for my lot every day and give a good wash. They adore grass above all other food.