Herbs

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I don't grow my own but hope to next year.

Mine have

Mint
Parsley (sometimes - high calcium)
Basil (occassionally high calcium and they aren't as fussed on this as others)
Coriander - a HUGE Hit
Dill - again huge hit they love it!
 
Mine absolutely love their parsley, they can't get enough of it!
 
Parsley, coriander, basil, dill, fennel, leaf celery.
I have mint and lemon balm, but they are not so keen on that, even though it is safe to eat.

You can give herbs dried as well, but only in small quantities, since they contain more calcium than fresh ones.
 
i bought mine some Naturals Herb Garden mix for Christmas and they love it as a treat :)
I also get the whole parsley plants from asda or tesco, i'll put it in the run while they're having floor time and they'll have a lot of fun scoffing it rolleyes
 
My pigs only staple food is coriander. They also regularly get dill and parsley.

Others that are enjoyed - to varying degrees! - include basil, mint, and tarragon.

I currently get mine from Tesco, but hoping to grow coriander and parsley myself this year.
 
Thank you all!

So they are allowed coriander daily?

I introduced them to rosemary and tarragon, which they loved but I don't think it is something I will keep giving them.

Never given them dill, may try that one! I know they love basil but don't want to give them too much.
 
Yep, coriander is the only one I give day in, day out. Luckily all 12 love it! I've actually decided to stop feeding lettuce daily, so I can focus on giving them more coriander. I'd rather spend the money on something more nutritious than lettuce - not that there is anything wrong with feeding lettuce daily.
 
Well I give my boys mixed leaves daily and do worry that it isn't right for them so I will stock up on coriander and see how I get on! As soon as I pick them though, the pot of it dies, how do you get it to re-grow?
 
Hoggle*&*Ludo said:
Well I give my boys mixed leaves daily and do worry that it isn't right for them so I will stock up on coriander and see how I get on! As soon as I pick them though, the pot of it dies, how do you get it to re-grow?
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i grew some herbs this summer and you just need to make sure they've got plenty of water, but don't drown them, and keep them in sunlight, but again not too much. if you keep the pot on a sunny windowsill it should help!
 
I'm a complete gardening novice...I think once it's time to sow the seeds, we should start a "Guinea Gardeners" thread where we can share tips and progress. :))
 
Laura-CCC4 said:
I'm a complete gardening novice...I think once it's time to sow the seeds, we should start a "Guinea Gardeners" thread where we can share tips and progress. :))
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Sounds like a great idea!

Here are a few things to get started with that are easy to grow outside:

Lettuce (use organic slug bait, which is iron-sulphate based, to stop the slugs from demolishing them. An organic slug bait won't hurt you or the piggies, but still works). I buy packets of mixed lettuce seed.

Radishes are dead easy and quick to grow and my bunnies and squeakers love the tops (I eat the radishes; I'm not sure that part is good for them anyway).

Wild rocket (not really wild, just called that), grows like weeds and you can pick it throughout late Spring and Summer.

Curly parsley in a huge pot grows well (protect with slug bait whilst young).

Mint (will take over your garden, so probably best to put it in a huge pot).

Dandelions (a big hit with mine).

Kale.

Spinach (protect from slugs).

Strawberries (some guinea-pigs like the young leaves).

Turnips (my bunnies love turnip tops, but my squeakers don't).

Not quite as easy:

Carrots (grow with marigolds to deter carrot root fly); even if you don't get carrots you will still get the carrot tops which guinea-pigs and bunnies love.

I use poultry manure pellets as an organic fertiliser, which are available from Wikos and garden centres. The biggest problem I had last year was knowing what was a weed seedling and what was a plant seedling, so I could remove the weeds before they took over!
 
My boys love basil, corriander and parsley. I've tried to grow all 3 of these since Guinness and Bailey came home to us in August and failed miserably with all of them. I managed to keep the basil alive for about 6 weeks but the parsley and corriander were a flop within the week!

I now buy bags from either Tesco or the local Market but would be hugely interested in the "Guinea Gardeners" thread! x
 
My girls have so far tired..

Parsley (curled and flat) - Love it!
Corriander - Love it!
Dill - Like it!
Tarragon - Like it!
Basil - Don't like (but will probably try them again)
Mint - Don't like (tried a couple of times, no interest)
Rosemary - Not sure! Tried a nibble and kept going for a sniff but that's all!

I definatley think we should have a Guinea Gardeners thread in the Spring! I've even been looking how much it would be for an allotment! :(|) (I'll stick to the garden for now though!)
 
My two LOVE parsley, i have tried basil and coriander but they prefer the parsley but i limit it. I do try and hide the coriander in with the parsley but they always pick out the parsley first!

I would join the 'guineas gardeners' as i tried to grow parsley but it died. :(

In one of the big asda they were selling HUGE bunches of fresh parsley and coriander for two for £2. They didnt have any in my local one, the one i got it from was one of the huge asdas. When i got to the till the boy only charged me for one as i put it into one of the plastic bag he thought i had one, i didnt notice till i looked at my receipt at home, what a bargain i had as the bunched are truly massive, much bigger than the bagged or potted ones, so i shall be looking out for them again. So look out for them they were in hugs crates with the veg.
 
Thanks everyone I've found this thread enormously informative :(|)
 
Hoggle*&*Ludo said:
Well I give my boys mixed leaves daily and do worry that it isn't right for them so I will stock up on coriander and see how I get on! As soon as I pick them though, the pot of it dies, how do you get it to re-grow?
Click to expand...

If you're happy to try growing your own from seed, look for a coriander variety called Calypso, it's a 'cut and come again' plant. [Marshall's seeds sell it online.] I've not tried it, but Marshall's are highly reputable.
 
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