ID a garden weed?

[YorkshireLass]

I have got three different answers from using photo apps on the internet and also can’t see this in the helpful sticky thread about safe forage.
Our garden has lost all its grass in the heat but there is lots of this coming up. Is it safe for piggies?
Thanks

 

[weepweeps]

It looks like cleavers (Sticky Willy)?



I got this pic off google.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

That was my thought too. If it feels rough and sticks to your clothes, that's the most likely thing.

I used to give a little to my pigs- though it's probably best when young and fresh.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

I have got three different answers from using photo apps on the internet and also can’t see this in the helpful sticky thread about safe forage.
Our garden has lost all its grass in the heat but there is lots of this coming up. Is it safe for piggies?
Thanks

Looks like cleavers aka sticky willy to me too. I forage for myself (no guineas anymore) and think it's always good to double-check, even more so for guineas, so if you google sticky willy and cleavers plus something like 'confuse with other plants' or even 'confuse with poisonous plants', that will give you more information to positively identify the plant, other than just the picture. I don't have a plant identifying app myself, I just use google, my books, and my own notes.

People can eat sticky willy too, but the small fresh ones are best, at least if you're eating raw.

 

[Wiebke]

I have got three different answers from using photo apps on the internet and also can’t see this in the helpful sticky thread about safe forage.
Our garden has lost all its grass in the heat but there is lots of this coming up. Is it safe for piggies?
Thanks

Is it sticky? If yes, then it is safe to feed. So far, I haven't any of it in my garden this summer.

 

[YorkshireLass]

No it’s not sticky, but it does have a square stem which is mentioned for sticky willy. Google tells me that is not often mistaken for something else.

These are quite quite short about the length of my little finger and there are no flowers that I can see.

 

[YorkshireLass]

I am wondering if it’s part of moss which is growing on the garden?

 

[Roselina]

I don’t think it is cleaver/ sticky Willy - the leaves don’t look right to me
Sticky Willy sticks even when a tiny plant …
I’d avoid just in case

 

[thewheakybeans]

I’d avoid as it’s not sticky (aka not cleavers). If you do forage cleavers in future, they have the most health benefits in spring and are good for detoxifying the lymph system for humans and piggies. My lot eat them and I enjoy infusing them in water (tastes like cucumber water).

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

In your second photo @YorkshireLass , it looks a bit like Lady's bedstraw without the flowers, but I would never use a plant for the guineas or myself that I can't 100% identify.

It also reminds me of some other plant, but I can't think what

 

[YorkshireLass]

Will have to avoid :-( I want to put them out now it’s not TOO warm but there is no grass now, just this stuff.

 

[Roselina]

Will have to avoid :-( I want to put them out now it’s not TOO warm but there is no grass now, just this stuff.

Yes I would - seeing your profile picture ….piggies can eat rose petals dried and fresh ( as long as not from a commercial place in case they’ve been sprayed) so you might a few in the garden ?
Hopefully with a bit of rain grass will start growing
You give them a little readigrass - it’s very rich so not much

 

[GPTV]

I wouldn't risk it from your photo, I don't know what that is,
it doesn't look to me like cleavers (we call them sticky buds).
@weepweeps picture DOES look like the plant we call Cleavers. I used to feed to my girls with no problems.

I've read cleavers are good for kidney problems, but you need to use them before the tiny white flowers show up the stem (really tiny flowers 2mm max? )
That's when they're best/safest.