Kitty Grass - updated with pictures!

[Abnoba]

When you dont have a proper garden (like me), then I think this might be a good idea.

I am hopeless with all houseplants, they just die on me, so instead I am now stacking my windowsills with catgrass.

Works basically like watercress, you have the shallow bowl with seeds, and all you need to do is water it and watch it grow, and then from time to time you can put one in your piggies cage as a treat :-)

Now I have heard that there is the problem that piggers rip the grass out with the root, and therefor you have to keep buying new packs of grass instead of it just regrowing. I know that there is a new product out in germany, with a tiny wiremesh on top of the bowl, so that the grass can grow through it, but the roots cannot be ripped out.

however this particular brand is not available yet in the UK. Does anyone know of something similar, with a "root protection" for the grass? Mind you I only pay 1.60 at my local pet supplies per bowl, but still, would prefer the grass just growing back, I am spending enough for piggy food as it is.


//EDIT: I got some pictures from friend of a german piggy-forum.

you can see the mesh wire, which leaves the roots untouched.

 

[bunpig]

Re: Kitty Grass

when i was looking for timothy hay grass seed hoping to grow my own, i came across this site: http://www.planetguinea.co.uk/ and here it is! http://www.planetguinea.co.uk/shop/proddetail.php?prod=TimothySeed you can grow it from march til september so i will be buying some soon :-* i think the idea is to cut it for the guineas if you grow it in a tray. my plan is to grow a couple of square metres of it in the garden and put the pen around it when its grown high enough - i think they will love it!

 

[Abnoba]

Re: Kitty Grass

yes, I know seeds for all sorts of grass are available - but I wondered if any shop in the UK sells the bowls with the mesh on top, so that the piggies dont pull the grass out with the roots when they nibble it..
thanks anyway

 

[baby-wilson]

Re: Kitty Grass

i tried growing shoots for my piggies the fuzzy ones sorry i dont know what theyre called, they were doing great then they went all yucky I'm hopeless at gardening too lol

 

[Abnoba]

Re: Kitty Grass

whoa!

its grown huge now..

I think in a couple of days I will let my piggies test it

 

[karenrgpr]

Re: Kitty Grass

I have the Planet guinea site and there is Cereal Grass on there too. I tried using the sprouting method but found it too much like hard work and if you're not careful the grass can go mouldy (drainage, drainage drainage LOL!) I use compost now for all my seeds though I do include sprouting instructions as some people prefer that way.

Abnoba, I would either suggest getting some of the green garden mesh and making your own pot or using seed trays that are not too shallow and planting enough seed to get a good root system going. Seed trays are the right size for piggies to stand on too. I sell mine in amounts that are enough for 1 whole seed tray or 2 half size ones. Supervise the pigs while they eat it and don't let them eat it down too far eating too far down isn't advisable anyway. The grass will regrow in a few days, and you should get 2/3 reasonable regrowths from it.

My Cereal grass is £2.25 for 100g including P+P. Pay via ebay or PM me for address to send a cheque to. Tim grass will grow in pots inside but is not so fibrous as when its outside and it does so much better out side.

 

[squeakywheeky]

Re: Kitty Grass

You all put me to shame lol I was just thinking of growing cress for my fluffy fella. I have a lot to learn

 

[karenrgpr]

Re: Kitty Grass

Cereal grasses are as easy to grow as cress, honestly. I can send you a sample if you like.

 

[squeakywheeky]

Re: Kitty Grass

Aw that is so nice of you. I hope you don't think I'm rude in declining but I don't like giving my details out on the net. I'm not insinuating anything but i'm just really careful.

Thank you so much for your offer though x

 

[karenrgpr]

Re: Kitty Grass

No problem Squeakyweaky

 

[Abnoba]

Re: Kitty Grass

The piggies noticed there is a strange green thing in the cage..

Guess who is the first to start munching :

the others are getting interested pretty quickly:

 

[karenrgpr]

Re: Kitty Grass

What lovely cereal grass Abnoba, how long did it take to grow.? . Do you sprout it first or are you lazy like me LOL! I gave that up as 'too much like hard work' a while ago and mine goes straight into the tray now :


How many grammes of seed is that? :-\

 

[Jane]

Re: Kitty Grass

We have a massive garden but I bought the pigs some grass seed anyway because it's too cold and damp at the moment for me to want to go outside and pick it They love it but it doesn't last long :

 

[Abnoba]

Re: Kitty Grass

What lovely cereal grass Abnoba, how long did it take to grow.? . Do you sprout it first or are you lazy like me LOL! I gave that up as 'too much like hard work' a while ago and mine goes straight into the tray now :


How many grammes of seed is that? :-\

its normal cat grass that you get in supermarkets or petshops...

plastic tray with lid that already has the seeds and all that in it. You punch some holes in the bottom, put the tray on a plate, remove the lid, water it from time to time and just let it grow :-)
It took about a week I would say to grow like that. Maybe a few days more. What do you mean by sprouting it first? *confused*

 

[karenrgpr]

Re: Kitty Grass

Re Sprouting: I sell my seed as just seed with nothing mixed in so people have the choice of soaking and rinsing the seed first to get it sprouting or to sow on compost (though it can be grown without any medium at all)

Jane: It last longer (eg you will get more regrowths) if you just cut it for the guineas. I let mine grow for 14-20 days and let them graze it down to the bit where it starts to white. Much to their dismay I whip it out of their pen when they get that far and put it back to grow again. You only get 2 maybe 3 regrowths because the seed tray is too shallow. For better regrowth plant in a plant pot (like Abnobas guinea toys ) and let it grow for about 20 days before cutting. I have no idea how much you would sow (probably around 25g :-\ ). I prefer the large seed trays though because they're easier for them to graze on.

14 day old wheatgrass (and Captain Sensible 8) )

 

[Abnoba]

Karen, have a look at the pictures in the first post, do you sell something similar, or do you know where in the UK to get something like that?

 

[Sehnsucht]

you can see the mesh wire, which leaves the roots untouched.

little fat piggy faces :o :o

 

[Sehnsucht]

Karen, have a look at the pictures in the first post, do you sell something similar, or do you know where in the UK to get something like that?

yeah I would like to get something like that too

 

[karenrgpr]

Hi, I sell black full/1/2 size seed trays with enough seed for two plantings. It doesn't have the mesh on it. I also have pots that come in a seed tray (it looks like the german ones are in small pots? )

Can you tell me where I can buy those green trays of grass seed? They look good, I'll try and source some or something like it. For now if you sow 100g to a full size tray and don't let the pigs eat it down past the 'whites' of the grass it'll last longer. Even with a lid on it won't last too much (if any) longer because the roots need the room, cereal grass naturally grows to knee high.
Karen (on a mission LOL!)