Lettuce

[Lucinda]

I know there is some controversy about lettuce. Mine have a bit of little gem lettuce most days - I have only just started doing this the last week or so. Does that sound OK?

 

[Michele]

yes thats fine. Mine has had littles gem and romaine ones too. The ones to not give is iceberg lettuce

 

[kellyandpiggies]

As Michele says lettuce is fine, the iceberg one isn't. Mine have it when I've got it in.

 

[Lucinda]

Thanks. i thought it was just iceberg that was a problem.

 

[cashmincal]

You can feed a range of lettuces except ICEBERG lettuce. Mine quite enjoy romaine lettuce.

 

[Lucinda]

what is the problem with iceberg? Is it toxic?

 

[kellyandpiggies]

no its a diretic (that how you spell it?).. it makes them go downhill fast - its a hard one to help piggies cos they lose so much water that its difficult to replace

 

[Lucinda]

Ah

 

[gothchick1515]

Is the curly lettuce ok? i give harry that he loves it?

 

[cashmincal]

Yes it is Verity.

Also, Iceberg has no nutrinal value as it is basically "crunchy" water.

 

[Lucinda]

I knew it was no good for you. Repulsive stuff, lettuce ;D

 

[bevs]

Mine love the posh expensive foreign ones with the strange names like raddichio. ;D

 

[Lucinda]

Mine like rocket. It's the only one I will eat too ;D

 

[claire]

Yeah mine love Rocket too

 

[gothchick1515]

Yay cool, Harry will be glad that he doesnt have to have it taken away x

 

[cashmincal]

Mine had some Lambs Lettuce today as it was on special offer, they do enjoy it! ;D

 

[Lucinda]

My darling Dr used to like that ;D

Also try watercress

 

[cashmincal]

Mine had some of that the other day from the market, nice bunches of it too! I had never seen bunches of it before than! ;D

 

[WeeEric]

Darren and I have been fighting about the lettuce thing for weeks now! I knew you couldn't give them lettuce but didn't know it was just iceberg they couldn't have so will have to bow down to Darren's superior knowledge and let Eric try some of the tasty stuff!

Cheers All!
Lu x

 

[kellyandpiggies]

LOL Some people stay clear of all lettuce too, it's whatever you want to give them really. Mine only have lettuce when I have it in, which is once in a blue moon!

 

[ccc]

For my four, lettuce is a primary food in their diet. They enjoy:

Romaine
Little Gem
Radicchio
Frisee
Endive
Escarole
MIzuna
Lamb's
Rocket
Lollo rosso
Red batavia

And more. They love the lettuce mixes although it isn't quite the same as having a big leaf to rip through.

Mine have had loads of lettuce each day (minimum 1 full romaine leaf per pig - more commonly half a lettuce mix plus 2-6 leaves per pig). No ill effects at all. Poops are the best they have ever been (!) - no diarrhea for over a year - and they have only been to the vets twice in the past year.

And as far as the "sedative" thing goes (laudanum), my pigs are completely unaffected by the "excessive" amounts of lettuce I feed. As energetic and content as ever.