is this safe??

[hanhan]

Heya all,
I have been hedgerow hunting again today and I have came across something which i havn't seen before and have no idea if its safe for my degus. I found the name of it and it is a type of garlic flower - a allium.
Here is a picture:http://static6.depositphotos.com/1012068/604/i/450/dep_6043607-Allium-Purple-garlic-flowers.jpg
does anyone know weather these are safe?? i cant find any information. :/

thankyou

[winic1]

Allium is indeed a type of garlic or onion (both are the same plant family). Doing a search here of onion and allium, there is some caution advised as, for some, it has caused problems, for others, they have not seen this.

I did not see any definitive word as to okay or not, anyone else know?

If you choose to try this, I'd go cautiously, starting with very small amounts to see if it causes problems, diarrhea and flatulence were what were mentioned.

[hanhan]

okay, thank you very much

[moletteuk]

Allium flowers are all very similar so I can't identify the plant from the pic. The only common wild alium is ransoms, but that has a white flower so it's not that. I wouldn't risk it myself. Chives and leek are ok in smaller quantities.

[hanhan]

oh right, they have lots of other things i have picked anyway, including the sacred dandilions!!
I was just wondering about something new for them but im not gonna risk having a ill goo! and i have picked two of the flowers, one i white and one is purple, never seen them before!!
Thankyou for your advise

[moletteuk]

I've been meaning to post about hedgerow gathering lately but haven't got round to it. Other good things are ground elder, plantains, hogweed, cow parsley (be careful with ID), clover, bramble leaves, dock flower sprays (good atm).