To Dry or not to dry.

[beckerd58]

I've just picked a pan of clover and dandelions. Is it OK to feed them fresh (I read something about bloating) and can this all go into my dehydrator. I'm no longer assuming I know anything about how to feed my degus. Delihia getting cateracts is a wake up call and some told me there where no dumb questions. Thank you in advance.
FYI - I do not use chemicals in my yard and the back where these where gathered is fenced in.

[Bexi87]

I feed mine fresh, but I give them a wash first and let them dry. If they don’t usually get fresh greens start off with small amounts and gradually increase 😊

[beckerd58]

Feb 17, 2018 22:05:22 GMT Bexi87 said:

I feed mine fresh, but I give them a wash first and let them dry. If they don’t usually get fresh greens start off with small amounts and gradually increase 😊

Thank you. I've been doing a small amount fresh because Houston has had some odd winter weather, snow (after a late summer of a huge about of rain and flooding). We are just now seeing our spring growth.

[moletteuk]

Fresh is best if you introduce everything gradually, the nutrition is better absorbed from fresh forage. Go steady with the clover in particular. You can try grass too, that's an easy one to start with. Did you find the american list of safe plants we have linked somewhere?

You may find that they prefer some or all things dried, and drying allows you to collect lots during spring and summer and store for use over the winter.

If you know it's clean, no traffic fumes, no dog pee or bird poo, then you may get away without washing it. I dry the vast majority of the forage I collect and I always try to collect from clean areas because it's harder to get it dried if you have to wash it first (and washing it is a real pain if you have 3 carrier bags full of leaves).

I hope they like it