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Post by moletteuk on Jul 19, 2015 12:37:28 GMT
I can't find anything about Philadelphus specific to degus, but appears to be poisonous to other mammals so I would assume not safe.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Oct 9, 2015 12:59:08 GMT
I know I should know this but can fresh lavender be given? I have loads at work?? And bayleaves? And are these bayleaves?  |
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Post by krazypara3165 on Oct 9, 2015 13:30:47 GMT
Yup they are bay leaves  not sure about the lavender though. |
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Post by animalmadchloe on Oct 9, 2015 13:51:33 GMT
Yup they are bay leaves not sure about the lavender though. Can they have fresh bayleaves?? |
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 9, 2015 14:05:45 GMT
Lavender is OK in small amounts, although it's fairly unlikely they will like it.
Bay is not safe fresh, it can cause diarrhoea and possibly hallucination in large quantities in some animals. It may be possible to feed small amounts dried, you could try a little bit dried, but it's not generally known as a safe degu food.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Oct 9, 2015 14:59:31 GMT
Lavender is OK in small amounts, although it's fairly unlikely they will like it. Bay is not safe fresh, it can cause diarrhoea and possibly hallucination in large quantities in some animals. It may be possible to feed small amounts dried, you could try a little bit dried, but it's not generally known as a safe degu food. Haha okay ill dry it for human consumption only xxx |
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 10, 2015 9:38:14 GMT
I just thought to search this forum for bay because something was ringing a bell, it turns out Uglibug feeds bay leaves to her crew and one of her goos really loves it, so maybe small amounts dried are OK if you try it carefully.
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Post by uglibug on Oct 12, 2015 7:59:37 GMT
Yep, our guys get one dried leaf a week. Sleepy does try to hoard it but we keep an eye on how much she is eating. We've had no problems with it. |
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Post by animalmadchloe on Oct 17, 2015 14:21:38 GMT
Ahh great they liked the lavender I picked too I dried it out and they loved it and dried rose petals I robbed from my nans garden!!
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Post by bouncy on Oct 17, 2015 14:33:18 GMT
AMC, just thought - not suggesting drugging them exactly, but some of the herbs on the list are usually suggested for stress relief/relaxing for humans. Worth a try with Dennis?
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Post by degumum on Dec 28, 2015 10:20:14 GMT
Hi - we collect our first degus in a few weeks, very interested in feeding a range of fresh forage and as I am in the countryside (Cotswolds) there is enough of everything. My question, or questions to be more presise are: why do fresh leaves have to be dried? Do they have to dry naturally or could I oven dry them? (I've tried drying nettles for the ponies but they just went weird and didn't dry crispy). My babies will only be 6/7 weeks when they arrive... When would be the best time to introduce fresh feed? I assume as they will be tiny it would be just a single leaf every so often, can they have fresh stuff at a young age or is it best to leave until they are a few months? Everything regarding degu care seems fairly consistent and there is plenty of advice on cage set ups etc.. But I'm stressing myself over the feeding! I have a weeping willow in the garden so can I just nip off a few of the bendy twigs and add them to the cage without drying? Or do I have to scrub them and oven dry?? Any help would be welcome.. Thank you |
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Post by Maravilla on Dec 28, 2015 15:47:12 GMT
Hello degumum,
there is no need to dry the plants before feeding them. If you find fresh stuff, you can feed it fresh. I dry a lot of things for winter when there is nothing fresh but from spring to autumn I feed fresh plants. Some they eat immediately, some they let dry in the cage (I put enough for 2-3 days generally).
I would dry everything naturally as the amounts I need are far too big to do it in the oven. There, it would take me days and days and consume a lot of energy. I won't even know how to do it in the oven. But the climate here is generally drier.
If degus are not used to fresh stuff, it is advisable to offer them smaller amounts at the beginning. Just check their droppings and if they stay solid you can offer bigger amounts. Actually, my pups (it was an accident) were born in summer and got fresh things right from the beginning.
Twigs and leaves I never wash. I check that there are clean enough before taking them from nature.
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Post by cheekyfilly on Dec 28, 2015 18:58:04 GMT
Hi all. I currently feed a 50/50 diet using science selective,SAB seeds and SAB dried plants (from the German website) I would love to include more fresh stuff but how much would you recommend?
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 28, 2015 19:48:33 GMT
Fresh or dried is fine, some degus much prefer dried forage. As Maravilla said, just start gradually with the forage, give them chance to check things out for themselves, sometimes it will take a few days for them to accept a new forage item, but this gives you some time to take notice of what is working and what is isn't. As long as the poo stays solid you can work up to handfulls of mixed forage fairly quickly. Drying leaves for storing can be quite a challenge. Oven is of limited use becuase you need to keep the temperature right down to avoid cooking the leaves and the thin parts will burn before the thicker stems are dried. An airing cupboard or radiators can be more useful. I spread out leaves on large sheets of cardboard and put them outside if it's dry or lay them out in the shed. You can also tie things in bunches and hang to dry. Yes, you can give any safe wood, fresh or dry. I tend to scrub only if it is green with algae and try to avoid wood that needs scrubbing generally. More wood advice here deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15617/safe-tree-wood-list?page=1cheekyfilly as long as you offer a variety then you can offer as much as they will eat, just gradually increase the amounts to allow their guts to adjust. |
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Post by bouncy on Dec 29, 2015 0:11:21 GMT
Mine have constant access to dried forage. I don't limit them at all. I've given mine fresh Bay leaves, parsley, and oregano from my garden, and they loved it. In particular, one loves the leaves from the oregano, then another other one follows him around wolfing the stalks up.
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Post by cheekyfilly on Dec 29, 2015 7:56:33 GMT
Haha that's brilliant Bouncy! I will try them with that. I'm always up for making life more interesting for them. How much of those herbs can you feed fresh in one go and how regularly? Mine always have dry plant matter available but more because they choose not to eat it all in one than go than because I keep putting it in.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 29, 2015 14:37:48 GMT
I don't give them fresh more than once a week, generally because I forget! Seriously, though, a balanced diet never did anyone any harm |
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 29, 2015 16:01:15 GMT
Just start off with a sprig each, and you can probably double it each day if poo stays solid and they like it. Herbs are one of the things to be a bit cautious with and not feed too much in one go as they can contain more 'active' ingredients than some other plants.
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Post by bouncy on Mar 11, 2016 22:22:09 GMT
Are tulip petals safe? Squidge just grabbed and ran off with one as it fell to the floor, and I don't know whether to try and retrieve it!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 12, 2016 10:41:43 GMT
Tulips are not safe, most of the toxicity is in the bulb though, I know it's way too late, but yes, I would chase and attempt retrieval!
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not sure about the lavender though. 
