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Post by Maravilla on Sept 4, 2011 12:40:12 GMT
In the past few days I read in several posts that people are in theory open to collect and dry their own degu food. But then there is always this obstacle: I am living in a city (or town) so I cannot do it.
I am asking those who are considering collecting their own food, or part of it, and who are living in a town to put down here the doubts they have, the points which they see as a problem for realising this.
I think, we are a couple of people here who have experiences with collecting food so we surely can dispel some of your doubts.
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Post by fred on Sept 4, 2011 12:49:40 GMT
That's a great idea! I often feel that the warnings are a bit exaggerated in practical terms. We are not talking about feeding large amounts from say a meadow that has been heavily polluted, but bits and pieces that, while not grown I a completely chemical-free environment, contribute such a small amount of “contamination” to our degus' diet that it is negligible. I am very curious to see the posts in this thread.
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 4, 2011 13:46:24 GMT
What exactly can we find in a town that degus can eat (not including in shops)? That in itself is a large part of the problem.
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Post by Ady on Sept 4, 2011 13:54:14 GMT
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 4, 2011 14:01:25 GMT
Thank you Ava for your question. What exactly can we find in a town that degus can eat (not including in shops)? That in itself is a large part of the problem. Here I already posted the plants I am feeding. Out of this list I (living in Berlin... so it's quite a big city ) can find: rose (rosa) red clover (trifolium pratense) Information, white clover (trifolium repens) Informationyarrow (Achillea millefolium) Informationdaisies (Bellis perennis) Informationdandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Informationjerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Informationhazelnut Informationblackberry leaves Informationcommon/ European hornbeam [Carpinus betulus] Informationtilia -> you can offer leaves as well as what is called flowers Informationbirch [genus Betula] willow [salix] Informationwillow [salix] Informationbuckhorn [Plantago lanceolata] Informationplantain [Plantago major] Informationgoutweed/ ground elder [Aegopodium podagraria] Informationshepherd's purse [Capsella bursa-pastoris] InformationSt John's wort [Hypericum perforatum] InformationCanada goldenrod [Solidago canadensis] InformationOf course it always depends on the climate zone and continent but some of these plants are quite universal. I added the links to Wikipedia to get a first insight into the plant as well as some pictures.
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Post by apology72 on Sept 4, 2011 14:02:06 GMT
Hello everybody, some of you already know I'm from Germany. More specifically I live in Kiel. Kiel is not necessarily one of the largest cities in Germany. A little Question: In your towns- Are there Garden colonies ? I'm sure many a small gardener would be grateful if you for example sting out Dandelion from the beautiful lawn or cut off branches of fruit trees. Kitchen herbs can be grown himself on the window sill. Dandelion can also be self-sow. With the use of deeper planterbuckets there can also grow carrots, radishes and parsley root. Who has a balcony or terrace, has even more room to crop cultivation. Here a littlte look at my first experience in self cultivation. Even in parks you can go collect. Dandelion and plantain or daisies can be found almost everywhere. Who worried about dog urine, go and collect after a rain shower. Then the urine will be washed away. You still have your own nose and so you can detect the smell. In our german forum we have a plant identification thread. There users can show photos, and others help in identifying the plants.
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 4, 2011 14:08:01 GMT
Ok, the problem with those is that I can only see three things on that list I could find here: Willow Daisies Dandelion Daisies are only around for one or two weeks in Summer and Dandelions aren't around for much longer - haven't seen either in a long time now. So personally I'd be left with willow. The other problem with daisies and dandelions is that, in the places they grow, they're likely to have been peed on by dogs, had cigarette butts dropped on them, food packaging so there might be traces of sugar even, pigeon poo, chewing gum, alcohol could have been dropped on them, in some cases spray paint, etc.... These are just my personal concerns, anyway. Now there have been two more posts: We unfortunately don't have pretty public gardens around here, and I'd be hesitant to pick anything from a private garden. Some of the things off that list, I'll admit, I don't know what it looks like so it might be around here, but again the same concerns as I wrote above apply. Kitchen herbs can be grown himself on the window sill. Dandelion can also be self-sow. With the use of deeper planterbuckets there can also grow carrots, radishes and parsley root. I like this idea! P.S. I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything by the way, would love to know the solutions to these problems, and this thread is a good idea
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 4, 2011 14:14:22 GMT
I live in a city, but have found several opportunities to collect my own food. I live close to a big river where lots of weeping willow grows. When taking walks on the river shore I will pick up small branches of weeping willow with the leaves.
The city where I live also has several large hiking/trailing/cross country parks that span many kilometers. The city will sometimes cut the trees to create new paths for people to hike through and they will leave the cut trees on the ground. Most of the trees being birch. Over the summer I have picked up many branches and twigs. The leaves can be dried and added to the feeding mix. The degus also enjoy the bark of the birch tree and since this is in a very large park where cars are forbidden, I am not worried about pollution.
Blueberry, Blackberry, and Raspeberry grows in vast amounts here. I am not talking about cultivated plants....but natural specimens. Even in the city, the large hicking parks are filled with open fields where these plants grow in abundance. The degus really like the leaves of these bush plants.
In most cities, there are large natural parks for people to simply relax and hike/walk. When I visit these places, I use the opportunity to pick up what plants/flowers I can.
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Post by apology72 on Sept 4, 2011 14:26:27 GMT
Explanation: I realize that not every house door directly in front of his green meadows, takes a little initiative there already. That means if you live right in the center also needs times to go into the suburbs or the nearest park. In alternate to parks cemeteries can be good sources of food If really no parks or cemeteries or allotments are available it will be more interesting planting on the windowsill.
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Post by fred on Sept 4, 2011 15:51:18 GMT
I am living in Edinburgh and there is a footpath along a stream that crosses the city and a network of cycling paths. They are recessed from the streets far enough so that I am not concerned about traffic pollution. However, there are dogs, many dogs. I never collect at the edges or at places that may be attractive to your average pooch, but of course I can't be sure that one hasn't made it to the place were I collect. I rinse everything when I get home and believe that should be OK. Any comments on that?
Around here, dandelions can be found over several months, they come and go. While it is nice to also have the flowers, leaves can be found all the time. Nettles can also be collected for much of the year and their leaves dried.
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 4, 2011 15:56:13 GMT
@ Fred It is very similar here ! Thankfully though, most parks ban people from bringing their dogs with them. Plantain also grows really big in the parks !
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 4, 2011 16:19:31 GMT
OK!! To my surprise I have a small amount of yarrow growing in my back garden! What parts of the plant can be fed to the degus? Another surprise, I have ground elder growing in a shaded bed in front of my house!!! Who would have thought that would prove to be useful??!! It grows so abundantly I could start harvesting some in June and letting it regrow right through to mid September. I best hurry up with it, I think, before we get some frosts. I also have some raspberries growing.
Does anyone know if Black Current trees are OK for degus? I have one of these in my yard as well.
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 4, 2011 16:28:12 GMT
@ Deguconvert: Try out if your degus like both yarrow and ground elder... not all degus like them. As I have lots of degus and some space, I dry them and provide them together will all the other plants. From yarrow I feed all the aerial parts, never tried if roots would be possible as well. Leaves and branches of blackcurrant are okay for degus. Mine don't like them very much, but you can try them out. It's interesting how many suitable plants can be found once you know something. Actually, I see degu food wherever I am going or driving .
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 4, 2011 16:38:07 GMT
With autumn approaching, rather quickly here, is there any concern about feeding leaves that are changing colour?
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Post by apology72 on Sept 4, 2011 16:47:44 GMT
Branches and leaves of red and black curr ant are suitable as feed and gnaw material. Yarrow can also be feeded. If you give it fresh don´t wondering if the degus don´t pay attention. In my fresh food beginning, my Degus don´t like birch in fresh, but after a few days when the birch was dried they like them very much. Now they know it can be eat also when it´s fresh. It´s a learning process
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 4, 2011 17:02:02 GMT
OK . . . I've now brought in a few ground elder leaves, some yarrow leaves, and some blackcurrant leaves (MY TREE HAS BERRIES! YUM!). The ground elder and the blackcurrant have gone down a treat, but the yarrow was given an invesgative nibble and disgarded. What was really cute though . . . Peekichew was SO excited about getting more green leaves that by the time I handed the blackcurrant leaves through, he was warbling a sweet little song to me.
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 4, 2011 17:07:15 GMT
The advantage of such green is that it can stay and dry in the cage. This wouldn't be possible with tomatoes or green salad for example. Just let it in the cage and give your degus a 2nd chance to try it...
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Post by aya0aya on Sept 4, 2011 17:15:47 GMT
I don't actually live in a big city, but I still always go somewhere where no roads, industry or other pollution is.
It's good for the goos and it's good for me. It won't hurt me to take a longer walk around, I enjoy in peace and silence and pick up some greens by the way.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 5, 2011 5:29:25 GMT
I just want to ask this question again, only worded slightly differently. Is it OK/safe to feed the degus any leaves that have changed colour from green to yellow or red?
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 5, 2011 6:34:21 GMT
I haven't answered this question before because I wasn't sure how to explain it. I don't see it as a problem as leaves are leaves. What is reducing gradually in autumn is the amount of proteins and chlorophyll, so I think nutrients are not so rampant and leaves therefore less "useful" for degus. Well, this would be my explanation but I have to admit that my last biology lesson took place loooooooooooooooots of years ago .
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