Foraging for forage!

[travellingbookworm]

Good evening,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience foraging or growing and drying their own herbs and flowers for their hamster?

We have lemon balm, camomile, bamboo and rosemary growing in our garden and live close to a woodland where we used to forage for our Guinea pigs (willow, hazel, cornflowers, dandelions, plantain etc).

It seems like most people opt to purchase sprays, herbs, dried flowers etc and I was wondering why just in case there’s a safety aspect with creating your own.

Tia for any advice.

 

[Maz]

It sounds a great idea. I sometimes used to use fresh parsley I'd grown - just a small leaf a week as a veg substitute. I think some herbs might be a bit aromatic for hamsters. @Daisy and @elusive (our food gurus) will have more information on what's safe

 

[Daisy]

I haven't ever foraged for things myself, mostly because I live in the city where there isn't much unpolluted greenery that I would feel comfortable feeding. If you can sure it's a safe plant and hasn't been sprayed with anything it should be fairly safe to feed after washing.

Some herbs/plants are quite strong. As long as it's not something that will actually burn (e.g chillis), it should be safe to feed in small quantities, though they might not like it.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, they spray for oak processionary moth around here so I'm not keen to try foraging in London.

 

[Socks' Mum]

But I do envy people who can go out and gather fresh forage, they are lucky!

 

[elusive]

It does sound great, if you do have access to safe plants that you’re sure haven’t been sprayed then it should be fine to use those.
Lemon balm & chamomile are both fine & enjoyed by some hamsters but I wouldn’t give rosemary or anything else that is too strongly aromatic.