FORAGES
Providing your guinea pig with additional fresh forages is an excellent way to help maintain optimum health and should be included in any diet regime.
They are a source of fibre, nutrients and minerals, that, replicate a natural eating habit. Include forages along with freshly hand picked grass. However always
ensure you identify, analyse and ensure all forages are safe for consumption.
Identification
Due to numerous factors relating to the safe identification and analysis of the area from which you harvest, it is imperative that you are certain forages are:
Identified Correctly
Free from herbicides and pesticides
Harvested away from Roadsides
Healthy, fresh and free from mold, mildew or fungi
Harvested away from livestock or where other species defecate or urinate
Herbicides, soil fertilizers and pesticides can be used on store bought herbs, forages and plants, hence it is vitally important that you wash and re pot plants
before offering to your cavy.
Identifying plants can also be difficult as many lists offer incomplete data and information is yet to be continued. However if researched thoroughly and
harvested correctly, many owners can effectively collect edible forages.
Edible Forages
The below list has been compiled to offer a brief list of safe forages commonly found in Australia. Please be aware that you must properly identify and ensure
the forage you are offering your cavy are correct. Guinea Pigs Australia takes no responsibility for incorrect analysis and the effects that may result.
Plants are listed by common name only. Click on a letter below to view.
A B C D F G L M N P R S V Y
A
Anise
Apple - Fruit and Branches (no seeds/core)
Agrimony
___________________________________
B
Basil - Leaves
Blackberry - Fruit & Leaves
Borage - Leaves (use sparingly)
Brocolli - Leaves & Stem
___________________________________
C
Calendula - Leaves & Flowers
Caraway
Chamomile
Chickweed - Leaves
Chicory - Leaves
Cleavers
Clover, white - Flowers & Leaves (High in Calcium)
Clover, red - Flowers & Leaves (High in Calcium)
Coltsfoot - Use Sparingly
Comfrey - Leaves, best dried (use sparingly)
Cornsilk
Corriander
Cowberry - Fruit & Leaves (use sparingly)
___________________________________
D
Dandelion - Flowers & Stalk (Use sparingly)
Duckweed
Dog Rose
___________________________________
F
Fennel
___________________________________
G
Grapes - Fruit
Grass
Groundsel
___________________________________
L
Lavender (use sparingly)
Lemon Balm/Mint
Lime - Flowers
Lucerne
___________________________________
M
Mint - Leaves
Meadowsweet
___________________________________
N
Nettle - Dried only
___________________________________
P
Plantain
Parsley
Peppermint
___________________________________
R
Raspberry - Berries & Leaves
Rosehip - Shells only
___________________________________
S
Sage - Leaves (use sparingly)
Shepherd’s Purse s
Strawberry Fragaria vesca (etc.) Above ground parts
Snow Pea - Sprouts
Spearmint
___________________________________
V
Violet, field
___________________________________
Y
Yarrow
Providing your guinea pig with additional fresh forages
is an excellent way to help maintain optimum health
and should be included in any diet regime.
They are a source of fibre, nutrients and minerals, that,
replicate a natural eating habit. Include forages along
with freshly hand picked grass. However always ensure
you identify, analyse and ensure all forages are safe for
consumption.
Identification
Due to numerous factors relating to the safe
identification and analysis of the area from which you
harvest, it is imperative that you are certain forages
are:
Identified Correctly
Free from herbicides and pesticides
Harvested away from Roadsides
Healthy, fresh and free from mold, mildew or fungi
Harvested away from livestock or where other species
defecate or urinate
Herbicides, soil fertilizers and pesticides can be used
on store bought herbs, forages and plants, hence it is
vitally important that you wash and re pot plants
before offering to your cavy.
Identifying plants can also be difficult as many lists
offer incomplete data and information is yet to be
continued. However if researched thoroughly and
harvested correctly, many owners can effectively collect
edible forages.
Edible Forages
The below list has been compiled to offer a brief list of
safe forages commonly found in Australia. Please be
aware that you must properly identify and ensure the
forage you are offering your cavy are correct. Guinea
Pigs Australia takes no responsibility for incorrect
analysis and the effects that may result.
Plants are listed by common name only. Click on a
letter below to view.
A B C D F G L M N P R S V Y
A
Anise
Apple - Fruit and Branches (no seeds/core)
Agrimony
___________________________________
B
Basil - Leaves
Blackberry - Fruit & Leaves
Borage - Leaves (use sparingly)
Brocolli - Leaves & Stem
___________________________________
C
Calendula - Leaves & Flowers
Caraway
Chamomile
Chickweed - Leaves
Chicory - Leaves
Cleavers
Clover, white - Flowers & Leaves (High in Calcium)
Clover, red - Flowers & Leaves (High in Calcium)
Coltsfoot - Use Sparingly
Comfrey - Leaves, best dried (use sparingly)
Cornsilk
Corriander
Cowberry - Fruit & Leaves (use sparingly)
___________________________________
D
Dandelion - Flowers & Stalk (Use sparingly)
Duckweed
Dog Rose
___________________________________
F
Fennel
___________________________________
G
Grapes - Fruit
Grass
Groundsel
___________________________________
L
Lavender (use sparingly)
Lemon Balm/Mint
Lime - Flowers
Lucerne
___________________________________
M
Mint - Leaves
Meadowsweet
___________________________________
N
Nettle - Dried only
___________________________________
P
Plantain
Parsley
Peppermint
___________________________________
R
Raspberry - Berries & Leaves
Rosehip - Shells only
___________________________________
S
Sage - Leaves (use sparingly)
Shepherd’s Purse s
Strawberry Fragaria vesca (etc.) Above ground parts
Snow Pea - Sprouts
Spearmint
___________________________________
V
Violet, field
___________________________________
Y
Yarrow
Safe Plants