Stinging nettle

[Hanako]

any suggestion how to make stinging nettle non painful to eat for my tortoises? I am assuming that if I can feel the stinging on my hands, they will definitely feel it on their tongue and it will hurt. Is there any trick how to make it eatable for them?

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Hanako

any suggestion how to make stinging nettle non painful to eat for my tortoises? I am assuming that if I can feel the stinging on my hands, they will definitely feel it on their tongue and it will hurt. Is there any trick how to make it eatable for them?

If they eat it dont worry its their choice:0)
I had one female who used to eat it, but none of my others do.

[emma_mcraf]

Mine devour dead nettle but I've never tried them with stinging nettles. Mainly because I'm too worried about getting stung in the process!

[sandy]

Originally Posted by emma_mcraf

Mine devour dead nettle but I've never tried them with stinging nettles. Mainly because I'm too worried about getting stung in the process!

My female ate the ones growing in the garden, I would feed nettles to my torts, it has to be their choice. They hurt too much to pick:0)

[Stellanne]

Hanako, I have never fed nettles for the exact reason you said. I am sure we all know the irritation of grabbing weeds only to have a nettle sting amongst it. I do know that experienced keepers like Sandy say to feed it......but for whimps like myself who are scared to try feeding it may be a step so far. The torts mouths look so pink and delicate.........

Sandy, if, at this time of year when the new nettles sting, would you mix a few in with other weeds ( I would think a bunch of nettles wouldn't be a great idea)...... Or would it be better later in the year when they have flowered and don't sting.
Scared stinging hugs Stella x x x

[Hanako]

Well, I tried. At first no one approached it so I left it in the enclosure and went away. When I came back I saw one young tortoise (small, 3-4 years old) running away from it so I am assuming that it did feel unpleasant to her. Then one of the big girls started eating it, but more like just gently nibbling it. It reminded me like if we are eating a chicken drumstick, the careful biting around the bone...she was eating it in a very different way than other food. Not mouthful and big bite, but a small and careful nibble. There is still plenty of the nettle left in the enclosure, so it seems that the others were not that keen. Saying that, my tortoises are quite keen on sticky weed and it is also a bit sharp.

[Hanako]

Originally Posted by Stellanne

Hanako, I have never fed nettles for the exact reason you said. I am sure we all know the irritation of grabbing weeds only to have a nettle sting amongst it. I do know that experienced keepers like Sandy say to feed it......but for whimps like myself who are scared to try feeding it may be a step so far. The torts mouths look so pink and delicate.........

Sandy, if, at this time of year when the new nettles sting, would you mix a few in with other weeds ( I would think a bunch of nettles wouldn't be a great idea)...... Or would it be better later in the year when they have flowered and don't sting.
Scared stinging hugs Stella x x x

There is a time of the year when stinging nettles don't sting? I thought they always do...

[Pussygalore]

My adult Ibera and young Sully used to love thistles and I mean the ones with enormous prickles, so if they can manage them I'm sure a stinging nettle wouldn't be a problem. I used to pick them very carefully though.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Stellanne

Hanako, I have never fed nettles for the exact reason you said. I am sure we all know the irritation of grabbing weeds only to have a nettle sting amongst it. I do know that experienced keepers like Sandy say to feed it......but for whimps like myself who are scared to try feeding it may be a step so far. The torts mouths look so pink and delicate.........

Sandy, if, at this time of year when the new nettles sting, would you mix a few in with other weeds ( I would think a bunch of nettles wouldn't be a great idea)...... Or would it be better later in the year when they have flowered and don't sting.
Scared stinging hugs Stella x x x

I dont actually feed my tortoises nettles (usually its the dead nettles that dont sting) but one female used to eat any growing in my garden. I leave that for my tortoises to choose:0)

[Pussygalore]

I had the odd nettle in our previous garden and must admit I never saw them eating it but then they had lots of other nicer things but thistles usually went down a treat.