Are the flowers too pretty?!
 

Hi all,

A little random I know, but my little 10 month old Hermann's is on a varied weed diet, trying him with lots of new things that he most probably hasn't tried before (I've only had him a few weeks), but he seems to literally go for the green things, e.g plantain, dandelion leaves, clover, sow thistle etc. Tried pansies, antirrhinum, lavatera etc and he's just not interested in the flower parts at all! I'd quite like for him to eat a good range of things and am growing quite a few weeds myself anyway...are they pickier when young? Does he just not like to "harm" the pretty flowers lol? Any tips on how to get him to try new things?

Thanks :)

My babies are 9 months, and they eat everything :lol: I would just keep offering them and perhaps cut all your weeds up and wet them, little pieces of flowers will stick to the leaves and he will hopefully eat some :)

Some just eat what they are used to, to change a diet or as you say offer a new plant's just offer more of them than the usual leaves, they can be real creatures of habit, which can be not too good in the varied plant diet regime. This time of the year i offer a flower day, that is mixed edible flower's with a little greenery, they seem to enjoy this as there are many about at the mo.

my hermanns are not overly keen on flowers either but I spotted one of them eating a hebe flower the other day. they don't even eat the yellow sow-thistle or dandelion flowers. they eat them more often if given them when they are indoors though

I have one tort that always goes for flowers first and will turn his nose up at "greens"!!!!!!! i have now started putting the "greens" in 1st and once he has had a good munch on them , then I put the flowers in.

Just goes to show that they are all different!

Row x

Fancy little Squirt trying to be fussy. Seems rather odd when you think their breeder was feeding your Squirt and my Ebs on the same, very varied diet!
I give everything a good wash, pull it to bits, (big bits) mix it up and then sprinkle on his nutrobal. As you know Ebbie has never refused anything!
Let me have a think and get back to you........

Thanks all for your help, I'll try all the advice given; I like the idea of a "flower day" to try and encourage him to eat a little more variety!

Yes Herriotfan it is odd isn't it, obviously Squirt's the fussier of the siblings lol!

Thanks again

You could try making a sandwich of food. Use his favourite as the bread and use flowers as the filling. At least that way when he eats the green he likes he'll also get a mouthful of flower! Hand feed it to Suirt so you know he's taking both. If that works then gradually reduce the green and up the flower content....worth a try? :roll:

Hi my 2 eat flowers, but are fussy for example they love yellow roses, but not pink!

They also love honeysuckle and evening primrose is a particular favourite. They cant reach the flowers in their outdoor pen so they have a selection put in their coldframe which they eat on their way through to their night-time hide. I have some lovely purple flowers growing, not sure what they are but I know they are safe because their enclosure was only planted with safe plants - they love those also.

I think variety is key I know when mine were indoors and only pansies were growing, I had to rub strawberry on them to get them to eat them! That got them tucking in.

Pat x

Thanks Pat for your advice :) I'll try rubbing the strawberry on them.
Also thanks Herriotfan, I'll try a "sandwich" lol :P sounds like a very good idea. He went for a trip to my Nan's with me and my family today!