Feeding wild garlic / nettles?

[heebiejeebies]

Hi there,

I'm just wondering if you can feed wild garlic leaves, and whether this would act as a fly repellant?

Does anyone feed dried nettle leaves? How long do you leave it to dry for and how much do you give per feed?

Many thanks

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Wild garlic is a baaaad idea - Google Heinz Anaemia.

There are better products for fly repellants - if natural, then Neem is always a good place to start. Both the herb and oil.

Otherwise plenty of sprays available

 

[mandwhy]

You can cut nettles down and leave them to wilt, they don't need to be completely dry it just takes away the sting I think. They are very good for laminitic horses and a great antioxidant/diuretic. My horse hoovers them up once they are not stingy anymore!

For a fly spray I just use 1/3 vinegar, 2/3 water and a bit of citronella, I used to add so many more ingredients in it but this works well

 

[flirtygerty]

I buy chaff with nettle and mint in, I also just pull nettles up and leave lying for our lot, they love them

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Just leave the nettles to wilt, they'll enjoy them. Mine didn't touch the wild garlic and neither did the guinea pigs.

I don't feed any garlic generally for the reasons that CF mentions. The horses do love apple or carrots dipped in Marmite though which is thought to have insect repelling properties. Not sure about that, but they do enjoy it.

For natural insect repellents, have a look at this; http://www.woodlandherbs.co.uk/acatalog/natural_insect_repellents.html

 

[Pinkvboots]

I dont feed garlic either as both mine can be itchy, they love dried nettle though I pulled all mine the other day i have loads in my fields they will soon hoover them up.

 

[trottingon]

Wild garlic leaves are delicious in salads or on pizzas, I can't find any near me you are so lucky if you have it, it's only available for a short time each year!
Oh and I am talking about salads and pizzas for humans, not horses!!!!!!😄😄😄

 

[heebiejeebies]

Thanks everyone, if I pulled up nettles and left to wilt would they eat the stalk as well? How long do they keep for when dried? Would it be too optimistic to get a collection going to chuck in the field in the winter when there's no grass?!

Always thinking ahead

The reason I ask about the fly spray is I have a couple of horses who see me coming with the bottle and run off as far as possible... would save me some time (and dodging flying hooves!) if I could feed them something to repel the flies rather than using the spray, as currently with one horse I'm having to soak a towel in spray and wipe it over her... luckily I make my own spray so doesn't cost me the earth!