Herbs

[StarlightSerenity]

I use a lot of fresh herbs, both bought and home grown, in cooking and I was wondering if anyone knew what herbs I could give to my Syrian Luna?

I usually have in -

Sage
Rosemary
Basil
Oregano
Thyme

Can she have any of these?

[KatiePillow]

Basil and sage are ok, the other 3 I dunno D:

[SnickersTheFirst]

The only one I know that's safe is Basil.

[Nappo]

Sage and basil are safe and healthy, but i wouldn't feed the other ones ;D

[StarlightSerenity]

Originally Posted by Nappo

Sage and basil are safe and healthy, but i wouldn't feed the other ones ;D

Why?

Thanks for the replies

[Nappo]

Because they are more spicery for us humans than herbs, and in germany there is the rule- No spicery for hamsters.

[siberiankiss]

Originally Posted by Nappo

Because they are more spicery for us humans than herbs, and in germany there is the rule- No spicery for hamsters.

But where is the evidence for this? I'm dubious of so many things that people say I can't feed my hamster. "Everyone knows you can't feed that", "so and so says you can't feed that"... wheres the evidence? I can't see that they would do any harm whatsoever - herbs and some spices are proven to be beneficial to other rodents, so why not hamsters?

If someone can how me some scientific papers then I'd be really pleased because I can't seem to find them.

[StarlightSerenity]

None of those are remotely like spices - they are herbs, not spices so I fail to see the connection there other than that in cooking they are used in a similar sort of way as spices - to flavour dishes etc.

@siberiankiss - I feel the same to be quite honest, there is a list of items toxic to hamsters on my breeders site with scientific reasons to back it up. None of these foods I will feed to my hamster however there are a lot of other things that people say you cant feed them but rarely does anyone say why.

[siberiankiss]

Originally Posted by StarlightSerenity

None of those are remotely like spices - they are herbs, not spices so I fail to see the connection there other than that in cooking they are used in a similar sort of way as spices - to flavour dishes etc.

@siberiankiss - I feel the same to be quite honest, there is a list of items toxic to hamsters on my breeders site with scientific reasons to back it up. None of these foods I will feed to my hamster however there are a lot of other things that people say you cant feed them but rarely does anyone say why.

Can you forward me the link to that please?

I think there's a lot of old wives tales floating around regarding what you should and shouldn't feed your animals. When feeding Bobby I follow the same principles that I do with my rats; if it's good for me, it's probably alright for them too. I refuse to believe that common herbs are inedible to them.

How on earth would they survive in the wild? In the food mix I'm working on at the minute (which I think it just about finished ) I try to mimic what a hamster would eat were it scurrying around in its natural habitat. And of course a lot of that is vegetation. It wouldn't make evolutionary sense for them for so many things to be 'toxic' to them. I agree with you in that I think a lot of what is said is mythology and people are just to ready to say, "oh he/she said that, so it must be true!". Unless they can prove it (with scientific evidence, not with rumour mills) then I usually wouldn't believe it. Use your common sense when feeding your animals.

[SnickersTheFirst]

What you are saying may be true but if there is no proof for or against feeding then most people go by the rule to avoid it just in case. Obviously, everyone will have their own opinions though.