A magical mix bursting with natural goodness

Foraging is the act of gathering food from the wild and, as well as sourcing naturally tasty ingredients such as berries and herbs to spruce up supper, foraging is a fantastic way to connect with nature. It’s also becoming an increasingly popular activity.

The age-old act of foraging – once a necessity when food supplies were short – was considered a rather niche activity until recent years. Now, thanks to celebrity chefs like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and top-notch restaurants such as Noma featuring foraged ingredients on their menus, foraging has evolved from a purely practical activity to a super cool culinary pursuit.

Locations across the UK have blossoming foraging groups, and there are all manner of workshops and training courses on how to forage safely now available. Indeed, the Wild Free Food in The Uk Facebook page boasts nearly 24,000 members.

Want to know how to forage? Just ask your small pets!

Of course, our furry friends could tell us a thing or two about foraging as, for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus, foraging for food is a natural part of life. In fact, small furries spend many hours of their day foraging for their dinner.

• Wild rabbits forage on weeds, grasses, wildflowers, and flower and vegetable plants – foods that are naturally high in fibre, which keep their digestive system functioning properly and wear down their continuously growing teeth.
• Wild guinea pigs forage on grasses, plants, vegetables and crops. To help your pet piggy pals stay healthy and happy, you should choose a guinea pig diet that mimics what they would naturally eat in the wild.
• Wild chinchillas constantly forage for food in the rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains of South America, eating grasses, leaves, twigs, bark, roots and stems. These agile, active animals have a very sensitive digestion, which requires a high fibre, low energy diet.

Foraged foods contain a diverse array of vitamins and minerals

“Foraging, the art of gathering wild plants and edible treasures from nature, has recently experienced a significant surge in popularity,” says Ross Mcgregor, on the website of Edinburgh seafood restaurant Dulse. “Foraging presents an opportunity to explore a world of unique flavours. By incorporating foraged foods into our diets, we can enjoy a diverse array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.”

Did you know that for many small furries, hay should be the BIGGEST part of their daily diet? >>  

Botanical Blends – luxury forage for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas

And what’s good for humans is good for our small pets too, which is why pet care experts Burgess has developed Botanical Blends – a fabulous foraging mix for pet rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.

Wild rabbits and guinea pigs not only eat a healthy diet of fresh grass, but they also have access to a wide variety of wild plants, which provide them with a whole host of beneficial vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy and happy.

That’s where Botanical Blends comes in. Designed as a complementary food to mix in with feeding hay to encourage natural foraging behaviour, this magical mix is lovingly made with wild plants that are naturally found in hedgerows, along with marigold.

Bring all the benefits of a wild diet home for your small pets to enjoy

What’s more, each tasty ingredient also has a functional benefit. This means you can bring all the benefits of a wild diet home for your small pets to enjoy.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need to eat lots of fresh hay every day to keep them healthy. But did you know, hay can also make them happy? >>

And, while others may offer wild forages at premium prices, Botanical Blends, which comes in a big bucket, provides high-quality, beneficial nutrition that’s good value for money.

Take a closer look at these nutritious, beneficial ingredients.

• Nettle leaf – Occurring naturally in hedgerows, nettles are part of a wild rabbit’s normal diet. Nettles are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, which are important for vision, immune function, blood clotting, and bone health, as well as essential minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. Nettles have also been shown to increase water turnover in the bladder, which may help support urinary tract health.
• Dandelion leaf – Dandelion has a taste that small animals love and contains a wide variety of vitamins, along with minerals and other compounds which help to support animal health. These include antioxidants for a healthy immune system, and inulin, which has a prebiotic effect to help digestive health. Dandelion also helps increase water turnover in the bladder to help support digestive health.
• Marigold flowers – These can be a healthy and beneficial addition to the diet of rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, offering various benefits, including supporting digestion and immunity. Marigold flowers are a natural source of fibre and vitamins and contain lutein, which is important for eye health.
• Burdock root –The fibrous texture of burdock root encourages chewing, which helps wear down the continuously growing teeth of rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas and prevents the formation of painful molar spurs. A source of vitamins A, C and E, minerals such as potassium and calcium, which support overall health, along with natural antioxidants, it also contains compounds that can help reduce inflammation, potentially benefiting rabbits with joint pain or other inflammatory conditions.
• Cleavers – Also known as sticky weed or goosegrass, this sprawling weed – which rabbits adore munching on – is naturally high in fibre, aiding digestion, and also supports skin health.

Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes says: “It’s really important that the food we provide for our much-loved pet rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas mimics what they would eat in the wild. Botanical Blends does exactly that. Sprinkling a handful of Botanical Blends through Burgess Excel Feeding Hay will help to encourage natural foraging behaviour and make feeding time a much more enriching experience for small pet animals.”

Does your small pets’ hay pass the taste test? Welcome to the wonderful world of hay! >> 

SERVE UP ONLY THE VERY BEST DINNER FOR YOUR SMALL PETS

Our small pets deserve a high-quality diet that’s created just for them. At Burgess, all our foods for small pets is made at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire, using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications. We have also launched many innovations. These include the world’s first food specifically formulated for indoor rabbits and the world’s first indoor guinea pig nuggets which are made with a calm formula.

Also check out our selection of yummy, nutritious treats that your small pets will love!

Are your small pets Burgess small pets? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers, competitions and expert advice from our in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes.

LET’S GET SOCIAL! Sign up to the Excel Bunny Base or become part of theExcel Squeak Squad on Facebook. Find lots ofadvice and friendly discussions from likeminded owners – and there are lots of cute bunny and piggy photos and videos! Also join us on Instagram.

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your pets from Burgess, the pet experts. Training, nutrition, grooming and general care. It’s all here >>

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EXPERT APPROVED: Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB, MRCVS