herb mix?

[chinchillin2005]

I was thinking of making my own herb mix with safe herbs of course. This person sells a lot of different herbs: http://www.ebay.com/sch/lighthouseherbs2011/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

and I found a few that are safe for chinchillas: milk thistle, hibiscus flowers, dandelion leaves, Chamomile Flowers, etc. Would this be ok to buy and give to my chinchilla?
Also would these be safe? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oat-Tops-Wh...ultDomain_0&hash=item19cc53cd29#ht_2296wt_708, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Clover-...ltDomain_0&hash=item232131353a#ht_1673wt_708?

I thought making my own supplement/treat/herb mix would be a lot cheaper than ordering from fuzzies kingdom. Do you think it would be ok?

 

[Cat75]

When it comes to making my own herb mix I really like Rondas selection http://www.rondaschins.com/MakeYourOwnSupplement.shtml . I know they are chin safe and she explains the benefits to the chin.

 

[chinchillin2005]

I know, but I'm trying to save money on shipping I was just wondering if buying herbs from ebay were safe.

 

[Tanya]

Herbs you listed are safe for chins, but would not purchase them from eBay. It is best to purchase herbs from companies that specialize in organic herbs, and do not stock products that are more than 2-4 months from the harvest (a year for seasonal items).

However, to create good supplements you need to know how to combine herbs into appropriate formulas. If you purchase 1 lb of organic broad spectrum supplement, you are paying only $1.99 per ounce ( 6 months supply if you give your chin one teaspoon per day)

 

[chinchillin2005]

It says they are all USDA organic? Does that count? They say that they specialized in herbs for 30 years? I am just trying to save money here and the herbs listed are supposedly organic.

 

[chinchillin2005]

Ok so only the red clover herbs are not organic, and the person says he buys them all from companies that specialize in organic herbs. Everything else is certified organic...the last time i bought organic mulberry wood that somebody else harvested, my chinchilla absolutely loved them, so I'm just hoping these herbs will have the same effect.

 

[Sandi]

I would not purchase herbs from ebay either. I just wouldn't chance it with my chins. This is from one of the links you posted:

Safety Notes: Hibiscus may be intercropped with peanuts. May contain peanuts or shell fragments.

Nuts/shells are not good for chins.

Adding up all of the different herbs your interested in can't be much less than the broad spectrum supplement. I can't agree more with - "to create good supplements you need to know how to combine herbs into appropriate formulas". I have seen several different kinds of herb mixes but IMO nothing compares to Tanya's herb supplements at fuzzieskingdom. :thumbsup:

 

[chinchillin2005]

Ok I ended up not getting them. I am too very cautious of my chinchilla's well being, and would feel much better of buying herbs from fuzzies kingdom anyways. it's just too much shipping costs right now and I will have to wait until my next pay check. Thank you for the help though.

 

[Spoof]

it's just too much shipping costs right now and I will have to wait until my next pay check.

I'm pretty sure Ronda will work with you on shipping costs and Tanya might if you ask if that is your only concern. For one chin you don't need more than 1/4 ounce of an herb, in many cases that is 1/4 cup or more. Herbs are very light.

 

[ticklechin]

If money is tight, I would not waste it in herbs, chins don't need them.

 

[Tanya]

Herbs may actually be one of the most important things we can get for our chins.

I do not think that a diet that consists of about 3 ingredients is the best diet for humans (or chinchillas) and we do not need anything else just because we can survive on it. Pellets are usually hay, soy, and wheat in a processed form. The rest are just synthetic nutrients that are used to compensate for inadequate ingredients. Some of them are even used in excess (since nutrition is not an exact science, companies have developed feeds by trail and error). When I asked an Oxbow's nutritionist a question, I was told that they are trying to meet unknown requirements.

There is a reason why wild chins' diet is so diverse. Nutrients from plants do not just keep chins alive, they keep them healthy and give a chance to self-medicate against parasitic infections and other illnesses. Chins and other animals rely on plants secondary compounds to protect them against disease. Even butterflies occasionally scratch the surface of the plants to get pyrrolizidine alkaloids and utilize PAs to use as protection from future illness.

With no access to herbs' protective elements and nutrients, chins may not be able to maintain good health. For example, diets lacking liver-protecting agents can lead to liver disease. An average commercial diet is a maintenance diet that is not likely to satisfy the cardiovascular system nutritional requirements that are constantly changing - probably that is why many chins suffer from heart problems. Also, chins' inability to maintain the right proportion of minerals make them more susceptible to Salmonella. There are numerous other examples, but I'll keep it short - when chins do not have access to various unprocessed plants, they can not help themselves to stay well.

Unfortunately, animal health research usually concentrates on disease instead of studying how animals remain healthy in the wild. "By working with nature rather than against it, we could save time, effort, money - and our own health, as well as the health of our animals."

 

[ticklechin]

I am more concerned that if its a choice between a vet visit and saving money on shipping for herbs, the money should be set aside for a vet fund. I personally do not think chinchillas should have been domesticated at all and certainly not used as pets-there is no way we will ever be able to duplicate the wild chinchilla diet, its just my opinion. The chinchilla should have stayed as a agricultural product where if domestication issues arise its dealt with by culling or it should have stayed in the wild where malo takes care of itself with natural selection.

 

[mishellyshel]

I have purchased many herbs from Tanya and my chins have always enjoyed them. I do now make my own herbal mix to give to my chins. I prob spend $100 every 4-6 months. I buy several varieties of herbs & flowers, all which have been researched to make sure they are chin safe & approved. I buy all my stuff from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have great products & a wonderful mission statement. You can buy in smaller quantities that I do. My boys love their pink rose petal, dandelion leaf, red clover herb & chamomile. I also use about 6 other herbs which I cut with some of the alfalfa shake from the bottom of the bag and some old fashioned oats. They get a pinch a night. And are usually waiting by the cage for it!