Today’s series of articles on forage plants is about the stinging nettle, with which just about everyone has made painful acquaintance.
Nettle
Feeding parts
- Leaves
- Stems
- Seeds
- Flowers
General notes
Of particular interest is that nettle contains more iron than meat, more vitamin C than oranges and 6 times as much calcium as milk.
It is this high nutrient content that makes it an interesting forage plant.
Ingredients and effect
For budgies in moult, the silicic acid content is of particular interest.
It also contains iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and vitamins A and C.
You can feed them fresh or dried or make a tea from the dried leaves (5 min.).
Used externally, the tea has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on minor injuries.
Harvest time
April – June
Pre-treatment before feeding
The use of gloves is of course recommended for collecting and processing.
To remove the burning hairs, you should either roll them with a rolling pin or wrap them in a kitchen towel and wring them out, preferably in pairs.