Woof! Pet Food Gets a Hydro Upgrade
Many of us have experienced the satisfaction that comes from growing our own fruits, vegetables and herbs from an indoor garden and being able to provide something fresh and healthy for family meals. Our furry, finned and feathered friends don’t need to be left out when it comes to the benefits of hydroponic gardening, though—after all, we want our pets to have the best quality, safest and pesticide-free snacks possible too! The range of animals who love to chomp, sniff or nibble certain types of vegetation is quite wide—even carnivores such as cats and dogs often appreciate some fresh greens, although for some it’s only a few blades of grass. Small caged pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and mice can all benefit from having their diet extended with fresh greens, sprouted grains, fruits and vegetables, all of which can be easily grown indoors. Caged and wild birds also enjoy an assortment of fresh produce and even grains such as sunflower seeds and millet can be grown to supple-
“Standard vegetative hydroponic nutrients can be used from germination right throughout the life of the pet grass tray using overhead watering or ebb and flow systems. ment commercial seed mixes. Larger outdoor pets such as hens and other forms of poultry, goats and sheep can be fed specially grown greens, which are a great supplement to dry food in the depths of winter when other fresh feed is scarce. There are also many species of wet pets that may go overlooked when it comes to diet diversity—turtles often like a treat of greenery, as do many aquarium fish, whether it’s in the form of aquatic plants or fresh vegetables. Much of the information available regarding pets and plants is in the form of lists of toxic species that can cause serious problems if ingested; while most of these plants are outdoor species,
The green parts of tomato plants, including green fruit, are known to be toxic to pets if ingested.
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Maximum Yield USA | November 2011