David Wolfe shows how to eat wild Stinging Nettle -all flavor, no pain! Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide, including New Zealand and North America. The flowers, which appear at the top of the plant from June through August, are three-quarters to one inch across and range from light purple, blue to white. Eradicating established horse nettle is difficult. Gympie-gympie, its common and original name, comes from the language of the indigenous Gubbi Gubbi people of South … Cooking nettle in any way will disarm the sting. An equine veterinarian helps one reader identify the toxic plant horse nettle and describes how to keep her horses safe. Be prepared before you harvest. If this happens, stop feeding nettle. Is there a cumulative effect? Flowers in elongated clusters (racemes) at ends of stems, white to purple, about 1 inch across with 5 united petals, forming a five-pointed star with 5 … I dont really know if they are true but I was googling effects of stinging nettle on horses ad there were serval sites saying that you can dry out the leaves I think it was and feed it to horses and it helps with something. I have heard of horses eating them after they have been cut down and wilted a bit but I have watched her on a few Used internally, nettles will cleanse the blood and remove uric acid (a cause of arthritis). Arrived at our camp, alone, very shocky and out of his mind. When wilted strip the leaves off the stems. ~Colin Mochrie, okay so no one has heard of the benefits?? The common stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica) can be found almost everywhere in the British Isles and other temperate climates. If they are mowed down and dried out, then most animals will eat them...horses, cows and yes, even sheep, but nobody will eat them while they are living, growing and reproducing. Stinging nettles - eating? He made it but I've never seen a horse that sick and survive! Why You Should Celebrate Stinging Nettles This Spring. Why do nettles sting? The only benefit I can think of is, your getting excerise when your out trying to get rid of them. The plant produces round, tomato-like berries that are half an inch in diameter and change from green to yellow as they ripen. Avoid when leave are tinged with purple. For horses that won’t eat feed with added stinging nettle there is a way to benefit from external use: Put 300g dried stinging nettle into 1L of water, bring to boil and let simmer for 10 minutes, drain through a sieve. Fun fact: if you have bracken ferns with spores on the underside of the leaves you can rub the spores on stinging nettle stings and it takes the itch and burn right out of them! ... Horses would never eat sprouted seeds in the wild. Native British nettles inject a cocktail of formic acid, histamine, acetylcholine and serotonin, and that is what causes the bobbly swelling and itchy skin we suffer when we brush up against it. When I get home I will try and find the sites and post links, heres another one, there was alot of words I didn't understand lol, but it generally says its good. Having said that, if the nettles are boiled or dried, all breeds of pigs will eat nettles. Mowing the plants before they produce seeds will slow them down but won't eliminate them. Also, feeding nettles to pregnant mares helps increase milk production, just as alfalfa does. Nettles for horses are rich in Iron and Vitamin C, and most horses will happily eat them out in the fields once they have been chopped down an allowed to wilt so they loose their sting. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but toxicity varies depending on growing conditions. The glycoalkaloid levels are higher in the fall than in the spring, and green, unripe berries are more toxic than ripe or dried berries. ... Nettles are very good for horses (and people). After one of these processes, nettles becomes a friendly herb rather than a stinging herb. Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! Horses tend to avoid the plant because it is distasteful, and they are unlikely to eat enough to cause serious problems unless the weed is rampant in their pasture or they have no other suitable forage. Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Any livestock---including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs as well as horses---may be poisoned after eating large quantities of horse nettle. Horse nettle is a native perennial with spiny stems and leaves; the fruits are toxic and look like tiny yellow tomatoes. That said nettles have other benefits for a possible laminitic horse in that it contains an anti-histamine compound – ironic really given that its sting creates a histamine reaction when it stings … Like spinach, when cooked, nettles reduce to 1/4 the amount, so a supermarket bag full will be about 500g. 3. 2nd vet arrived at camp and worked on him a couple of hours, including IV fluids. A single mouthful or a few berries will have little effect on a mature horse. So of course when I got home googled it. Very scary. All three of my horses stuck there noses in stinging nettle (monkey see, monkey do, I swear). Okay I had a kinda scare with them, I saw them in my friends ponys paddock and got kinda worried, i had never seen them before so I went over to them and took a pic and accidently touched it and by golly it hurt for a bit it fel t like an ant bite. Horses tend to avoid the plant because it is distasteful, and they are unlikely to eat enough to cause serious problems unless the weed is rampant in their pasture or they have no other suitable forage. If horses , sheep, goats , cows , and pigs are given nettles fresh they won't eat them, … 5 Benefits of Wild, Stinging Nettles & 3 Ways to Eat Them. Went down three times. Nettles are good to drink in tea or take a powdered form. The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomeson th… "You know, for as long as I can remember, I've had memories." As for what other edible weeds you can feed your tort, this site should help. Toxicity is reduced (but not eliminated) when the plant is dried. You can steam it, boil it, blanch it or sauté it on its own to freeze or to prep for recipes like Nettle Pesto, Nettle Cheese Biscuits or Nettle Stuffed Manicotti.. You can also add it directly into a recipe where it will get steamed, boiled or sautéed (eg. Nettles, also called common nettle, stinging nettle, nettle leaf and urtica dioica, are a part of the Urticaceae family and are a herbaceous perennial, flowering plant. The plant grows up to two feet tall, with an erect, branching structure; the leaves are alternate and can grow to four to six inches long, with irregular wavy or lobed margins. Was striking at everyone who tried to catch or help him. Answer: Horse nettle (Solanum carolinense), also referred to as Carolina horsenettle or bull nettle, is a member of the nightshade family and is found in most of the contiguous United States but especially in the Central and Eastern states. Both of these plants can usually be found in the same areas as stinging nettles. Then I look like a freakshow walking through the bushes with my arms above my head so my hands are safe. The amount of horse nettle it takes to produce a toxic effect varies, depending on how concentrated the solanine isin the plant, and how much is eaten. I usually lay out a couple of chaff bags nearby with some string for tying and carry a handy pocket knife. The pure excitement of the pursuit to the waterfall would only be hindered by the off-balanced brush … Dendrocnide moroides, also known as the stinging brush, mulberry-leaved stinger, gympie, gympie stinger, stinger, the suicide plant, or moonlighter, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae common to rainforest areas in the north-east of Australia. Dogs, humans, and other animals who come into contact with the stinging nettle will experience unpleasant symptoms that can intensify with repeated exposure. These signs may be followed by depression, weakness, depressed respiration, dilated pupils, collapse and death if horse nettle is eaten in large amounts. Stinging nettles is nettles before it has been dried or heated. Thread starter Rosietaz; Start date 23 May 2020; 23 May 2020 #1. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been a staple in herbal medicine since ancient times, such as to treat arthritis and back pain. Some horses do have a nettles allergy that causes problems within the gastrointestinal tract. Feels so nice! The glycoalkaloids act rapidly once they are absorbed from the intestinal tract, but the effects are not cumulative. Asked by Wiki User. To give a horse your heart guarantees a love that will last forever undamageable. Ouch! It's ridiculous. stirfry or soup) along with other … Nettle leaves are excellent for feeding poultry; and especially in the winter. The sting effect goes after an hour or so, wilted nettles are fine. They will eat them when they have no other greens to consume offer them kale, lettuce, collards, spinach, chard, oak leaf lettuce, romaine, arugula, watercress, bok-choy you can offer them lots of other veggies and fruits as well.This won't harm them but don't think they really like the nasty weeds and Iam sure they hurt the chickens feet as well as it stings us humans … Dock plant leaves are big, oval in shape, and have rounded tips … If stinging nettles are cut and dried and then fed to horses, cows and pigs they will all eat it quite happily in that way. It sounds like the beginning of an old folk tale and it’s true that nettles have been used in traditional medicine! If they're in a different field, I do sometime pitchfork them over the fence for the horses to eat. Historically Nettles have been used to help support a healthy blood supply and circulation. Sometimes the leaves of stinging nettles are tinged purple. Ugh! As a young boy bounding up the creek bed, splashing in the fresh, rushing spring water, the steep slopes dropping down from both sides were covered in glowing, green stinging nettles. This need not be a problem, nor a reason to avoid that particular patch, though it tends to signify that the plant is tired or stressed in some way, which can make the leaves a little bitter. http://www.horseforum.com/member-journals/new-horse-new-story-257826/, Wealden Times | Food & Drink | Stinging nettles, Stinging Nettles - Cyberhorse Virtual Forums, http://forum.cyberhorse.com.au/foru...berhorse.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=39119, Herbs for Horses - Health Benefits of Nettles and Dandelions, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Looked like a horse tying up but wasn't because every time he got up he tried to run again. The glycoalkaloids act on the digestive system to cause excessive salivation, colic and diarrhea or constipation. Nettles aren't dangerous unless you have a serious allergy (which is rare), but their stings can be quite painful. However, it generally takes a pound or more to cause poisoning. Vet on phone recommended we give Banamine which we did. That and plantain (not buckhorn, but the roundish leaf variety) I’d say are the weeds more present in our pastures that the cows don’t seem to eat. It's easy to find videos online of outdoor experts eating nettles raw. Stinging nettle can be eaten on its own or as an ingredient in foods. We had nettles in UK but I never knew them to affect any horses. When boiled and eaten the stinging nettles promote the laying of eggs right throughout the winter. ... as part of a recent discussion can you confirm if giraffes eat stinging nettles. Fun fact: if you have bracken ferns with spores on the underside of the leaves you can rub the spores on stinging nettle stings and it takes the itch and burn right out of them! Always cook nettles, which destroys the stinging formic acid. 2. I can't stand stinging nettle! Be the first to answer! A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. i am sure i saw them eat … The worst was my mare though, she then went and rubbed her nose so it got even more irritated and scabbed over. May have not been the best idea but it did help calm him. I bumped into it once, thought I had found a bee hive. The leaves and stems are often covered with fine hairs and prickly spines. Nettles vary in their stinging intensity and as you can see from the photos on this page of my horses wading through them and eating them, these must be quite mild. I know it's poisonous for horses, but how much do they have to ingest for it to be harmful? Iron is needed for the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin. The British nettle carries its stinging barbs on the stem and the underside of the leaf for protection from those animals that might eat or uproot it. She has a new passion for stinging nettles. Weirdo. Think our CA strain is much more potent. Unfortunately, there is no animal that will eat LIVE stinging nettles. We have a growing amount of horse nettle in our pastures–likely because our cows don’t eat it so unless we get it clipped at the right stage, it is seeding out and spreading. Cook It – Steam, Sauté or Boil. This may seem like it goes without saying, but don't eat stinging nettles raw. They are … Can horses eat nettles? Applying heat or the act of drying will destroy the chemical that causes the "sting" of this plant. I had to clear out a bunch of weeds this last weekend and they are all over in there. I have decided Lady is really strange. It's all over the pasture, some of them are taller than me (I'm 5'4")! Here are 6 evidence-based benefits of stinging nettle. Horses have been reported to lean away from the affected side, repeatedly throw themselves to the ground, … So wouldnt ya know it, got stung. Anthony P. Knight, BVSc,?MS, DACVIMCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado. So to the answer of your question,yes rabbits can eat nettles,i would say to keep the nettles there as it might give the bunny something to nibble on & hide in! JavaScript is disabled. Nettles are not suitable for salads! Went berserk, threw the rider then galloped off. Question:I'm worried that a weed that grows on my property may be horse nettle, and I'd like to know more about what this plant can do and how to identify it. Stinging nettles, also known by the Latin name of Urtica dioica, are a pretty awesome plant and have a variety of uses. Im curious as to where you live that you dont have nettles i thought everywhere had them??? by Nate Bazydlo and Fiona Hollis. Contact your local extension agent to identify the plant and for tips on the best strategies to control it in your area. Horse nettle, like many plants in the nightshade family, contains solanine, a glycoalkaloid that irritates the oral and gastric mucosa and affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls various internal organs. And because they can grow back from even small portions of their rhizomatous roots, they are difficult to control with herbicides or by pulling them up manually. And when I get stung the whole area swells! However,some rabbits prefer not to eat alive nettles,they will only eat the dried ones,same with me,only a few of my buns will eat alive nettles,but adore the dried plant. Any livestock---including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs as well as horses---may be poisoned after eating large quantities of horse nettle. Good day and thank you for asking your question on Just Answer. Beneficial/????? thebestdayever.com feralfoods.org Urtica is derived from Latin verb urere, which means "to burn," and is named such due to its stinging ... Horses can be allergic to nettles and can develop a rash. He walked through big patch, several feet high, had his nose down, and then had a huge reaction. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. And most know by know that nettles are well-loved by poultry, leading to increased weight and egg-production. Yesterday saw a horse almost die from nettle exposure. The sting relies on erect hairs to penetrate the skin and inject the stinging formic acid. Weirdo. Nettles are native to Western North America, Northern Africa, Europe and Asia. Yes, you can feed stinging nettles, but they should be boiled, steamed, or dried to get rid of the "sting." The stinging nettle plant can grow well over 10 feet tall and is commonly found in uncultivated areas of moist soil such as pastures, wasteland, and alongside streams. Veterinary research has also shown that stinging nettle can help in preventing issues like laminitis, founder, arthritis and rheumatism. my silly horse loves to eat nettles, he thinks their delicious. my silly horse loves to eat nettles, he thinks their delicious. The stems contain fibers that can be spun into thread or braided into cordage. My guess was that they where all grazing in the same area and ran into a patch. Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. Then collapsed for 30 min on the trail, then up & galloped off again. The plant propagates from seeds, and it also spreads through an extensive underground root system. They had some irritation for a day or two, but some ointment on those cute noses cleared it right up. Horses don’t usually eat stinging nettle, but if they lie down or roll on the plant, glassy hairs from the plant’s leaves and stems cause a skin reaction characterized by wheals or hives and an intensely painful stinging sensation that may last 24 hours or more.