Weed ID

Learn what to feed your birds.
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Jon
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Weed ID

Post by Jon » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:45 am

I've been trying to locate some edible weeds around here for the birds, but not much luck. Us Floridians don't have any chickweed, or much dandelion.

Any ideas what these are? I was hoping they're both some kind of thistle but....

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paul-inAZ
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Re: Weed ID

Post by paul-inAZ » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:18 pm

The top one looks like the kind of dandelion we get here in arizona.

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DanteD716
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Re: Weed ID

Post by DanteD716 » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:51 pm

The top one is deffinatly dandelion
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jonvill
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Re: Weed ID

Post by jonvill » Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:27 pm

I would guess chicory and then sow thistle.

Chicory plant before growing:
www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/chicory.html
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Carartist127
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Re: Weed ID

Post by Carartist127 » Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:42 pm

Yes we have those...we call them thistle dandelion or needles...if you step on them in the summer ouch

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carlamay
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Re: Weed ID

Post by carlamay » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:48 pm

I have recently discovered that my finches go crazy for Italian Parsley ($.48 bunch) and cilantro ($.68 bunch). I use the stams in egg good and the tops for a treat which lasts only a minute. Seems much easier that processing stickery weeds.
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Jon
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Re: Weed ID

Post by Jon » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:47 pm

carlamay wrote: I have recently discovered that my finches go crazy for Italian Parsley ($.48 bunch) and cilantro ($.68 bunch). I use the stams in egg good and the tops for a treat which lasts only a minute. Seems much easier that processing stickery weeds.
Will that cover their need for greens?

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30 Seconds to Bob
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Re: Weed ID

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:43 am

I get a few dandelions in my lawn every now and then, mainly in the spring and summer. I always give them to my birds, as I never use pesticides in my yard. In pots I grow kale, collard greens, oregano and stevia - all of which my canaries and javas eagerly gobble down. Another weed I had to look up to identify is called asiatic hawksbeard and is the most prevalent weed in my yard. It is supposed to be highly edible for humans but I haven't found any info on it's edibility for birds. This is what it looks like as I've posted this before. Bob

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Re: Weed ID

Post by bugaboo5 » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:11 am

Jon

The first plant does not appear like dandelion to me. You should always practice caution when feeding weeds, especially when you are not 100% sure of the plant's ID. Your plant appears to have prickly-thorny leaves. Can you confirm this? Dandelions most certainly do not have thorny leaves. In my opinion, it looks like Sonchus asper, aka Spiny Sowthistle.

The second plant looks like Sonchus oleraceae, aka Common Sowthistle.

For those who guessed dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, note that dandelion is a completely different genus.

Always be cautious when feeding plants you don't know and make sure you are collecting from areas where there are no pesticides/chemicals used, as 30 Seconds to Bob has already mentioned. Good luck! :)
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carlamay
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Re: Weed ID

Post by carlamay » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:07 pm

Jon Can't imagine that it wouldn't. I put frozen brocolli and peas in their eggfood as well.
10 Owl Finches, 15 Pied Societies, 8 Color Bred Canaries and a blind Gouldian, Veronica
2 schnauzers, Herb & Stella[/color][/size][/font]
1 Sheltie mix, Mickey

not much time for a life!

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jonvill
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Re: Weed ID

Post by jonvill » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:59 pm

I also discovered that the "dandelion" sold in most stores is actually chickory (cichorium intybus) not true dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
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