Weeds waking up

[Megatron's Mom]

With all the weeds and grass waking up. How much food should I still be bring out to Optimus?
For instance the 1 gallon freezer bag full of radicchio, endive and store bought dandelion leaves, time to time cilantro and spring mix all combined. It does vary what is in the bag. I bring it out about 3 times a day. OP will roam the yard munching away at all sorts of things. I can tell when OP is eating more of the weeds as she will eat less from the food I bring out. Should I just follow her cue or cut it back to make her eat more of the grass and weeds?

I will still bring out the Mazuri and orchard grass mix.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

With all the weeds and grass waking up. How much food should I still be bring out to Optimus?
For instance the 1 gallon freezer bag full of radicchio, endive and store bought dandelion leaves, time to time cilantro and spring mix all combined. It does vary what is in the bag. I bring it out about 3 times a day. OP will roam the yard munching away at all sorts of things. I can tell when OP is eating more of the weeds as she will eat less from the food I bring out. Should I just follow her cue or cut it back to make her eat more of the grass and weeds?

I will still bring out the Mazuri and orchard grass mix.

She's not eating hay yet? My dummy will venture out and eat all the loose hay in the yard before even touching the weeds. lol

 

[Tom]

With all the weeds and grass waking up. How much food should I still be bring out to Optimus?
For instance the 1 gallon freezer bag full of radicchio, endive and store bought dandelion leaves, time to time cilantro and spring mix all combined. It does vary what is in the bag. I bring it out about 3 times a day. OP will roam the yard munching away at all sorts of things. I can tell when OP is eating more of the weeds as she will eat less from the food I bring out. Should I just follow her cue or cut it back to make her eat more of the grass and weeds?

I will still bring out the Mazuri and orchard grass mix.

It would be best to not feed grocery store food at all. It depends on how large the area is, how much the tortoise eats, and how fast it re-grows. I only "feed" them during weed season when I'm trying to prolong the weeds and give them time to catch up and re-grow.

If the pen is large enough and your weeds and grass grows fast enough, I'd stop the store bought stuff entirely. This is an annual cycle that I go through here every year.

Spring time sees the death and drying out of all the weeds, but the mulberry leaves, grape vine leaves, and opuntia pads all kick into high gear, and my untreated lawn grass takes off too.

All the weeds are fully dead and gone by summertime, but loads of opuntia, mulberry and grape leaves, and whatever other stuff I can scrounge up.

Fall is the most difficult. The winter rains have not come yet and brought back the weeds, the opuntia goes dormant, and the mulberry trees and grape vines drop all their leaves. At this time of year, I rely heavily on Mazuri and heavily amended grocery store greens.

Winter sees the return of the rains, and also a reduction in appetite due to the cooler weather and shorter days, and our weeds and wild grasses sprout up. When the weeds get going, I don't have to "feed" my tortoises much for 3-4 months each year.

 

[RosemaryDW]

We are on all weeds, community garden escapees, and yard plants right now. For us, spring is the best time to introduce new foods because it's when she's the hungriest and most active.

When we were new owners we did bring in some grocery store foods for a few months. She was a little underweight and whoever she'd escaped from had clearly been feeding her only lettuce; it took a while for her to adjust. If you feel like you need to keep this up, I'd suggest you add some brassicas to what you are feeding: mustard, arugula, turnip greens, radish greens, a bit of broccoli, etc. And probably a green bean or two for protein now and again. Chicories are great but it's not all they need.

 

[Dupré]

So I’m new to this feeding style… I scoured my yard taking photos of all the weeds, only about 4 out of 10 are safe… and of course my greek is obsessed with all of the ones marked to feed sparingly, so I’ve been feeding her first then letting her roam.

 

[RosemaryDW]

So I’m new to this feeding style… I scoured my yard taking photos of all the weeds, only about 4 out of 10 are safe… and of course my greek is obsessed with all of the ones marked to feed sparingly, so I’ve been feeding her first then letting her roam.

If you are reading the Tortoise Table I will point out the science they use is dubious. There isn't much data on native tortoise diets so they may rely on warnings for cows and horses, which have very different digestive systems. For my Russian, the wild diet would largely consist of foods that are "DANGEROUS" do not feeds: buttercups and poppies. The rest are also DANGEROUS or limited foods: daisies and brassicas. In my experience it's better to search on a plant name here and see what long-term owners and breeders say about it. I spend a fair amount of time in the diet section and the only thoughtfully documented food mishaps I've seen here were African tortoises eating bulb plants. Even those reports are extremely rare.

It's normal to be cautious as a new owner, I'm just pointing out that database isn't the only tool available to you. Even if it were the best resource, it's largely focused on foods that grow in the UK; there are many foods in California and elsewhere for which it doesn't have data. My tortoise had exactly one plant out of six or seven today that was a "green" food: common mallow. Two were DANGEROUS per the Table, the others were "limited" or simply not present in the database.

 

[Dupré]

If you are reading the Tortoise Table I will point out the science they use is dubious. There isn't much data on native tortoise diets so they may rely on warnings for cows and horses, which have very different digestive systems. For my Russian, the wild diet would largely consist of foods that are "DANGEROUS" do not feeds: buttercups and poppies. The rest are also DANGEROUS or limited foods: daisies and brassicas. In my experience it's better to search on a plant name here and see what long-term owners and breeders say about it. I spend a fair amount of time in the diet section and the only thoughtfully documented food mishaps I've seen here were African tortoises eating bulb plants. Even those reports are extremely rare.

It's normal to be cautious as a new owner, I'm just pointing out that database isn't the only tool available to you. Even if it were the best resource, it's largely focused on foods that grow in the UK; there are many foods in California and elsewhere for which it doesn't have data. My tortoise had exactly one plant out of six or seven today that was a "green" food: common mallow. Two were DANGEROUS per the Table, the others were "limited" or simply not present in the database.

Thanks, this is helpful… I grew up with a box turtle that lived in the backyard, had a free roaming leopard for awhile and fostered a free roaming sulcata - the last two in los angeles, and I just did what I was told without much research. They are what was available In sure, but I also provided food daily. That said it’s been awhile, and a lot more info is available. The new greek is a bit of a critical case so I’ve been a bit over protective of her… I’ve really just been using google (plant name and greek tortoise) and sometimes it directs me here, to tortoise table, or some other source….. I’ve only been avoiding AI. But that’s good to know about tortoise table and I’m appreciative. I’ll use the search feature here going forward!

 

[RosemaryDW]

The new greek is a bit of a critical case so I’ve been a bit over protective of her…

Poor baby! It's good she's got someone looking out for her in that case.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

It would be best to not feed grocery store food at all. It depends on how large the area is, how much the tortoise eats, and how fast it re-grows. I only "feed" them during weed season when I'm trying to prolong the weeds and give them time to catch up and re-grow.

If the pen is large enough and your weeds and grass grows fast enough, I'd stop the store bought stuff entirely. This is an annual cycle that I go through here every year.

Spring time sees the death and drying out of all the weeds, but the mulberry leaves, grape vine leaves, and opuntia pads all kick into high gear, and my untreated lawn grass takes off too.

All the weeds are fully dead and gone by summertime, but loads of opuntia, mulberry and grape leaves, and whatever other stuff I can scrounge up.

Fall is the most difficult. The winter rains have not come yet and brought back the weeds, the opuntia goes dormant, and the mulberry trees and grape vines drop all their leaves. At this time of year, I rely heavily on Mazuri and heavily amended grocery store greens.

Winter sees the return of the rains, and also a reduction in appetite due to the cooler weather and shorter days, and our weeds and wild grasses sprout up. When the weeds get going, I don't have to "feed" my tortoises much for 3-4 months each year.

Thanks Tom, the yard is 50x50 and the grass and weeds are growing like crazy. I pretty much have weeds all year, the clover dies out in the summer heat and pops back up in fall and lasts all winter. Grass and weeds stayed alive through our snow, only some of the grass (I'm guessing the real grass) died in the fall. I just planted 6 new grapevines 2 bareroot rosebushes too. I'll start planting more in the next couple of weeks too of all sorts of things to grown in the cinderblocks I placed next to the house for protection.

Should I stop cold turkey the grocery greens? I know she definitely will come out to eat. We're in the high 70's and tomorrow low 80's

 

[Megatron's Mom]

We are on all weeds, community garden escapees, and yard plants right now. For us, spring is the best time to introduce new foods because it's when she's the hungriest and most active.

When we were new owners we did bring in some grocery store foods for a few months. She was a little underweight and whoever she'd escaped from had clearly been feeding her only lettuce; it took a while for her to adjust. If you feel like you need to keep this up, I'd suggest you add some brassicas to what you are feeding: mustard, arugula, turnip greens, radish greens, a bit of broccoli, etc. And probably a green bean or two for protein now and again. Chicories are great but it's not all they need.

She gets more than what I posted it was just an example. I was pretty much more worried about not coming out when it got cold, but now that it won't get cold like that again I can relax. I'll be planting more in her yard too.

 

[Tom]

Should I stop cold turkey the grocery greens?

It's a judgment call. If you have lots of grasses and good weeds and the tortoise are eating tons of it, then there really isn't any need for the grocery store greens. If they eat some of the weeds, but aren't too sure about it, or maybe the weeds haven't fully come in yet, then there is no harm in tapering off gradually.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

It's a judgment call. If you have lots of grasses and good weeds and the tortoise are eating tons of it, then there really isn't any need for the grocery store greens. If they eat some of the weeds, but aren't too sure about it, or maybe the weeds haven't fully come in yet, then there is no harm in tapering off gradually.

Thanks, I'll see how she does with less from the grocery store.

 

[Renee_H]

With all the weeds and grass waking up. How much food should I still be bring out to Optimus?
For instance the 1 gallon freezer bag full of radicchio, endive and store bought dandelion leaves, time to time cilantro and spring mix all combined. It does vary what is in the bag. I bring it out about 3 times a day. OP will roam the yard munching away at all sorts of things. I can tell when OP is eating more of the weeds as she will eat less from the food I bring out. Should I just follow her cue or cut it back to make her eat more of the grass and weeds?

I will still bring out the Mazuri and orchard grass mix.

Where do you buy radicchio. I swear I always look for it and never find it unless it’s in a bagged salad.

My tortoise grazes plenty but still eats whatever I plate her. So idk how well I’m gonna achieve my goal of her finding all her own food. Lol I feel compelled to feed her anyway.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Where do you buy radicchio. I swear I always look for it and never find it unless it’s in a bagged salad.

My tortoise grazes plenty but still eats whatever I plate her. So idk how well I’m gonna achieve my goal of her finding all her own food. Lol I feel compelled to feed her anyway.

I have had the same experience with raddichio. It really is a shame.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

Where do you buy radicchio. I swear I always look for it and never find it unless it’s in a bagged salad.

My tortoise grazes plenty but still eats whatever I plate her. So idk how well I’m gonna achieve my goal of her finding all her own food. Lol I feel compelled to feed her anyway.

Whole Foods and Fresh Market carry it almost always. It's also the only place I can find the dandelion leaves and endive.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Where do you buy radicchio. I swear I always look for it and never find it unless it’s in a bagged salad.

My tortoise grazes plenty but still eats whatever I plate her. So idk how well I’m gonna achieve my goal of her finding all her own food. Lol I feel compelled to feed her anyway.

Have you tried looking at the far, far side of the lettuces? Usually on a top shelf and sometimes next to an organic section. Follow the price signs, when you find the most expensive ones, you're in the right place!

Unless you're shopping only at Stater Bros or Food for Less you should be finding several of the bitter lettuces in Glendora: dandelions, frisée, endive, escarole are fine and several are online at my local Sprouts. It doesn't have to be radicchio. Or go to a Mexican grocery or your closest H Mart. H Mart in particular can be a treasure trove of nutritious foods many of us consider weeds. Here are two threads I wrote about my H Mart: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/a-trip-to-a-korean-market-picture-heavy.159825/, https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-tortoise-chef.153728/page-4#post-1518453.

With all the farmers and ethnic markets here in Southern California we don't have to struggle! If you peruse this thread you'll see plenty of California and other owners post about what they find around them. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-tortoise-chef.153728/. I love feeding weeds but this is a dry area with little vegetation, they just aren't an option much of the year. My tortoise still eats extremely well!

 

[Renee_H]

Have you tried looking at the far, far side of the lettuces? Usually on a top shelf and sometimes next to an organic section. Follow the price signs, when you find the most expensive ones, you're in the right place!

Unless you're shopping only at Stater Bros or Food for Less you should be finding several of the bitter lettuces in Glendora: dandelions, frisée, endive, escarole are fine and several are online at my local Sprouts. It doesn't have to be radicchio. Or go to a Mexican grocery or your closest H Mart. H Mart in particular can be a treasure trove of nutritious foods many of us consider weeds. Here are two threads I wrote about my H Mart: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/a-trip-to-a-korean-market-picture-heavy.159825/, https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-tortoise-chef.153728/page-4#post-1518453.

With all the farmers and ethnic markets here in Southern California we don't have to struggle! If you peruse this thread you'll see plenty of California and other owners post about what they find around them. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-tortoise-chef.153728/. I love feeding weeds but this is a dry area with little vegetation, they just aren't an option much of the year. My tortoise still eats extremely well!

We shop at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts. Ironically I have to make an extra trip to Stater Bros for Escarole and Endive and Superior for Catcus pads. But it’s not often. She mostly eats leaves and grass flowers weeds and half a ton of cactus pads a week. This winter she’s only been eating like 4-5 days a week. Her fav is grass and cactus pads. Our grass and weeds never die and stay green year round.

 

[Megatron's Mom]

I bought out some food today for OP. She walked right past it to go eat the weeds. I guess I might just bring out a lot just to make sure but I think it's safe to say she prefers the yard food.