Leaf harvesting

[Adastra1018]

I couldn't find this topic anywhere so I'm posting. I just wondered if its ok to still harvest browse this time of year. I'm collecting maple bark for my crabs today, but are leaves still ok to feed out being the beginning of November? I'd try to find some still green fresh ones, our fall hasnt been the best this year. But does the chlorophyll breakdown have any effect health/nutrition wise? I'll research the science but jas anyone juat gone ahead and done it?

[cap7]

I have used both green, fresh and fall leaves, maple and oak. Both baked in oven to kill any pests of course


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Adastra1018]

Thanks!

[Jedi Sena]

Even rotting fallen leaves have nutritional value for crabs. I would risk the pests and not bake the leaves personally. Nowadays we are moving toward adding natural bacteria to the substrate instead of sterilizing everything. There are kind of two camps. I've done both and there are benefits to both approaches, so you have to decide what works best for you.

[mlakers]

Mine prefer their leaves dry and crunchy, especially the oak leaves. Also, if you have access to any burning bush leaves and berries that have turned bright red for the fall, mine go nuts for them and they are good color boosters, too.

[Adastra1018]

I missed your replies somehow, that's good to know! I just picked some off my moms crimson maple and tore one up and threw it in with a stick. They went nuts! I store the rest in a ziplock in the fridge, but I'll have to try them crunchy at some point.

[PinchersAndShells]

Mine prefer their leaves dry and crunchy, especially the oak leaves. Also, if you have access to any burning bush leaves and berries that have turned bright red for the fall, mine go nuts for them and they are good color boosters, too.

After reading this I remembered that we have a bush in our front yard that turns red, so I asked my mom what kind it was and she said it's burning bush! Excited to test it out and possibly dry some leaves for the winter.

[PinchersAndShells]

How long would you put them (leaves) in the oven for and at what temp?