Do you know if your children found them on a certain tree? That might be your best bet! They love that sort of gum trees which are easily around many places. Lots of beautiful fresh branches with plenty of leaves for them, then just replace as you go.

I’d think about the tree or bush you found them on. Whenever we have found them in the garden they have been on our Rose Bushes. I haven’t seen one in a few years but then maybe I am not looking hard enough.

What a great pet! I too thought they ate all kinds of grass and leaves but a quick search online says they eat eucalyptus (gum) and wattle leaves. They also readily consume leaves from plants like roses, lilly-pilly, and guava. Fresh leaves should be provided daily or every few days, and stored in a container of water to keep them fresh

My husband has owned 100s of stick insects. He says they can’t eat all leaves and says the best way to select a plant is the plant it is on. Failing that fresh eucalyptus or privot hedge are the most versatile if you don’t know what type of stick insect you have. Make some cuttings, keep them in a jar of water to keep them fresh and replace every few days.

My daughter’s kinder class had their own pet insect bugs. They’ve always just kept them in with fresh leaves and topped them up as needed, removed one ones. They seemed to do well like this in this kind of enclosure. Hope it helps!

Pretty sure they eat leaved and plants etc not meats or grains

Aren’t they herbivores? I’m sure they eat plants. I’d be googling for some ideas