Will goats avoid poisonous plants?

[taylorm17]

I agree with eleven. Goats normally don't know what is bad for them. My goats LOVE all the ornamental plants on our porch and we really have to watch them when we have them near the porch. I also have Nigerians too and love them!!!!!! Actually I just made a post today, my youngest goat just ate a rubber band bracelet?!?!?!?! I always recommend this website. Fiasco Farms!!!! google them. They have great information and have some recipes for antidotes to some major poisonous plants! I have found all of their information reliable and completely true!!! I hope this helps. And also do get someone who knows a lot of plant species to search your area. My mom has a major in horticulture so we didn't have to get someone. Also there pasture is mostly basic grass plants. Also fiasco farm has a list of edible and non edible things for all goats!

 

[Scooby308]

Unfortunately goats do not avoid things that are bad for them.

I would suggest contacting your county extension agent and have them do a walk through of your property and help you identify the plants that you have growing there.

As to poisonous plant lists I like the Cornell University list. There's a link to it in this article on plant poisoning.

Reading the Cornell report it says clover can be an issue. Is that the case?

 

[elevan]

Generally it's wilted clover in large quantities that can be an issue. In general clover is fine.

 

[Scooby308]

Generally it's wilted clover in large quantities that can be an issue. In general clover is fine.

So a hay mix of alfalfa, Timothy, and red clover would be fine?

 

[elevan]

So a hay mix of alfalfa, Timothy, and red clover would be fine?

Yes, because the clover has already be cured or dried.

 

[Scooby308]

K

Yes, because the clover has already be cured or dried.

K. That's what I thought but just had me wondering. Thx

 

[cindyg]

Last year two of my does got out and ate azalea from the garden. They were so sick I thought they were going to die. Have you ever seen a goat vomit? It is not nice. Took a few weeks for them to get back to normal. Azalea is gone now. So, they don't always know what is not good for them. As for chokecherry, they can eat it with no problem if fresh, as in off the tree, but wilted it is poisonous.

 

[GrimshelsGrazingGoats]

Yes, because the clover has already be cured or dried.

What about pine straw. I have several pine trees near my fences.

 

[elevan]

What about pine straw. I have several pine trees near my fences.

Pine straw is edible. It can also be used as bedding.

 

[goatboy1973]

Experienced goats who get pasture, woodland, and overgrown areas as their primary source of foodstuffs pretty much know what's good and bad. It is the goats that go from show animals that have a majority of their diet from a feed sack to browse as a majority of their diet that know not what is poison. Typically the alkaloid and acidic plants that are poison are bitter tasting and goats will nibble on it and because of the bad taste will not eat a significant amount or not eat it again. I have seen some of our momma goats who are raised on forage take their month old kids with them grazing and the babies will eat from the same plant or eat from the same 3 ft. patch of pasture and learn from mimicking momma and what she eats and where she eats. So YES, some goats know what is poison and what's good to eat. We bought some goats from Eldorado, TX and turned them loose on a piece of overgrown woodland/ pasture on our farm in TN and had not one of those goats have any problem with poisonous plants.