Please help us we are buying goats and want to know if we put them in woods if there is anything that is poisonous. ie Holly

-- Sherry (lucricausa@highland.net), April 04, 2002

Answers

I have had free roaming goats (in the woods) for 18 yeas. The dont eat the poisonous things. ie,. the ones mentioned in Merc manual.I often walk all 9 of them down the road and across the creek - to see if anything on "the list tempts them.... it doesn't! Mc Clellandtown, PA, Kirby, PA, and Blacksville W V.

-- Elizabeth Quintana (rockshelter@webtv.com), April 04, 2002.

Goats are browsers by nature, and even though they might take a bite of a poisonous plant or leaf, they are smart enough to rarely eat enough to poison themselves!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 04, 2002.

We know some people who keep telling us they've lost some goats because they ate milkweed. I've always found it hard to believe that an animal would eat enough of a poisonous plant to be fatal. But these people will walk around their field and rip out the milkweed that is growing there. I feel this is very unfortunate for all the monarch butterflies. Comments??

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 04, 2002.

I learned the hard way that if they don't have enough to brouse on, they will eat the poisonous stuff. Lost my horse's pet pygmy to bracken fern. She had her stomach pumped and was looking better but died during the night. Funny thing is, I made sure she couldn't get out any more because the neighbor mentioned that she was over by them and they liked goat chops but they let their dogs run free and never even tried to keep them in.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 04, 2002.

http://hometown.aol.com/goatlist/poison.htm

http://hometown.aol.com/goatlist/poi-list.htm

http://www.mshca.org/poisonous_plants.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/2204/poisons.htm

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

We had a couple goats pig out on dry wild cherry leaves one time. They were very sick for days but did eventually recover. They never touched them again. Les

-- Les Vaughn (rocketcaver@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Get a grip, geeze, bad for butterflies! here are some more webistes about poisonous plants.

According to the site below it is moderately toxic. http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/bytox1.htm

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/poison.html

DAG! I get so disguested with folks whinning about this and that, get a life!

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

We let our goats graze in a meadow full of quite a few of those plants on the lists and lots of milkweed, poke and sumac. I can't recall ever seeing them eat the milkweed. We never had any sickness or deaths with ours. I agree that generally a goat knows what to avoid. If it doesn't and dies, then I guess it's best those genes won't be passing on.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002.

Most folks who are new to goats do not understand their unique needs and behaviors. There are so many misconceptions that many newbies get dupped. To state that a goat knows inheriently that a plant is poisonous is errounous. Albeit some goats, and this is across the board with all breeds, seem browse differently. They have their own unique tastes as do humans. And, its also a misconception to state that it is in their genes. Guess that is akin to folks who are overweight knowing that they are eating food that is going to result in their getting a heart attack and dieing.

The comment about genes I find offensive as a long time breeder of goats, and I am not talking just a few years.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Well I didn't mean to offend anyone or start a debate. I'd just venture to say that some genetic survival instincts have been bred away in alot of goats over the past 100 years. I would think so because they are raised in much more controlled environments than they used to be.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.

Sherry if all that is in your woods is holly, than yes diarrhea is going to be an ongoing problem in your herd. We live in the national forest and the goats do get diarrhea when pigging out on green blackberries, only a few do this, and they do this every year. What kills goats is when they get out of the fence and mow down the azeleas, and other plants folks plant in their yards that goats in a normal setting would never come in contact with. I don't believe for a second we have bred anything out of our does. I do know that we make them live in totally foreign enviornments, then complain because we have to trim feet so much, when their isn't a boulder in site for them to pare their own hooves down with. We force them to live, eat, poop and kid in barns for our conveinence which are full of things which will eventually kill their kids, and are so warm we cause pnemonia. They also wouldn't live next to the pitbulls and roving dogs that would kill them. The biggest problems you will have with your goats living in the woods is things like wild onions which impart a wonderful odor to the milk :) Living in the woods is actually much healthier for them than living on pasture, you will not have the parasite problems from them browsing rather than grazing. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.

I agree, the natural survuval instincts have been so altered in not only goats, but other animals and ourselves. Makes you wonder how much longer before we end up totally altering our world and ourselves.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

Bernice, I wasn't "whinning about this and that". I was genuinely interested in getting an answer to something I was confused about. (That's what this forum is for, right?) And I mentioned the butterflies because I thought it was a shame to destroy their food source if it really wasn't the culprit for their goats deaths. You usually have such helpful responses so I'm assumeing I unintentionally hit a nerve. I don't even own goats. Just trying to learn as much as possible before I ever make that decision.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 05, 2002.

Oh, and I have a life that I'm enjouing very much, thank you. :o)

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 05, 2002.

Dang! Somebody asks a question and now we are arguing again over something non-related. Yes, they eat some stuff. No, they probably won't eat enough to kill them unless they are REALLY hungry. Yep, they can. No, I am relatively new to goats, run them in the woods with ferns and such and wild cherry trees and haven't lost any yet... I'm leaving from work in 3 minutes so I won't be able to talk to you guys for two days! Have a wonderful weekend and Sherry? Go ahead and get those goats and enjoy!! leaving now.

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

Bren,

I humbly apologize for my curt remarks. I guess I shocked myself because I am usually pretty pleasant, or I think I am. Anyways, I am sorry. Yes, I did have a nerve hit, but it wasn't just you, its been probably 3 months worth of discussions where some folks have criticized farming, etc.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

Bernice, thank you so much! I REALLY was just wanting an answer to something I'd been wondering about. Wasn't critizing anyone or anything. Sorry if you've had to deal with some unpleasant people lately. Yes, I think you are usually pretty pleasant. That's why I was kind of taken aback by your response. Thanks again!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 05, 2002.

Bren was thinking I was posting your name, Bernice, instead of mine! Say after me.........I am Bernice, and I am the nice one :) You have a great day, don't let them get to you! Bernice, ooops! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 05, 2002.

Looks like a good "no comment" sort of thread?? ;>) hugs Bernice!!!

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

Thank you too Bren, and Vicki......, I had a chuckle for the first time in a few days after i read your post! Thanks Diane. I humbly wear egg on my face. Oh well, better than goat berries

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 05, 2002.

as has been so well explained by previous posters, goats in their natural habitat are like deer..a nibble here and there and not a whole lot of any one thing(untill the deer get to my garden then nature takes a twist)...it has been my experience also that when confined and lacking choices they get into trouble..goats explore their surrundings by tasting things(the reason that the myth of goats eating cans and clothing got started)..have had neighbors lose goats to wild cherry,seems that it is the WILTED leaves that make the hydro- cyanic acid in the stomack..best safest thing is to remove temptation if you know that it can make them sick(I don't pasture under the cherries)..and Ladies EVERYONE has a hot button and a bad day now and then, I must compliment you all tho--you were truely LADIES about it! Love this forum and learning more form it every day!

-- Bee White (bee@hereintown.net), April 06, 2002.