My backyard is open into my neighbors backyard and I’m fencing in my backyard for my goats. So on there side of my fence id like to plant some plants that will camouflage the fence a bit. I am putting up a 4 foot high fence with 2x4 inch openings. So the goats wont be able to put there heads through to eat the plants but would probably eat whatever grew through onto there side.
Any suggestions on a good non poisonous bush/plant that would work well. Thanks
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I wanted to update this discussion about poisonous plants. I did post on this thread when I first got my goats and asked about mountain laurel on my property. This last spring two of my goats "nibbled" on some leaves of this tree and there were teeth marks in the bark. Both does nearly died from poisoning. If you have mountain laurel or rhododendron, they MUST be removed as only a tiny amount can kill your goats. I found a few half eaten leaves on the ground under the tree after my girls got sick. Believe me, it's not worth the risk keeping these very poisonous trees.
Do remember, folks, that when you plant to allow for growth inside a "cage" so the plant can be healthy. It has to have leaves to make food so it can grow. The goats will eat them to the ground if there is not some protection and they are very good at getting their noses through any type of fencing.
Doles Orchard in Limington is selling blueberry & raspberry plants but you need to order NOW. They will be ready to pick up May 4th, with instructions for planting. Go to their FB page or website FMI. I would also plant the Rosa Rugosa (beach roses).
Rose hip is really good for everyone, not just goats. :)
Ive already put my husband on finding me some good sized blueberry bushes we can "borrow".
As I have said earlier, they do not normally eat anything poisonous as long as they have plenty to eat. I would not worry about any of it personally but that is of course your call.
If you wanted to take off some limbs it could help, but not necessarily. Remember that they love bark and depending on which plant/tree it is that is poisonous you are dealing with, the bark could be the problem, or part of the problem. The greenery is not always the only problem. So it may or may not even help to remove the limbs.
If there are truly lots of the other things available then the trees being there are not LIKELY to get eaten. What I would worry more about is keeping an eye on what happens with all the other growth that they are eating over a period of time. What you may even end up needing to do is to fence through the center of that half acre so that you can swap them out between the 2 areas occasionally to keep them from over browsing the area and give the good browse growth opportunity in between uses. That usually is a good option to prevent them from completely destroying their food source.
Let me give you a little more detail about my deadly azaleas! My father planted them here, approximately 37 years ago! They grow wild now, meaning we don't cut them back, (I like the way they block the view and think they are prettier not shaped!) and have done so for a good 6 years or so! They are probably a good 7'-8' tall and spread out about 8'-10'. And there are about 10-12 of them! They take up A LOT of space!
I cut my goats loose where they could browse around over maybe 4-5 acres that belong to us and several other folks where no one lives and they are free to indulge with the owners best wishes. However they mostly stay o my property and are totally exposed to the azaleas. They ignore them completely.
The only time they have ever messed with them was the one time that we put up the new pen and put them in it very late at night and there was no browse in there but the azaleas were right up to the back of the fence so they pigged out through the fence.
We have also talked on hear before about the fact that occasionally they seem to be able to take nibbles of certain things that are suppose to be poisonous with out ill effects. A few of us are inclined to believe that there are times when they can eat limited amounts of so called poisonous things without incidents. I personally consider this to be sort of like dogs eating grass. I think that perhaps there may be some medicinal effects that they receive from doing this.
I have had 2 goats in the past who actually ate azaleas with no problems,but they only nibbled occasionally. One goat, Missy Goat, always use to nibble on one same little bush that was in my dads garden with garlic planted all around it! I always thought that was very weird and wondered did the garlic smell etc. have something to do with it. The other little goat we actually named Azalea because for some reason she was always nibbling on another particular little azalea. Weird, but they never seemed to have a problem with them. I really think they used them for medicine, somehow!
I am in a similar situation and have been wanting to open this discussion. I have fenced my 1/2 acre in for the goats and it's all wooded with lots of brambles, poison ivy, and blackberries and small pine trees I know they'll love. Trouble is, there are 2 very mature trees that I'm concerned about. One is a very tall holly tree and the other is a tall and mature mountain laurel. Both are poisonous to goats but I'm wondering if I cut all the lower branches on them where they can't reach the greenery, if I would not have to cut them down (which would break my heart). Since there is a LOT to eat otherwise, and i will keep hay available all the time as well, do you think the holly and the mountain laurel could be left and not cut down (provided all the lower greenery is removed)? Somebody, please help me decide what to do!
Yes. let's not forget that the raspberries are extra good for goats!
And you might even won't to think about some roses! Rose hips, you know! Might save you money if you need them as a supplement for the goats!
Heck girlfriend, get yourself busy! You have a garden to plant! Just go ahead and plant you a nice variety of things that the family and the herd can enjoy eating and that will be eye appealing to you and the neighbor!
We have apple trees in the area where my goats spend their days. We've had to put fencing around the trunks so that they don't destroy them. They will stand on their hind legs hoping to reach any available branch. They loved the branches when we pruned last year! And, they always get yummy apple treats in the fall. We also have strawberries, blueberries raspberries and grapes. These are also "caged" so that the goats cannot get to them. They would eat the blueberry bushes to the ground if allowed. Grape vines are a real treat too. They eat all vines they can reach that escape the "cage"! Good luck.
Send me some when you have extras!! lol
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