[Orinlooper]

Would a goat ruin our Walnut trees that are about 15 years old?

[Steph Hen]

Probably. They like bark and will eat leaves, twigs they can reach. Better be safe a than sorry. Fence; but not so sturdy they can stand on it! I had a big weather that could spring up onto and balance on a strainer post.

[macgro7]

They will only eat bark in winter unless you put something like chicken wire around it. They will definitely ear all the leaves and brake branches upto around 2 metres height.
Even 2 month old goat know exactly what to do. They bend the young trees to get to the crown and eat every single leaf!
If your trees are taller than 2-3 metres and thick enough that when a goat stands against it and it doesnt snap or bend you should be fine. My goats snapped some of my young fruit trees - almond, apples, pear, they wear really trying hard to get to the sweet chestnut but I protected it with a barrier made of 4 pallets ?
If the tree is tall enough that should be fine, but beware If you have young trees that are not taller than a goat standing on two legs (2 metres!) They will still finish all the leaves that they can reach. Very very naughty.

[Anke]

Isn't walnut one of the few trees that you shouldn't have in your goats' field? As in the leaves and bark a poisonous to ruminants?

[macgro7]

Isn't walnut one of the few trees that you shouldn't have in your goats' field? As in the leaves and bark a poisonous to ruminants?

It's very high in tannins- just like oak. Goats sheep and even cows will still eat it if they can though.

[Orinlooper]

My walnut trees are surrounded by blackberries now this will surely be some protection from goats

My main question is if goats do debark the tress will it kill the trees?

[Anke]

My walnut trees are surrounded by blackberries now this will surely be some protection from goats

I wouldn't count on it....

My main question is if goats do debark the tress will it kill the trees?

If they go all the way round - yes it will kill the trees. Even if not al the way round, it will slow them down and make them prone to disease. I would put at least some chicken wire round them.