The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kanisha on September 17, 2010, 09:26:55 pm

Title: elderberries?
Post by: kanisha on September 17, 2010, 09:26:55 pm

Hi, at this time of year I like to pick and supply a variety of ripening fruits to my sheep can anyone tell me if there is a problem with elder berries? also heard that some cherry can be a problem?  anyone know?
many thanks

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: Bright Raven on September 18, 2010, 07:05:41 am

Gosh, I had no idea that the sheep diet could vary much from grass, hay and mixed corn. What fruits do yours like to eat and how do you present them?

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: kanisha on September 18, 2010, 10:22:03 am

the sheep love fallen fruit. they will take whatevers around .
apples in abundance ( I don't have problems i feed carefully )
pears hmmm not so fussed
 cherries love em! can be heard crunching the stones with great relish.
same for plums

 blueberries yep
 and they will raid all the brambles for blackberries;
they like and will eat elderberries ( not sure its ok for them)  have yet to try them on the grapes but can't see any reason why not  and their favourite ( now don't laugh.....)

I have very greedy sheep and so to prevent the pushiest getting the most i hand feed them dried apricots watching their faces when they eat one for the first time is hilarious and they look like they just got a fruit pastille with all that chewing. mind they are picky flaccid and squelchy dried apricots are not on they only like the really dried out ones.

 yeah yeah I get the jokes about flavouring them for cooking ;D

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: Bright Raven on September 18, 2010, 08:23:20 pm

This is wonderful, I will be straight out with some dried apricots and my camera first thing tomorrow morning!  :D :D :D
We have lots of windfall apples and plumbs!

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: buddy on September 18, 2010, 09:31:59 pm

we have lots of elderberries in our fields, those that like the foliage and fruit will eat them quite frequently. My lot that I sold after lambing even ate oranges and satsumas, as did my pigs.

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: daddymatty82 on September 18, 2010, 09:53:20 pm

our shetlands will leg it from the bottom of te field for a piece of elder if you have any  that needs trimming use the leaves also they will go barmy for it i can almost make them walk 5 mtrs on there hind legs for it if they here me snapping branches thats it there right next to me panting away  in no time they love it all and grape vine  and ivy in small amounts is very good for them

Title: Re: elderberries?
Post by: kanisha on September 19, 2010, 09:49:21 am

thanks I have an abundance of stuff that I will never eat and it just rots I'm far happier if the sheep get to benefit.

Bright raven we wanna see pics please! ;D