The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: uksfdawn on September 23, 2015, 08:16:26 am

Title: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: uksfdawn on September 23, 2015, 08:16:26 am

I was wondering as goats like willow bay and another month its going to vanish, can I dry bunches of it for winter use, if so what is the best way to dry it, I have a few large areas of it here :-)
I will apologise now if this is a stupid question  :-\

Title: Re: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: shygirl on September 23, 2015, 08:17:37 am

We dried nettles on wire racks? If that helps.

Title: Re: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: devonlady on September 23, 2015, 08:49:38 am

We also dried huge bunches of nettles for winter feed by tying with baler twine and hanging in a dry, airy shed so you could do the same with your willow herb. If it doesn't work you haven't lost anything by trying.
(The chickens also enjoyed dried nettles in with their mash in the winter)

Title: Re: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on September 23, 2015, 09:29:58 am

Just try to pick it on a dry day so it doesn't go mouldy.

Title: Re: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: cloddopper on September 23, 2015, 10:15:15 pm

My neighbours father 9 83 yrs old ) told me that years ago here in Wales it was common practice for the  the single story homes to be thatched in Rosebay Willow herb over willow framework .
The goats would wreck it in a flash if they managed to break their tether and get up onto it . He got a right thrashing off his grandfather because he hadn't tethered the five goats properly , they put a hole  in the roof in a half hour or so. 

Title: Re: Drying Food For Winter
Post by: Lesley Silvester on September 24, 2015, 12:16:36 am

Sounds like they enjoy it dry as well as fresh then.  :roflanim: