The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: fiestyredhead331 on October 22, 2015, 02:30:21 am

Title: windfall apples
Post by: fiestyredhead331 on October 22, 2015, 02:30:21 am

my neighbour has given me unlimited access to her numerous crab apple trees  :thumbsup:
great news for me, but I thought about picking up the windfall (plenty of those in these gales!) for the goats but I'm worried about acidiosis? They get normal apple peelings quite often without any problems.
Is it ok to mix in a handful of the crab apples here and there into their feed, not huge amounts, or avoid altogether?  ???

Title: Re: windfall apples
Post by: Anke on October 22, 2015, 06:13:44 am

Small quantities are fine, but I would chop them up. Small round bits are prime candidates for choking on... only danger is that they find them themselves and gorge on them.

Other than that...crab apple jelly is always a favourite (with the human though).

Title: Re: windfall apples
Post by: devonlady on October 22, 2015, 09:33:41 am

Crab apple and mint jelly is lovely too with lamb (or goat!)

Title: Re: windfall apples
Post by: fiestyredhead331 on October 22, 2015, 09:53:07 am

Thanks devonlady
The apples are all in the house and I've been cutting them up and mixing them in with other things
Thankfully they can't get into my neighbours garden

Title: Re: windfall apples
Post by: Lesley Silvester on October 22, 2015, 10:23:50 pm

Beducked's goats like them for a treat.

Title: Re: windfall apples
Post by: Beeducked on October 23, 2015, 08:08:54 pm

As Lesley says mine adore them as a treat. They get them a few at a time and will mug people for them. One did escape and gorge herself and had horrible scours for 2 days but is still not deterred and will fight the others for them still. Then again they go nuts for one trees fruit which dos smell really "appley". the others are nice but nothing to fight over!