The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: harry on December 15, 2015, 05:07:50 pm

Title: what goat
Post by: harry on December 15, 2015, 05:07:50 pm
I have a patch of land 1 acre would like to keep goats again but I have lots of laural bushes and 15ft tall bamboo bushes that I don't want destroyed ie bark eaten want meat goats only, with secure site electric fences and 8 ft high fencing, whats a good breed to try,
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on December 15, 2015, 05:16:12 pm
Laurel is poisonous so you really shouldn't keep goats on that bit of land.
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Buttermilk on December 15, 2015, 05:17:56 pm
For meat get Boer goats.
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Melmarsh on December 15, 2015, 06:34:31 pm
Sorry, but as said before, laurel is a no no !!! If eaten will make them very unwell whatever the breed , or worse kill them so they must not be able to reach it  :rant: if it is widely spread then you would have to remove it, if in an area only perhaps you can fence it off !?? Sorry OK
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: verdifish on December 15, 2015, 07:01:29 pm
Boer Goats / or Boer x dairy . laurel  =  Dead everything that eats it, goats will eat it . I just wouldn't risk it as goats will get at it regardless of having one of the SAS sqns on permanent goat / laurel guard 24/7.  .
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: harry on December 15, 2015, 07:46:30 pm
thought so ie laurel = poison ok maybe geese then
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Steph Hen on December 15, 2015, 08:05:00 pm
My geese were great at keeping the lawn trimmed neatly, but didn't like the long grass out the front, don't know what your acre is like or if mine were just fussy and didn't eat the long grass much because they had a choice.
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Anke on December 15, 2015, 09:40:31 pm
My geese were great at keeping the lawn trimmed neatly, but didn't like the long grass out the front, don't know what your acre is like or if mine were just fussy and didn't eat the long grass much because they had a choice.

RE geese.: We had to run the lawnmower over the goose patches before we let them on for the first time, from then on they do keep it short and neat though... also I spotted a fox near our patch a couple of days ago in broad daylight, but they are behind electric poultry netting, still very worried though

Re goats.: just a simple NO with laurel present.

Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Lesley Silvester on December 15, 2015, 10:07:15 pm
One of mine took just one bite of a laurel leave and was in agony, screaming and throwing herself across the shed. The vet seemed to take forever to come out and gave her several injections but warned me that it was touch and go. I dug the laurel up that day.


I echo what others have said. Laurel = no goats.
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: devonlady on December 17, 2015, 10:35:34 am
I'm sure Laurel has a purpose in life but is one of the ugliest plants I have ever met!!
Title: Re: what goat
Post by: Penninehillbilly on December 17, 2015, 11:07:33 am
I'm sure Laurel has a purpose in life but is one of the ugliest plants I have ever met!!
Good windbreak for our polytunnel in a exposed area, i do worry about the goats getting down there though.
(That was there years before the goats came)