The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Carl f k on June 01, 2013, 08:41:55 pm

Title: Sycamore tree
Post by: Carl f k on June 01, 2013, 08:41:55 pm

Anyone know if I can feed it to the goats? I have 1 that needs a good trim :tree:

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: sokel on June 01, 2013, 09:34:58 pm

I was always told not to let them have too much because of the high sugar content of sycamore and the possibility of bloat  :-\
If ours get out into the big field they go mad for it and touch wood never had any ill effect from it

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: ballingall on June 01, 2013, 10:18:22 pm

I do feed sycamore to the goats, but I try to not to feed it after July. The leaves go spotted and very fibrous, and just don't look very nice. But I've fed it many times, and it's always been fine.


Beth

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 01, 2013, 10:19:41 pm

Same here. Mine love it.

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: jaykay on June 01, 2013, 10:40:11 pm

Yes, but not too much at a time, it's sugary and can cause bloat if they eat too much at once.

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: jinglejoys on June 02, 2013, 10:01:23 am

mine help themselves

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: countrywoman on June 02, 2013, 12:41:04 pm

I give mine some when I can.  If I had a tree to trim I'd do it gradually so they had some fresh to eat and strip the bark from every day or so.

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: mojocafa on September 19, 2018, 01:39:44 pm

Hi folks, I have a branch that has fallen off in today's winds, however on inspection there are lots of black dots which I have googled...

...Tar spot is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum. It is seen most commonly on sycamore, but can also affect a number of other acer species. The spots are unsightly, and the disease can cause slightly premature leaf fall. It has no long-term effect on the vigour of affected trees, however.

Can I still give to goats or not?

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: bj_cardiff on September 19, 2018, 03:10:49 pm

This time of year my goats eat whenever the wind blows down from the tree, spotted leaf or not!

Title: Re: Sycamore tree
Post by: Dogwalker on September 20, 2018, 06:32:02 am

Mine like sycamore, not as much as hazel and willow.

I noticed a drop in milk for a few days when the dairy goats had lots so ration it but no other problems.