[HelenVF]

....Will it do 2 pygmy goats any harm?


I was brushing my section a's tail tonight and noticed it looked a bit straggly.  i brushed it, no more than a week ago and didn't notice.  My OH thought I had done a rubbish job at trimming it!  anyway, is it a problem for the goats?  i'm assuming they aren't actually eating it?  OH wondered if they were deficient in anything?  They have all been together for over 6 months and it's within the last week they have started, unless I am only noticing now! lol


Thanks for any advice 


Helen

[ScotsGirl]

It's not unusual for cows to chew horse tails so quite likely goats are nibbling. I have no idea if it will tangle inside but might be worth asking vet.

[Ina]

Boredom? I've seen sheep eating their own wool; didn't seem to harm them, either.

[HelenVF]

Well, they have been stuck in for a lot of days in the past week due to it being frosty weather.  Will just have to keep an eye on them.

Thanks for the replies.

Helen

[goatwriter]

Goat will eat horse/pony manes and tails if the equine will stand for it and many enjoy the attention!. It may mean that your goats are short of long fibre so make sure they have ad lib hay or hay straw mix at all times. Long term the hair will cause digestive problems for your goats so needs to be stopped. This may mean keeping your ponies and goats apart. I have had this problem some years ago, interestingly also with a Welsh Section A but the Exmoors I have now won't tolerate the attentions of the goats at any level!