[ScotsGirl]

Are there any fruits or veg that shouldn't be fed to goats? Might be a daft question but do you peel oranges and bananas or give with skin?


Also is bread completely safe to feed goats? I understand it can cause trouble with sheep.

[Ina]

I would only feed skins of organic fruit (mine used to get the skins of organic bananas, while I ate the fruit  ). Bread - well, I'm not keen on eating what's commonly sold as "bread" myself - with my own I knew what was in it, and I wouldn't hesitate giving them small quantities of that - never anything much left of good bread to feed to animals...

[plumseverywhere]

I don't give mine citrus fruit - I'm sure I've based it on something I've read, will try and find it
They eat banana skins, occasional toasted crusts, very well chopped root veg, well chopped apple cores, the odd plum 

[Ina]

very well chopped root veg

Mine got neeps whole - keeps them occupied for longer! And they are so big there's no chance them trying to swallow an entire one... I used to buy the biggest ones that nobody wanted for home consumption.

[plumseverywhere]

Got to ask..what are neeps?

[mojocafa]

Turnips

[sokel]

mine get oranges cut up a couple of times a week and they love them including the skins, bananas they get every day again skins included we buy them 6 boxes at a time from  the wholesalers
we don't feed avocados just because they are toxic to some animals so don't want to risk it
we also hang whole cabbages from the roof on baking twine and they keep them occupied for hours

[HelenVF]

Mine is very fussy and will only eat his goat food, hay and fast fibre!  I have tried all kinds of things, although not banana so might see if he likes that!

Helen

[plumseverywhere]

Thanks mojocafa!  Have heard of neeps and tatties (is it?) and always wondered!

[Ina]

Sorry - swedes. Turnips are something different again (in Scotland, anyway). Although swedes are also turnips, of course...

Language, hey?!

[Ina]

Thanks mojocafa!  Have heard of neeps and tatties (is it?) and always wondered!

Traditionally served at this time of the year (Burns Day!) with haggis, of course!

[plumseverywhere]

Sounds really nice! i quite liked haggis when I tried it 

sorry - have just taken this totally off topic!

[sokel]

the Scottish quarter of me seems to think neeps are swede rather than turnip, turnips are bigger and darker skinned and the flesh is more orange on turnips
 lol my goats won't eat either of them

[Anke]

Re fruit for goats: I have found that it toook quite a while for the goats that came to me as adults to eat fruit, and I have still one that doesn't eat apple...
 
Mine get bananas, apples, pears, horse carrots (cut into sticks), all sorts of cabbagey things (but only little for milkers, as it goes into the milk), never tried them on neeps. I have also never tried them on citrus fruit and have found they don't like tomatoes, but will eat sweet peppers, marrows and pumpkins slices.
 
Mine only get bread (we only have homemade) toasted if they are not too well, with a little honey on it to perk them up.
 
Even after 20odd years in Scotland I don't know which ones are neeps... but it's either turnips or Swedes and both are good cattle/sheep/goat/human fodder in winter...

[Ina]

the Scottish quarter of me seems to think neeps are swede rather than turnip, turnips are bigger and darker skinned and the flesh is more orange on turnips

Ergh - the turnips you buy here are smaller, mostly white (purple tops, for example), or golden balls... But the big ones are turnips, too - feed turnips probably!

My goats loved swede (to give them their "proper" name...) Used to buy them at roadside stalls, direct from farmers, for 50p each - some of them huge.