Author Topic: nettles? (Read 6404 times)

langdon · « **on:** June 17, 2010, 10:23:59 pm »

just seen milly munching away on nettles today, i have to say i was quite surprised!
should i be?
the two girls have plenty of hay and i mean plenty(i dont just chuck all bales in!)
does anyone elses goats eat nettles?
will be interested to read replys.
langdon

jameslindsay · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:25:09 pm »

I think most goats love nettels Langdon. Some people cut and dry them and feed to their goat over the winter as a treat.

langdon · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:31:16 pm »

thanks james for quick reply!

i did read on ere bout people drying them and understand that, but FRESH boy i thought that
would be a mouthsore!!!!!!!!
just hope it doesnt put taint on milk! when time comes to milking!
talking bout getting cae test done soon any comments
langdon

ballingall · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:33:06 pm »

Goats seem to be able to eat them with no problems. Same as thistles really. If you have plenty of nettle's growing, it is handy to dry them into hand made nettle hay.

Beth

langdon · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:37:14 pm »

mmmm interesting got plenty but daff question coming up,
how do i do it, like stake it or what ever would love to do it

ballingall · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2010, 11:14:34 pm »

Oh, best way is to cut down the nettles- a little scythe is easiest. You can always just pick them or pull them up, but you'll need thick gloves for that! Lay them out on something to dry- I use a hurdle laid flat on top of bricks so that air can circulate underneath, but a pallet would do the same job. Just leave them outside for a few days in the sun to dry. Or, you can just tie them into small bunches and hang them up in a shed to dry. If you do that, make sure they are in small bunches or they can start going mouldy.

You can dry rosebay willow herb as well for the goats.

Beth

langdon · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2010, 11:21:48 am »

fab only prob is that i dont have a sythe of any size and i dont fancy paying out for one just for some nettles

could i cut them with a garden shears?
langdon

p.s. could you do the same with grass on a small scale!

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2010, 12:00:23 pm »

ours are really tall in the orchard so we use a hedgetrimmer then leave them to dry. the goats adore them!! \I think chickens do too if hung upside down?

Anke · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2010, 08:42:30 pm »

I go out with a large psir of scissors and cut bunches of them (with thick gloves, I have an odd pair of beekeeping glove left, works very well), then dry on hurdle inside p/tunnel. Mine love them, but at the end of last summer wouldn't touch the later ones (but then the hay was fresh and still green...)

Willowherb is a definite favourite here.

hexhammeasure · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2010, 01:19:54 am »

we cut ours with a brushcutter/strimmer just let them lie on top of their stalks and turn them twice in the sun until they dry then you can store them loose in your shed. However we just leave them in the fields for the sheep these days