Question about goats again

[TheCaseFamily00]

I got such good advice before thought i'd ask again. We recently acquired goats so i'm still learning. We just baled some hay that had a little thisle in it and my grandpa was gonna burn it and I was wondering if the goats could eat it? It is nice looking hay but there was a small section that had thistle.Any thoughts?

 

[Miniv]

I'm not an authority regarding goats, but from I know about them, that sort of hay would be perfect for them. They are able to consume much more than a horse and aren't so picky either.

There are several goat owners and breeders on here who will hopefully pop in.

 

[shannonw]

We have goats and some hay we had had some spiny weeds in it. That is actually what they went for! I have found if they don't like it they won't eat it

so in my opinion it probably would not bother them.

 

[TheCaseFamily00]

I was hoping they could have it,hate to just burn it. Thank you

 

[Sue_C.]

My goats would turn their noses up at my super good horse hay, so we started buying "weedier" hay just for them. After that they were just as happy as little goaties can be. Goats are browsers, not technically grass eaters, so weeds and shrubs are what they prefer.

 

[susanne]

Just don't use their composted manure in your garden, or you'll have thistles sprouting everywhere. If you give your manure to others, be sure to tell them so they can solarize it and hopefully kill any seeds.

Also, be sure to wear gloves -- dried thistles are painful!

 

[TheCaseFamily00]

Thanks everyone

 

[Bess Kelly]

As said, they actually prefer the "crap" out there....

Mine would clean the ditch banks and underbrush so that it looked like you'd paid $1M to have it done. They are great to turn into your fields and they run to the weeds, searching them out of the pastures--I sure miss my guys!

Oh, on occassion they will eat something that is not the best for them. Since bloat is a real issue for them, I always kept a dish of baking soda out for free choice eating. In case this wasn't mentioned to you before, it's a real good thing for them. Also, it won't hurt the horses if they eat it. I had a couple hundred for several years, you can imagine what they said at the price clubs when I bought 50-100 lbs of the stuff

 

[TheCaseFamily00]

Thanks for all your replies,great advice as always.