Are oak leaves toxic?

[dixiegal62]

I was just reading a bit more in Storey's guide to raising dailry goats, and theres a section that says to avoid oak leaves as they are toxic to goats. The place we are fencing in has lots of hardwoods in it, lots of oak.

[backwoods]

Oak is not toxic to goats.Few things are,and everything can be if they get too much of it.My goats eat lots of oak leaves,green and dead,and lots of acorns.Just don't let them over load on it.Feed lots of hay and bicarb.

[topside1]

My dozen goats eat oak leaves every day during our walk around the property. No problems, return with twelve at the end of each walk. My paddocks have lots of oak trees (red oak, white oak, swamp oak, chestnut oak) in them and the goats have enjoyed eating all the leaves back tippy toe high....

[chris30523]

Mine are leaf vacuums .They watch for a leaf to blow in and go suck it up. Keeps it nice and neat. Grandaughter likes to feed them the crunchy ones.So far no problems.

[Aeirios]

My nigi's eat alot of oak, no problems At first I was alittle worried, had read some saying that it wasn't a good thing. Also have read that there is no problem with goats and oak. But I guess like most things moderation is a good idea, if you can This article http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant47.htm talks about red oak

[dixiegal62]

whew! I was not looking forward to telling dh to rip up the fence and looking for an oak free place. Ill check out the links ty

[Feral Nature]

Mine eat them too, they are a favorite, green or dry.

[Jim S.]

They are a natural wormer. As are acorns and anything else with tannins. That is also why goats like tree bark. If you're fencing in oaks, good for you!

I have never personally had trouble with goats overeating anything that is NATURAL to their diet. It is all the unnatural stuff (grains, BOSS, pellets, etc.) that they will gorge on if they get access to it.

[fishhead]

I wonder if a person couldn't bag up dry oak leaves in the fall for winter treats?

[dixiegal62]

Originally Posted by fish head

I wonder if a person couldn't bag up dry oak leaves in the fall for winter treats?

the book I mentioned above suggested saving dried leaves and feeding as a treat, or using them for bedding then compost I was glad to hear you could do that since our yard is very wooded and Ill get use out of all the leaves

[hollym]

Mine love live oak branches/leaves. I cut them for them and put them in the pen before work every morning.

GREAT idea about the dried leaves! I usually fill the car with the bags left on the curbs in San Antonio every chance I get, but of course they'd need to be checked carefully for anything poisonous. People frequently grow oleanders here.

hollym

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

I read that too, but mine eat them all the time.