Holly Trees

Bradenberry · #1 01/11/11, 07:23 AM

I've just realized I have a problem. I'm new to goats, have 4 bred does & am working on expanding my fencing & building another barn prior to kidding.

It appears that I have LOTS of Holly Trees on my property. I think that's what the are anyway, I'm in North Florida, the trees have green sticker leaves & red berries. Cutting them down is not an option. How toxic are they to the goats? I do rake 2 - 3 times a day, but to cover the entire new fenced in area probably won't happen. The exact spot I'm wanting to put the barn has several Holly trees near. What to do? I'm hoping someone will tell me they won't eat them & not to worry about it. ????

Alice In TX/MO · #2 01/11/11, 08:06 AM

I don't think the answer is what you want, unfortunately.

Chain saw?

Natural Beauty Farm · #3 01/11/11, 08:09 AM

I know it is listed as poisonous, but mine will pig out on hay and then grab a few leaves as they walk by. Scared me at first, but now the trees are goat manicured. So maybe limit their access....... Know birds eat the berries, but my goats won't touch them. Think that since they are browsers, they will not eat too much holly if they have other good food. Sorry not much help.

Bradenberry · #4 01/14/11, 06:40 AM

Just yesterday, I noticed I have 2 Holly trees in the fenced area they have been in for about a month now. I guess I'll just keep them trimmed up out of reach & think of relocating the next area. It seems there's a lot of things that are poisonous to the goats - makes me afraid to let them "free browse".

Hank · #5 01/14/11, 06:56 AM

I have several Hollys on my farm. The goats eat a few leaves but never a lot and no sickness. I had a sick one last summer but found some wild cherry that she had eaten. After removing it I've had no problems. Even in this cold winter with holly and pine as the only green in the fields they still only nibble on the holly from time to time. They do love the pine, LOL.
After a lot of research on the holly I found that the reason it is on the "do not eat" list is because of the thorns on the leaves possably doing some harm inside the goat. I fine that hard to believe with the type of briers my goats eat,LOL.
Not saying you won't have problems with the holly, just that I've not had any.

Hank

http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com

AuntKitty · #6 01/14/11, 09:45 AM

I don't have first hand experience with holly, but if you are going to trim the bushes up high, I would be sure to cover the trunks with hardware cloth or something so they can't nibble the bark either. Your Nigies won't be much trouble, but you are going to have to watch the Nubians because they can reach a lot higher than you expect when they are after something. The only plant I would really worry about is azalea. Make sure they can't get anywhere near that. I know Tallabred lost a doeling to just a nibble of azalea earlier this year.

My pasture is full of wild cherry and I was scared to death about it. But, except for one incident where the top of a tree blew down in a thunderstorm and I had to beat the goats off me as I tried to drag the branches full of wilted leaves (the dangerous kind) out of the pasture, it doesn't seem to bother them.

I would do what you can and then just keep an eye on whether they seem attracted to it or not. I know my goats get a little more adventurous in their browsing in late winter when there is nothing available but boring hay

Kitty

mekasmom · #7 01/14/11, 10:05 AM

I never had problems with goats poisoning themselves even when I let them free browse. A lot of things are said that may be true, but are a bit over exaggerated too. You really don't have to worry constantly.