It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:15 am

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Goats and poison ivy
PostPosted: Sun Sep 07, 2003 11:39 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 11:19 am
Posts: 2
Location: Weatherford,
We have three goats that we obtained for the sole purpose of eating poison ivy: two Dwarf Nigerians and an Angora. We bought the dwarfs for thier size but quickly learned that they are rambunctious, climb and jump on everything and prefer just about everything in the yard to poison ivy. Doing some research we found Boers will eat poison ivy and Angoras will eat poison ivy. We decided to go with the Angora as Boers are a bit bigger and can have the same rambunctious nature as the Nigerians. Our Angora in contrast is very lovable and almost lazy dog-like in her approach to life but she seeks out poison ivy throughout the yard. We have a pen for our goats and tether them on dog colars each day in places we want to clear (making sure they have a source of water) we put them back in the pen at night and in inclimate weather. They share a large dog house for protection (the Nigerians spend a lot of time on top of the dog house). Per Howard's suggestion we hope to expand and dived thier pen into three areas and rotate the goats, so grass and other vegetation can return to the other pens. 8)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Sep 07, 2003 11:34 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
Those lovable goats can wipe a lot of poison ivy resins onto you if they're too loving right after snacking. That's the only caveat to using goats.

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:53 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 10:19 am
Posts: 85
Location: Franklin,TEXAS
I read in "Planting Noah's Garden" by Sarah Stein that poison ivy is rated as one of the top 10 food-providing plants for wildlife. It's too bad people have such a bad reaction to it. Another example of man not being able (or willing) to co-exist. By the way, both of Sarah Stein's books, "Noah's Garden" and "Planting Noah's Garden" are excellent reads; scared me almost as much as Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring". They are about how man's view of what nature should be is destroying what nature really is.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 8:41 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue May 20, 2003 9:49 pm
Posts: 66
Location: ,
How old are your nigerians? I have a wether that is about 6 months old. Got him when he was about 3 weeks. He has really calmed down alot as he has grown. My two does are about 3 years old and they are calm as well. They do like to get on top the dog house at times :) And they don't show a lot of interest in poison ivy (I have a little). Of course, they have about 6 acres and lots of other choices.

Marlyn


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Goats and poison ivy
PostPosted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:29 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:51 pm
Posts: 747
Location: Garland, Texas
Frogfan wrote:
...we found Boers will eat poison ivy and Angoras will eat poison ivy.


:lol: Reminds me of the rhyme "...little lambs eat ivy. A kid'll eat ivy too..."

Sorry...it's late.

_________________
Keeping it clean and green here, Boss.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:16 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:18 pm
Posts: 1093
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
pridgeon-
I think one of the reasons why it is listed as one of the top 10 plants for wildlife is because of the berries. I have seen so many different birds eating them over the years that it is no wonder its growth is so prolific. The seeds get airmailed everywhere!
Tony M


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 2:09 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 10:19 am
Posts: 85
Location: Franklin,TEXAS
Tony, yes I think you're right about the berries. I wonder if the deer eat the vines. They eat just about everything else!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:03 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 7:49 pm
Posts: 48
Location: Ft Worth-I30&Hulen
Spend a lot of time in the woods of northeast Texas Oct thru Jan.
I have not seen deer eating poison ivy. They may but the deer have many other choices with the farmland and pastureland in the area. They love acorns of all kinds.

_________________
Recycle Life


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 8:10 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:18 pm
Posts: 1093
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
senegaltictac-
Nor have I seen deer eating PI berries but most of the berries are up near the tops of the plants, not readily available to them. I have seen deer eating another plant with white berries tho, Mistletoe! I used to knock it out of the trees for them and they loved it.
Tony M


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Co-existing with PI
PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 11:08 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2003 11:19 am
Posts: 2
Location: Weatherford,
pridgeon,

I agree leaving poison ivy in the wild is fine. It only takes one trip to the emergency room with a 2 year old to know having poison ivy in the areas they play (our 2 acre yard) is not the wisest of ideas.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by eWeblife