Do Goats Eat Flowers? (Expert Opinion)

Goats are browsers, not grazers, and prefer to eat woody shoots and stems of trees and shrubs, including flowering plants. They can be deterred from eating plants by applying unpleasant smells like cow, goat, or pig dung, or by fencing off the plants.

However, it’s important to note that some plants and flowers are poisonous to goats and should be avoided, such as rhododendron, azalea, boxwood, cotoneaster, laurels, and oleander. On the other hand, goats can eat certain edible plants like alfalfa, which is high in protein.

It’s crucial to provide a safe and appropriate diet for goats to ensure their well-being.

Understanding Goat Eating Habits

Goats are browsers rather than grazers, which means they prefer to eat woody shoots and stems of trees and shrubs, including flowering plants, rather than grasses like hay. This can pose a risk to your garden if you have flowering plants that you want to protect.

To deter goats from eating your plants and flowers, you can try applying unpleasant-smelling substances like cow, goat, or pig dung to parts of the plants.

Additionally, certain plants like rhododendrons and azaleas are both popular flowers but are very poisonous to goats, so it’s important to check their toxicity before planting them.

Remember that goats will try to eat just about anything, so it’s important to fence off your plants and cultivate goat-resistant plants if you want to prevent them from being consumed.

Protecting Your Garden Against Goat Eating

Goats are browsers rather than grazers, preferring to eat woody shoots and stems of trees and shrubs. They may eat flowers, including popular ones like rhododendrons and azaleas, which are toxic to goats. To protect your garden against goat eating, you can use deterrents with unpleasant smells, such as cow, goat, or pig dung. Fencing off plants from goats is an effective way to keep them away from your flowers. Cultivating plants that goats avoid, such as boxwood, cotoneaster, laurels, and daffodils, can also help protect your garden.

Identifying Poisonous Plants For Goats

Rhododendrons and Azaleas as dangerous flowers

Boxwood Cotoneaster All types of laurels Oleander Many types of lupines (bluebonnets) Larkspur Delphinium Daffodils & narcissus

Ensuring a safe environment for goats: Keep goats away from dangerous plants Fence off areas with toxic plants Plant edible plants in goat pastures Provide alternative food sources Apply unpleasant smells to deter goats from plants

Frequently Asked Questions On Do Goats Eat Flowers

What Flowers Do Goats Not Eat?

Goats do not eat certain flowers like boxwood, cotoneaster, laurels, oleander, lupines, larkspur, delphiniums, daffodils, and narcissus.

What Flowers Are Good For Goats?

Goats prefer woody shoots and stems of trees and shrubs, but they may eat flowering plants. However, there are some flowers that are poisonous to goats, such as boxwood, oleander, and larkspur. It is best to avoid these plants if you have goats.

Can Goats Eat Flower Petals?

Yes, goats can eat flower petals as they are browsers and prefer woody shoots and stems over grasses like hay. However, it is important to note that some flowers and plants may be poisonous to goats. To prevent goats from eating your plants, you can fence them or use unpleasant smells such as cow or goat dung.

Do Goats Eat Flowers?

Goats are browsers rather than grazers. They prefer to eat woody shoots and stems of trees and shrubs, including flowering plants, over grasses like hay.

Conclusion

While goats are known to eat almost anything, including plants and flowers, they are more inclined to consume woody shoots and stems rather than grasses like hay. It is important to be cautious when choosing landscaping plants and flowers, as some can be toxic to goats.

To prevent goats from eating your plants and flowers, you can use unpleasant smells or fence off the areas. Remember to do your research and avoid planting harmful vegetation in areas accessible to goats.