Avoid Harmful Plants and Foods

Walk the entire goat area and remove or fence off all toxic plants before introducing goats. Common deadly species include azalea, rhododendron, oleander, yew, and mountain laurel. Wilted cherry and plum tree leaves release cyanide and are especially dangerous after storms.

Why It Works

Goats browse indiscriminately when hungry or bored, and many ornamental and wild plants contain alkaloids, glycosides, or oxalates that cause organ failure or death. Proactive removal eliminates the risk entirely, since even small quantities of plants like oleander (as little as 0.005% of body weight) can be lethal.

Tips

• Print a regional toxic plant list and check it against every plant in the browsing area
• Never feed moldy hay, garden waste with pesticide residue, or processed human foods
• After storms, promptly remove fallen branches from cherry, plum, and red maple trees