Do Goats Eat Nettles? (Revealed!)

 

So, yes, in short, goats can and will eat nettles.

They will eat more or less any plant matter they can find, assuming it isn’t directly toxic or poisonous.

Though the idea of eating nettles might send shivers down your human spine, goats have no problem with it.

Let’s look further into this.

 

Can goats eat nettles?

Yes, they can.

Goats, for one reason or another, simply are immune to the sting of a nettle.

Goats are highly evolved to eat a lot of pretty tough material, so it’s not that surprising that they can eat nettles no problem.

Nettles would cause us big problems if we ate them, but not for the hardy goat.

Stinging nettles do not sting goats, nor do they really cause any other problems as long as they’re eaten in reasonable quantities.

So, your goat can eat them without being stung or in any way poisoned—but are they actually good for goats?

 

Are nettles good for goats?

In lots of ways, yes!

The best way, generally, is to allow them eat wild nettles themselves on their pasture.

First of all, even before we get on to nutritional benefits, the enrichment of being able to roam a pasture and forage for food is really good for their health in a number of ways.

It’s just good exercise.

Other than that, though, there are nutritional benefits to letting your goats eat nettles.

They’re highly fibrous plants, and most of a goat’s diet should be made up of fiber.

They can never get too much, and they will spend a long time grazing on nettles if they find them.

Nettles also contain a number of minerals and antioxidants, which prevent the formation of free radicals.

Free radicals damage cells over time, and they’re really vital for maintaining long term health.

Goats won’t be able to get everything they need from nettles, though—this is why it’s essential that nettles form a part of a balanced diet.

Your goat will need to eat some fresh fruits and vegetables alongside its ordinary forage, in order to get the requisite amount of vitamins and minerals.

But as part of that balanced diet, nettles are actually really good for your goat.

But are there any downsides to feeding goats nettles?

 

Are nettles bad for goats?

No, nettles are not inherently bad for goats.

They’re perfectly safe and healthy, they won’t sting your goat, they won’t cause them any pain and they aren’t toxic.

That said, moderation is still always really important.

If you’re giving them dried or cut nettles, then you need to watch how much you give them.

Too much could cause them to become bloated or in pain.

Generally, though, as I said, goats are quite good at self-limiting.

They won’t usually eat more than they should.

Moderation and variety are always key.

Your goat needs a good balance in its diet—it can’t only eat nettles, either.

Nettles are a great part of a balanced diet, but they should still only make up a relatively small part of it.

A goat cannot live on nettles alone.

Are there any parts of the plant that aren’t safe?

 

Can goats eat nettle stems?

Yes, goats can eat nettle stems just fine.

The stems are less nutritious than other parts of the plant, and your goat will usually eat quite a lot before it’s full.

Nonetheless, the stems are nice and fibrous and are a good thing for your goat to chew on.

What about the leaves?

 

Can goats eat nettle leaves?

For me, thinking of eating a nettle leaf gives me chills.

I don’t know if you’ve ever been stung by one, and though it isn’t the worst thing you can get stung by, it isn’t pleasant, either!

All of the stinging hairs are on the leaves, so you might be thinking that goats can’t eat the leaves.

But you would be wrong!

The leaves are their favorite part and, as I said, they are immune to the stings for a variety of reasons.

So, yes, goats can eat nettle leaves with no problem.

 

So, nettles are not only safe for goats but in fact highly nutritious and tasty.

Goats love to roam around a large pasture and forage for food, and nettles make a great addition to any foraging menu.

Too much can be a problem, but they are pretty good at self-limiting, generally.

You don’t need to worry about them overgorging, unless they’re young or inexperienced.

Even if they do, it won’t be a big problem.

 

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