Goats for a clean pond?

[jwmorris]

What are the downsides to using goats to keep the edges of a pond clean

They won't understand what you want them to do and you won't understand what they want to do.

 

[big bubba]

here ya go

MSN

 

[KenP]

Goats are terrible lawn mowers. As others have mentioned, they prefer leafy growth. They will devour everything other than grass that they can get to and still not eat grass effectively.

Sheep are grass eaters.

 

[MossRoad]

They taste much better if you don't name them.

BarbieQ

 

[MossRoad]

Pretty sure he was referring to the beaver being allergic to lead...

 

[Eagle1]

True get some sheep, but they die if you look at them wrong. Mini cattle are easier to contain and will eat grass and everything else. I run Irish Dexter but have a couple minis, not much taller than a dog (well BIG dog) under 40" and my dogs are 32"

 

[KenP]

Years back, my kids called from the local feed store asking if they could bring turkey chicks home. A little reluctant, I said yes, but do not name them, they will be harvested come the holidays. I came home to three chick's and they ignored my caution and had named them Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. And yes, they were delicious.

 

[kmesr9]

If it's grass that you want groomed, sheep will work better than goats. Goats will eat grass but it's not in their top 10.

Sheep will pull the grass up by the roots and destroy and “lawn” so I’d not use them. Goats eat a variety of things and grass is one. If you surround them with multiple choices they’ll eat many things but if all there is to eat is grass where you have them fenced, that is what they’ll eat. I’ve had goats since I was a boy and they prefer to eat blackberry leaves. Where I live now we fenced off 2acres which was 90% blackberry bushes about 8-10ft tall. We put 4 Pygmy goats in it. Took a couple sheets of plywood and laid them on top and those goats were right behind me. Docie doed them around until all the bushes were stocks and burned them. They grow up to the fence or through the ground and are immediately eaten.

 

[kmesr9]

Years back, my kids called from the local feed store asking if they could bring turkey chicks home. A little reluctant, I said yes, but do not name them, they will be harvested come the holidays. I came home to three chick's and they ignored my caution and had named them Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. And yes, they were delicious.

Love that story! Growing up our first steer we named Hefty after the restaurant chain around here Hefty Burger. That was dad’s way of getting us used to the fact he was food.

 

[tbear640]

I am looking to build a pond. The back side of the pond will be shallow and cover a large grassed in area. All of that said. I want to keep the edge of the pond clean.

Has anyone ever used this method?
What are the downsides to using goats to keep the edges of a pond clean

Goats are great and if you find that there not working out to your expectations, they’re delicious!