The real story on Cherry trees?

StaceyRosado · May 22, 2014

mine have eaten it too with absolutely no ill effects. Not going to let them (trees have since been limbed so they cant reach) but TOU if they are showing no signs of illness they are fine. AND like has been stated most of the time the issues with cherry is only when its wilted. BUT since you dont know if the tree is under stress its best not to allow the goats to eat the fresh leaves either to be on the safe side.

TOU · May 22, 2014

Trickyroo said: ↑

Hope all is well with your goats TOU Please keep us posted on how they are doing !
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Yeah it has me a little concerned as we had a walk up there early this morning before work again. They browsed for 10-15 & I didn't think anything bout it until I just randomly hit his thread at lunch. I will be checking in on them in about 2 hours after work. Hopefully all is well.

So what do I do at this point otherwise?

There are also old apricot trees left over from an old orchard that they seem to love to browse the green leafy branches from. Are these a problem too for them to eat?

goathiker · May 22, 2014

We mess up their natural taste for things. Cyanide is sweet. We teach the goats that sweet is okay with feeds that include molasses. There are also a couple plants that contain Nicotine and become addictive to the animals that eat them.

goathiker · May 22, 2014

Wilting leaves and apricot pits are toxic, they are also of the Prunis species.

Trickyroo · May 22, 2014

Nothing i guess till you see ill effects. Then maybe some charcoal .
Not sure. Hopefully someone will chime in here and give you some suggestions. Giving them all probiotics for a few days won't hurt any.
Go to the beginning of this thread , you might find some suggestions there.

TOU · May 22, 2014

StaceyRosado said: ↑

mine have eaten it too with absolutely no ill effects. Not going to let them (trees have since been limbed so they cant reach) but TOU if they are showing no signs of illness they are fine. AND like has been stated most of the time the issues with cherry is only when its wilted. BUT since you dont know if the tree is under stress its best not to allow the goats to eat the fresh leaves either to be on the safe side.
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Thx Stacey. Before I will let them browse that area again, I am going to prune them ALL to the ground this weekend & then poison the stocks so they won't come back. I knew about rhododendron etc, but I just thought that goats were more naturally oriented in not really eating much of things that were bad for them like this. I am going to have to read up a bit more for sure.

Trickyroo · May 22, 2014

Jill , can TOU give anything to his herd to help ward off any ill effects before he actually sees any ?

goathiker · May 22, 2014

If they are fine now, they are fine. It's a quick poison.

The toxifying action of HCN is almost immediate; that is, as soon as it is liberated from the glucosides. The specific action of HCN on animals is that it combines with hemoglobin to form cyanoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. Thus animal tissues are deprived of necessary oxygen. The cyanide-poisoned animal shows an increased rate of respiration, increased pulse rate, gasping, muscular twitching or nervousness, trembling, foam from the mouth, blue colorationi of the lining of the mouth, and spasms or convulsions; death occurs from respiratory paralysis. The clinical signs are seldom seen because most HCN-poisoned animals die within a matter of minutes once the toxic agent gets into the blood stream, usually within 15 to 20 minutes after animals consume the forage.

Trickyroo · May 22, 2014

Thank goodness ! Thanks
Oye , is that ever scary

TOU · May 23, 2014

Goathiker & All,

I really appreciate your input. All is well, thank goodness!!!

Looks like we dodged several bullets on this as I looked at several other bushes/trees in these new pastures & they have been eating the heck out of these the last two weeks. I am not going to take any chance and are removing them all this weekend.

Thx again!

TOU

TOU · May 25, 2014

Okay, I am probably now just being paranoid, but in light of the RED Maples I wanted to ask if RED River Birch okay?

Thx so much in advance,

TOU

TOU · May 26, 2014

Since there are zero replies on this so far & I light of the fact that I have searched & searched all over the Net and found no mention of Red River Birch being toxic or any other birch for that matter...I guess I will let them eat the pruned branches from these trees.

Thx,

TOU

ksalvagno · May 26, 2014

Have no idea on the birch.

goathiker · May 26, 2014

Birch is fine. These are the trees we can make a lightly fermented beer type drink out of. There shouldn't be any problem there.
Sorry I didn't get back to you quickly. I was gone yesterday.

Talron · May 26, 2014

goathiker said: ↑

Black Cherry is a common, weedy, early-successional tree. The leaves release the distinctive cherry-like aroma of cyanide when crushed. Healthy leaves contain prunasin, which is converted to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when the leaves are crushed. This highly toxic substance acts as a defense mechanism against herbivores.
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My boys have been eatting this on their walks daily and have never had a issue..
Still not letting them eat it anymore now. :doh:

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