Goat treats are perfect for giving your herd a special treat or working on training them, but finding a treat for them that is healthy and that they love can be a bit tricky and more then a little overwhelming if you are new to the world of goats. Every goat is different and will have a different favorite treat. However here is a pretty good list to get you started on finding the perfect treat for your herd.
What Can You Feed Goats As Treats?
If you’ve ever looked at the list of things goats can’t eat, it can be pretty overwhelming- especially if you are a new goat owner. So what exactly can you use as a goat treat for your herd? If your goats are eating a healthy, balanced diet fruits and vegetables make a wonderful treat. Try some of these:
- raisins
- corn chips
- slices of bread
- watermelon
- pears
- peaches
- bananas
- grapes
- carrots
- lettuce
- celery (never feed them the seeds or roots)
- pumpkin
- squash
- spinach
- goat cookies
- sunflower seeds
- apples
- oranges
- grapefruit
What Is A Goats Favorite Treat?
My goats love treats! They practically storm the gate when a family member approaches with one of their favorite goat treats. For my girls their favorite goat treats are banannas, strawberries, orange peels, and pumpkin. In the fall we split whole pumpkins in their pasture and let them eat the skin, flesh and seeds to their little hearts content.
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Treats To Avoid Giving Your Goats
Fresh fruits and veggies make great goat treats, but there are some that you should avoid feeding your goats. Some of these are toxic to goats, and some can be when given in large batches.
- Never give your goats dog or cat treats, or any treats that contain meat. Goats are herbivores and their systems are not designed to process meat like a dog or a cat.
- Avocado is highly poisonous to goats; never feed it.
- Brassicas
- Kale
- Turnips
- Chocolate
- Potatoes
- Do not feed green, immature fruits or leaves, vines or roots of any nightshade vegetable, such as eggplant, tomatillo, pepper, or tomatoes
- Rhubarb
- Un-Pitted stone fruits
Goat Treats Your Goats Will Love!
Wanting to try something else? Goat treats like cookies make the perfect treat for kids or visiting guests to give your goats! Here are some great treats to try.
- These goat treats are made with real anise delivering a licorice flavor goats can’t resist.
- Easy-to-feed nugget form makes the perfect snack for your goats.
- Easy-to-feed nugget Goat Treats are a fun, nutritious snack for goats.
- Licorice or apple flavors.
- Apple flavor treats are formulated with probiotics to support digestion.
- Contains calcium, phosphorous, salt, copper, zinc, selenium and vitamin A.
- Bannana & Ginger flavored goat treats
- Great As A Training Treat
- Does Not Contain Added Copper And Is Safe For All Classes Of Livestock Including Sheep
Animals make a great goat treat for your goats. They absolutely love these cookies!
Homemade Goat Treats
My goats love cookies, and crackers and go wild for fresh fruit, but they also love homemade treats! Looking for a way to make your own goat treats? Try one of these great recipes for making your own goat treats at home:
- Easy Baked Goat Cookies
- Oatmeal Goat Cookies
- Apple Goat Treats
- Homemade Goat Treats
- Oatmeal Treats For Goats
- Homemade Goat Treats Recipe
Homemade Herb Goat Treat Recipe
I’ve been making this goat treat recipe since I first got goats and they love it! Plus it’s loaded with immune boosting herbs to help keep them healthy.
Ingredients:
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
2 Teaspoons Turmeric
1/4 Cup Fennel Seed
2 Tablespoon Sage
2 Tablespoon Oregano
2 Tablespoon Thyme
2 Tablespoon Parsley
2 Tablespoon Rosemary
2 Tablespoon Garlic powder
1/2 Tablespoon Chicory
1/2 Cup Pumpkin seeds
1/2 Solid Coconut Oil
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Molasses
1 Cup Oats
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat, parchment paper or lightly oil a baking sheet with coconut oil. Mix ther herbs, cinnamon, chickory, tumeric, and fennel seeds together in a medium size bowl. Add the coconut oil, egg and mix well. Add the molassses, oats, and flour to the bowl and mix until combined. Take 1 teaspoon of dough in your hand, roll into a ball and place on the baking sheet. Continue until all of the dough is in balls. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Store your goat treats in an air tight container. If you don’t plan on using them right away place them in the freezer.
