We've got a unique tradition to close out the holiday season in Morris County. Teach your kids about recycling by donating your tree to the goats. Take the time to explain that goats love a good pine treat but extras like ornaments, ornament hooks, tinsel, lights etc can hurt their belly, so clean your tree well.
Did you know?
There are great nutritional and health benefits to the trees for goats:
- High Vitamin Content: Pine needles are exceptionally high in Vitamin C, which helps boost a goat's immune system during the cold winter months. They also provide Vitamin A, antioxidants, and minerals like manganese and zinc.
- Natural Dewormer: The tannins and essential oils (like turpentine) found in conifer needles and sap act as a mild natural anthelmintic, helping to reduce internal parasite loads.
- Digestive Support: The needles and bark provide roughage that supports rumen function and can help prevent common issues like bloat and diarrhea.
They also help with enrichment and behavior
- Boredom Buster: Goats are natural browsers, meaning they prefer eating woody plants and trees over grass. A Christmas tree provides hours of entertainment as they strip the needles and bark, which helps combat "winter blues" and keeps them active.
- Enrichment Tool: Beyond eating, goats often use the trees as toys, head-butting or rubbing against them for physical stimulation.
Start de-trimming the tree
Than visit Van Duyne's Cider Mill at 160 Pinebrook Rd, Montville. No appointment necessary. You are welcome to just drop off in front of the big brown rectangular stone (next to the door of the mill facing the lot)!
What a great lesson in animals and caring for our planet!
Do you know another great location in these towns or any where else we cover? (Boonton, Butler, Cedar Knolls, Denville, Dover, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Lincoln Park, Madison, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Mountain Lakes, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Randolph, Rockaway, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany) Drop us a quick email, we'd love to share sandyn@macaronikid.com
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