You HERD it here!
Goats and sheep are an effective, cost efficient, and sustainable method to get your landscape back under control. Our herd is comprised of goats that use their munching skills to clear brush, weeds, and invasive plant species.
Say NO to herbicides & YES to herbivores!
Dailey Maintenance LLC is proud to partner up with Dailey’s Ruckus Ranch!
Does it work? Why should I choose this method?
Yes! Goats are an effective and sustainable method to manage overgrown vegetation and restore your property. Goatscaping is a great first step to getting your land back under control, but it is just step 1 in a multi-step process. You’ll get the best results from goatscaping if you have a plan for the next steps in mind!
A few reasons goats are a great option:
- Quieter than power equipment!
- Engages the community!
- Can navigate hidden hazards and things that make using other methods difficult – fallen trees, stumps, steep terrain, poison ivy.
- Ecologically responsible – disturbs the soil less than machinery and causes less pollution.
- By the time seeds get through all four of their stomachs, very few come out viable!
- They promote healthy soil, fertilizing as they go!
What do goats eat?
Goats and sheep will eat the leaves and tender, non-woody new growth of stems, but do not eat entire stalks, branches, vines, or roots. They will defoliate nearly all vegetation from about 6-7 feet high and below. They will eat most of the common invasives and unwanted vegetation that we encounter, but there are some things that they can’t or won’t eat.
Examples of plant life found here in the pacific northwest that goats WILL eat:
- Poison Oak
- Poison Ivy
- Bittersweet Vines
- Multi-flora Rose
- Virginia Creeper
- Winter Creeper
- English ivy
- Honeysuckle
- Clover
- Blackberry and raspberry bushes
- Salmon Berries
- Kudzu
- Porcelain berry
- Bamboo
- Thistle
- Knotweed
- Magnolia
- Rose of Sharon
- Most saplings
- Tree of Heaven
- Stilt grass
- Shrubs
- Pigweed
- Mallow
- Borage
- Berrie Canes
- Leaves
- Christmas Trees
- Goji berries
Examples of things they CAN’T or WON’T eat:
- Azalea
- Periwinkle
- Vinca
- Boxwood
- Pokeweed
- Yew
- Rhododendron
- Laurel bushes of any type
- Wilted fruit tree leaves, including cherry
- Poison hemlock
- Nightshades
Poisonous Plants: It’s crucial that we identify and avoid plants that are toxic to goats. Some common examples include rhododendron, azaleas, pieris japonica (Lily of the Valley), and yew.
🛑 TOXIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
Dailey Maintenance & Ruckus Ranch Field Reference
1. Rhododendron / Azalea
- ID: Thick, leathery evergreen leaves. Large, showy bell-shaped flowers.
- Risk: FATAL. Contains grayanotoxins.
2. Mountain Laurel
- ID: Glossy, dark green leaves. Flowers are distinct white/pink cups with purple “dots” inside.
- Risk: HIGH. Causes severe drooling and respiratory distress.
3. English Yew (Taxus)
- ID: Flat, dark green needles (like a pine branch). Produces soft, bright red berries.
- Risk: EXTREME. One of the most toxic plants; causes sudden heart failure.
4. Oleander
- ID: Narrow, leathery leaves that look like willow leaves. Clusters of pink, red, or white flowers.
- Risk: FATAL. Every part of the plant is poisonous.
5. Poison Hemlock
- ID: Fern-like leaves. The key identifier is the purple splotches on the hollow green stalks.
- Risk: EXTREME. Paralyzes the respiratory system.
6. Lily of the Valley
- ID: Broad green leaves with small, white, fragrant bell-shaped flowers hanging from a central stem.
- Risk: HIGH. Causes heart arrhythmias.
How do you keep them from eating things that I don’t want eaten?
Depending on where in the area it is, we may be able to exclude it from the fence, or put a small fence around it. We do this for anything that is toxic to the animals as well. If there are a lot of plants you want to save in the area, goatscaping may not be the best option for you.
How long will it take?
The amount of time it will take is completely dependent on the area the animals are working on. Size, type of vegetation, thickness of vegetation, and terrain will all have an effect on how long the job takes. We will be able to give you a time estimate at the time of consultation.
How much will it cost?
The price is very dependent on the area, but the base price is per day of grazing, and per 100-foot fence section. The fence set-up fees are dependent upon the difficulty, and the human labor required for set up. Things such as steepness, presence of obstacles, and thickness of vegetation will affect this. We will provide you with a cost estimate after doing a consultation.
We love our animals!
“The Ruckus Ranch” his home to goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, cats, and dogs. All animals are cared for (spoiled) at the highest standards. They each have names and live as working livestock and pets. They are all properly vaccinated and treated for worms, fleas, and ticks. In addition to landscaping, we can bring our animals to your events. Birthday parties, petting zoos, celebrations, etc. Contact us for questions or scheduling
Goatscaping & Land Management: Frequently Asked Questions
Goatscaping is an eco-friendly land management solution where a managed herd of goats is used to clear unwanted vegetation. We bring our professional goat crew to your property, set up secure temporary electric fencing, and let them do what they do best: eat. They are particularly effective at clearing brush, invasive weeds, and overgrown thickets that are difficult for machinery to reach.
Goats are “browsers,” meaning they prefer broad-leafed plants and woody brush over grass. They are experts at clearing:
- Invasive Blackberries: They eat the leaves, the fruit, and even the thorny canes.
- English Ivy: A PNW staple that goats find delicious.
- Poison Oak: Goats are immune to the oils and will strip it down to the ground.
- Scotch Broom & Thistles: They easily handle tough, prickly stalks.
Yes, for several reasons. Goats can navigate steep hillsides, rocky terrain, and sensitive wetlands where tractors cannot go. Unlike mowers, goats don’t create noise pollution or exhaust fumes. Most importantly, as they eat the seeds of invasive plants, their digestive systems neutralize them, preventing the weeds from growing back—unlike a mower which simply spreads the seeds around.
We use high-visibility, portable electric netting. This keeps the goats contained in the specific “target zone” you want cleared and protects them from local predators. We handle the entire setup and teardown of the fencing as part of the service.
No. The vegetation on your property is their primary food source. We provide a clean water source and any necessary mineral supplements for the herd while they are on-site. We also monitor the herd regularly to ensure they are healthy, hydrated, and have plenty of “work” left to do.
Our goats are professional “workers” and are generally very docile. However, because we use electric fencing to keep them contained, children and pets must be kept away from the fence line. We will clearly mark the perimeter and walk you through the safety protocols before the herd arrives.
The timeline depends on the density of the brush and the size of the area. A small residential “jungle” might take a few days, while a larger acreage project could take a week or more. During our initial site visit, we will assess the “fuel load” of the vegetation and give you an estimated timeframe for the project.
