Can ivy harm sheep?

[ARR]

I keep a few sheep in a field behind the landowners house. He was impressed that the sheep had cleaned the ivy off all of the trees and has asked if I can stick a few behind electric in his garden to clear it off his wall as there’s a lot of it.
There was about 100 ewes in the field and only a dozen old trees with ivy on so relatively small amounts per sheep. I have regularly used it to get the odd ewe up and eating again.
could it cause any issues if I was to put a few behind electric where all they really have to eat is ivy with no access to grass?
Thanks

 

[Friesianfan]

They love it. If an ewe was off colour and wouldn’t eat my dad would go and get some ivy and she would invariably eat it

 

[Treecreeper]

Always cut and carried ivy to sheep and cattle when under the weather, if they won't eat that there's not much hope they will pull through. I suppose there could be to much of a good thing but not when there is competition between a flock.

 

[Still Farming]

They love it.

 

[Highland Mule]

I’d probably cut and take the bulk of it to the field for the mob, then put a decent bunch of sheep in to clear up the stuff that’s left afterwards. Too much of a good thing might not be good, but they will certainly manage fine with a few meals of the detritus.

 

[Old Shep]

Arent the flowers poisonous but the leaves ok?

 

[cotswoldcs]

Sheep love ivy but too much is actually poisonous. We cleared an old hedge and fed it to ewe lambs and they suffered. I don't recall loosing any but they scoured badly and looked sick. Having said that never had a problem other than this one time when clearly they had too much.

Can you feed them a little hay at the same time @ARR ? If only for piece of mind. I'm sure they'll get out before they die of ivy poisoning!

 

[Happy]

What else does he have in his garden? Hopefully no Rhododendrons.

 

[Forever Fendt]

If a sick sheep won’t eat ivy it’s going to die for sure

 

[Treecreeper]

What else does he have in his garden? Hopefully no Rhododendrons.

Or Laurel for that matter.

 

[Danllan]

We give it as a tonic in the Winter, and it certainly goes down well and does them good. We've never given them an ivy-only diet, so can't comment on the effects - good or bad - which may result from doing so.

 

[ARR]

Sheep love ivy but too much is actually poisonous. We cleared an old hedge and fed it to ewe lambs and they suffered. I don't recall loosing any but they scoured badly and looked sick. Having said that never had a problem other than this one time when clearly they had too much.

Can you feed them a little hay at the same time @ARR ? If only for piece of mind. I'm sure they'll get out before they die of ivy poisoning!

Thanks, The sheep will absolutely love the idea... a way to die and a full belly. Win win for them! that was my worry as they’d be behind electric with ivy as their only option really as don’t think he’d be keen on them having the run of the place. I think I will cut the bulk so the lot can share it out rather than a select few in the limited space, then stick as many as I can in after to clear up the remains after. Ive only seen part of the wall he’s on about as he has suggested it over the phone and no sheep they’re atm so will have to go and look properly how we can make it work. I reckon this might be the new way to diversify once word gets round

 

[Pan mixer]

Didn't the song go;

"Does eat oats, Mares eat oats but little lambs eat ivy"?

 

[Besumfun]

Our ewes and ram seem to love the ivy we mix with the hay . I am sure it helps keep the worms at bay . They have a couple of lots a wk . No ill effects so far

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Does ivy harm trees

 

[Derrick Hughes]

And if i cut the stems at the base with it kill or or will it feed off the tree

 

[Bogweevil]

Does ivy harm trees

No, it is a sign of poorly trees rather than a cause according to the Forest Research.

 

[primmiemoo]

And if i cut the stems at the base with it kill or or will it feed off the tree

Check first. The ivy might be holding the tree up! I'm not sure if ivy takes from a tree. It might compete for water, though.

 

[Jonp]

Can ivy harm sheep.

Its in the 101 ways to die book.
Sheep usually have their heads stuck in stock fence.

 

[Bogweevil]

And if i cut the stems at the base with it kill or or will it feed off the tree

It will kill the ivy, ivy is not parasitic. Ivy is valuable to wildlife so best left undisturbed.

It is not usually possible to boost growth of tree with excess ivy, ivy being a sign not a cause of ailing timber, but dead trees also valuable if they can be left to topple without undue risk.

Under climate change with warmer winters ivy might grow more in winter than it does now and in the future it may become damaging.