Privet for fodder and biochar.

We have an abundance of privet in our woods.  It holds its leaves long into the fall, so we are cutting it for livestock feed and using the remaining woody material to make biochar.  I wouldn’t plant privet, but if you have it, it can be put to good use.

That's an excellent use for privet. Do you know if all livestock can eat it? I have fed it to goats before but I have rabbits now. I also wonder what the protein content and nutritional facts are of privet.

Logan Hyde wrote:That's an excellent use for privet. Do you know if all livestock can eat it? I have fed it to goats before but I have rabbits now. I also wonder what the protein content and nutritional facts are of privet.

Can’t say much about other livestock.  Nutrition must be good, judging by the way they gobble it up!  A forage analysis would be interesting.  Our state extension office does them for a nominal charge, maybe yours does, too?

Gray Henon wrote:

Logan Hyde wrote:That's an excellent use for privet. Do you know if all livestock can eat it? I have fed it to goats before but I have rabbits now. I also wonder what the protein content and nutritional facts are of privet.

Can’t say much about other livestock.  Nutrition must be good, judging by the way they gobble it up!  A forage analysis would be interesting.  Our state extension office does them for a nominal charge, maybe yours does, too?

Excellent idea. I never thought of that.

I always think privet is prime chicken hiding territory. A small lot next to mine is filled with it. It is starting to grow at fence line, along with other less invasive trees, where I’m letting things go, as it’s a bird shotgun mason hunting sunflower patch and privacy would be nice during hunting season. Also to be stated pretty afraid of secret clubs especially at a large gold vein.  I have also seen birds die along the fence line from hawks, should help the birds find cover.

I have read in a few places that the wood & leaves of privet (Ligustrum spp.) are toxic to modern hyperbred chickens, so not to have in their enclosures. Liking the idea of making biochar with it, since it reroots so insanely easily and can't be composted. I'm planting alternative hidy spots for my chooks since we definitely got hawks.