Hungry West Michigan Goats Want to Eat Your Christmas Tree

With Christmas done and over with, you may be looking for somewhere to get rid of that tree... Well, why not feed some hungry goats with it?

There are multiple farms across West Michigan accepting Christmas tree donations to feed their animals!

Get our free mobile app

Can Goats Eat Christmas Trees?

Yes, goats can eat pine trees!

According to the Michigan Department of  Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, goats find untreated Christmas trees delicious and nutritious.

A representative from Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo tells Fox 17,

Animals get the winter blues kind of too, so they like anything new and unusual. It's exciting for them...Pine needles have a lot of Vitamin C in them, so they're getting some vitamins there, and it's a natural de-wormer for goats too...The pokey pine needles, some animals, they can't handle it, but a goat has a really hard mouth, so they're able to easily eat the pine needles. They like the taste of the pine needles.”

What to Know When Dropping Off Your Christmas Tree to Feed Goats

Christmas trees fed to goats needs to be untreated. Also be sure that your tree is free of all decorations, including tinsel. Trees should be free of dyes and perfumes and unflocked (a flocked tree has a synthetic dust or powder that makes the tree look like it has tufts of snow on it.)

Where Can You Take Your Christmas Tree to Feed Goats in West Michigan?

Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo in New Era collects Christmas trees each year to feed goats and other animals in their care, like camels and porcupines!

Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo is located at 4180 M-20. Donated trees can be left in the main parking lot next to the TREE-mendous Treat sign.

Fields Farms in Comstock Park is accepting Christmas tree donations for their goats.

Fields Farm is located at 849 Buth Dr. in Comstock Park. There will be cones showing you where to drop your tree.

Anderson & Girls Orchards in Stanton accepts Christmas trees to feed their goats and other animals.

Anderson & Girls Orchards is located at 2985 N. Sheridan Rd in Stanton. Drop off trees by their petting zoo gates.

Nylaan Dental office in Grand Rapids is collecting trees to feed to hungry goats.

Nylaan Dental office is located at 5011 Plainfield Ave NE in Grand Rapids. There is a trailer in the office parking lot to collect the trees and they are used to feed goats. Find out more here.

More Options for Recycling Christmas Trees in West Michigan

The City of Grand Rapids offers free drop-off sites for Christmas trees December 30 through January 31 at the following locations:

• Riverside Park (north entrance), 2001 Monroe Ave. NE
• MacKay-Jaycees Park, 2531 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
• Lincoln Park, (Garfield Ave. NW entrance) 231 Marion Ave. NW
• Huff Park, (Ball St. parking lot) 2286 Ball Ave. NE

You can also drop off trees at the Compost and Yard Waste Site, which is open year round. Winter Hours, Mon-Fri 7:30a.m. to 4:30p.m:

• City Compost and Yard Waste Site, 2001 Butterworth Rd SW

The trees are eecycled through chipping and returned naturally to the ground.

Residents of Kentwood can drop trees off at the Department of Public Works at 5068 Breton Road SE Dec. 27 through Jan. 31. The drop-off hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to Noon.

For additional tree recycling locations, head to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Michigan Recycling Directory and enter "Christmas trees" in the search bar. Locations typically turn the trees into mulch or partner with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to help make rabbit/small game habitat out of the trees.