If you left a sheep wandering around a vineyard, we do not doubt that they would spend a good chunk of that time eating grapes. They find them delicious. But, there are lots of things that humans find delicious, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are good for us. The same applies to sheep. Have you ever wondered whether sheep can eat grapes?
Can Sheep Eat Grapes?
Sheep can safely eat grapes. However, as with anything that isn’t their typical feed or grasses, they shouldn’t be consuming the grapes too often. It can lead to various health issues.
Grapes are high in sugar. Just like humans, you don’t want to get too much sugar into a sheep’s diet. It isn’t healthy, albeit in a slightly different way.
If your sheep eat too many grapes, then one of two things can happen.
Firstly, they may end up with stomach issues. Sheep have very sensitive stomachs. As you likely know, sheep have four stomachs. Each of them does a slightly different job.
Too much sugar can mess up the way that everything works. This can cause pain, loose stools, etc.
The main issue, however, is the fact that too much sugar in a sheep’s diet can lead to a condition known as acidosis. This can lead to death if not treated.
You want to keep the risk of this to a minimum. While it is unlikely to be triggered with a few grapes here and there, you still really don’t want to take the risk.
How Many Grapes Should You Feed Your Sheep?
While you could probably get away with giving your sheep more than this, we tend to recommend that people give their sheep no more than a handful of grapes once per week.
This allows the opportunity for a person to give more treats to their sheep (try and stick to vegetables, they are lower in sugar), and it cuts the risk of acidosis substantially.
If you are giving grapes to your sheep for the first time, we do suggest that you keep an eye on them for a few hours after.
If there seems to be an adverse reaction to the grapes, then don’t give them to them again. In fact, you should probably start to steer clear of anything fruits.
How To Prepare Grapes For Your Sheep
You don’t have to do too much to prepare grapes for your sheep. They can eat all types of grapes, and they can even eat the leaves of the grapes.
We do suggest that you give the grapes a wash if you have purchased them from the store, though.
This will help to wash away any chemicals from the grapes, ensuring that your sheep aren’t ingesting anything that they shouldn’t be ingesting.
You can hand feed the grapes to your sheep if they are friendly.
Also read: Feeding watermelon to sheep
Final Thoughts
Grapes can be a healthy snack for sheep, and many of them enjoy eating grapes. . However, it’s important to remember that sheep should only eat a small number of grapes at a time.
This is because grapes are high in sugar and can cause stomach upset if sheep eat too many of them. Too much sugar can be fatal.
So, if you’re looking for a healthy treat to give your sheep, grapes are a great option! Just be sure to give them in moderation.
