| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| • Goats are natural brush-clearers: A couple dozen goats can chew a half acre of weeds, vines, and brush down to nubs in just a few days, no herbicides needed. • Expect to pay by the acre: Goat rental runs about $400 to $800 per acre, typically cheaper than hiring a crew to clear thick brush. • It’s a reset, not a cure: Goats knock vegetation back to a manageable level, but weeds grow back, so follow up with mowing or spot treatment. |
Weeds 3 feet tall? Don’t want to douse your yard with poisonous weed killers? Learning how to use goats to clear brush from your property is a natural option: More and more people are renting goats with voracious appetites to do the dirty work cleanly.
We’ll tell you what you need to know about renting goats to clear brush and unwanted plants from your property, from how it works to what it costs.
Prefer to leave the overgrowth to a pro instead? LawnLove connects you with local providers who handle everything from bush trimming service to full yard cleanup.
Why rent goats?
Renting goats to clear land, a service pros call targeted grazing, works because goats are voracious, non-picky eaters. They devour grass, shrubs, weeds, vines, and small trees, even poisonous plants if you let them.
Goats also reach steep slopes and tight spots that machines can’t, clearing areas that are otherwise impossible to mow.
Goats don’t eliminate weeds completely. They chew growth down to nubs, giving you a manageable starting point. The weeds grow back, so follow up with more conventional methods like mowing or herbicides for weed control.
Goats aren’t your only option for overgrown land, but each alternative has trade-offs:
| Method | Upside | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Goats | Reach steep, hard-to-access spots | Need fencing and multiple animals |
| Herbicides | Fast, inexpensive | Can be toxic to desirable plants and wildlife |
| Bush hog | Quick on open ground | Can’t reach tight or sloped areas |
Read more: How to Deal with Overgrown Weeds
One woman’s experience
When Jeanne Kaplan of Indianapolis inherited her mother’s home, it was “overwhelmed with weeds,” she said. Kaplan didn’t want to spray a bunch of weedkillers on the yard but instead was looking for a natural, biological weed-control method.
She recalled that her mom liked goats and often talked about having them on the property.
“I saw a story about goats being used in parks,” Kaplan said. “I didn’t want to spray because of the dogs. And I have toads in the yard, and the spray could kill toads.”
The weeds were so high and dense that mowing was not an option. So, Kaplan turned to Goats on the Go.
Indianapolis’ Goats on the Go co-owner Kaitlin Hossom visited Kaplan’s property to determine logistics and provide a cost estimate. She also scouted for plants that would be toxic to the goats.
On weed clean-up day, Hossom delivered the goats in a trailer and penned them with a solar-powered, portable electric fence. The fence kept the goats on the trouble spots and away from toxic plants, such as yews.
The 26 goats spent less than two days in Kaplan’s backyard and gnawed the weeds down to nubs.
What to expect when renting goats
Renting goats is more involved than placing an order online. Here’s what to expect:
- You’ll get a herd, not one goat: Goats are social animals, so the rental company shows up with several at once.
- A site visit comes first: A reputable company visits to assess how many goats you need, plan fencing, flag poisonous plants, protect desirable plants, and provide a cost estimate.
- You’ll lose access to the penned area: Make sure the fencing does not block you from your vegetable garden or the path to the garage.
- The company handles setup: On the agreed-upon day, they bring the goats and set them up inside a portable fenced area. Goats on the Go provides water and food supplements for its goats.
- The goats stay until done: In some instances, goats may be left for a month or more, especially in expansive areas such as parklands or woodlands with invasive species.
Read more: Most Poisonous Landscape Plants for Dogs
How long does it take goats to clear property?
How long goats take to clear your property depends on the size of the area and how thick the brush is.
Bigger or denser parcels take longer. The goats may stay a week on a large property, or a month or more on sprawling sites choked with invasive plants.
More goats finish faster, so ask your rental company what herd size fits your timeline when they estimate the job.
Things to consider before renting goats
Goat clearing isn’t right for every property. Weigh these factors first:
- Is the job big enough: It may be cost-effective to rent goats if you have several acres or more and a week or more to invest in clearing the brush and weeds. If you have a small piece of property, it may make more sense to rent a bush hog and clear it yourself or hire a lawn care provider to do it.
- Will your neighbors object: Goats might not be welcome in a cozy neighborhood. A dozen bleating goats on an acre, 100 feet from your neighbor’s bedroom window, can be quite a nuisance.
- Goats poop: A half dozen or more goats will produce a lot of manure over the course of a couple of days. It can be collected and eventually used as fertilizer. If you don’t want it, will the rental company collect it and dispose of it? Be sure to ask.
- Who’s responsible: Talk to the rental company representative about any concerns you may have, such as who bears the responsibility if a goat escapes its pen, eats a desirable plant, or causes unexpected damage.
Read more: How to Trim Tall and Overgrown Bushes
The cost of renting goats
Goat rental costs $400 to $800 an acre, depending on the size and configuration of the property and types of plants.
Goat rental is considerably more expensive than a DIY application of a post-emergent herbicide, such as a ready-to-use glyphosate.
Read more: How Much Does it Cost to Clear Land in 2026?
FAQs
Stocking density depends on brush density and your goal. For a one-time knockdown, plan on a higher concentration of animals; for ongoing maintenance grazing, far fewer goats spread over a longer period will keep the same acre in check. Your rental company can set the right number after a site visit.
Yes. Left unchecked, goats will strip bark from young trees and nibble prized shrubs, which can girdle and kill them. Protect valuable specimens with tree guards or temporary fencing, and have the rental company flag anything you want preserved before the herd goes to work.
No, goats are not lawn mowers. They graze unevenly and favor weeds and brush over turfgrass, so they won’t leave the clean, level finish a lawn needs. Use goats to knock down overgrowth, then mow to keep it neat.
Let LawnLove help
Not every lawn job fits into a free weekend. LawnLove’s local lawn care pros can take it off your hands with our bush trimming service. Get a free estimate and see what a pro can do for your lawn.
Main Image Credit: Jason | Pixabay
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