Property Area

How much land needs clearing?

1/4 acre 20 acres

Herd Size

6 60

Vegetation Density

How thick is the growth?

Terrain

What's the ground like?

Primary Vegetation

What are you trying to clear? Select all that apply.

Sheep may be a better fit. For grass-dominant areas, sheep graze more effectively than goats. We deploy sheep for pasture restoration and grass management. The estimate below reflects a sheep flock.

Poisonous / Irritant

Poison Ivy & Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Wild Parsnip
Giant Hogweed
Stinging Nettle

Woody Invasives

Multiflora Rose
Japanese Barberry
Autumn Olive & Russian Olive
Burning Bush
Common & Glossy Buckthorn
Bush Honeysuckle (Amur, Morrow's, Tartarian)
Privet
Wineberry
Tree of Heaven
Callery Pear (Bradford)

Vine & Ground Invasives

Japanese Knotweed
Oriental Bittersweet
Mile-a-Minute Vine
Pale & Black Swallowwort
English Ivy & Wintercreeper
Porcelain Berry
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Lesser Celandine
Mugwort
Phragmites (Common Reed)
Purple Loosestrife

Brush & Native Undergrowth

Blackberry & Brambles
Greenbrier / Catbrier
Virginia Creeper & Wild Grape
Staghorn & Smooth Sumac
Young Saplings (under 6")
Red Cedar (old field)
Alder & Willow thickets
Hawthorn

Grasses (Sheep Recommended)

Overgrown pasture grasses
Tall fescue & orchardgrass
Timothy & ryegrass
Japanese stiltgrass (biocontrol)
Reed canary grass
Clover, chicory & broadleaf weeds

Your Estimate

Recommended

Estimated Duration

Get Your Free Quote

Free site visit. No obligation. We'll provide pricing after assessment.

Timeline

Steep Slopes

Excellent

Chemical Free

Yes

120HP Mulcher

Timeline

Steep Slopes

Limited

Chemical Free

Yes

Estimated Cost Comparison

Choose grazing for sensitive areas, steep terrain, near waterways, around structures, or where soil preservation matters.

Choose mulching for fast turnaround on accessible land, heavy woody material (6"+ trunks), or when immediate results are needed.

Get a Mechanical Clearing Quote

Via Hudson Valley Forestry — our sister company

Note: This calculator provides rough estimates for planning purposes only. Actual herd size and duration depend on site conditions, access, fencing needs, and seasonal factors. Contact us for an accurate assessment after a free site visit.

Goats: ~30 goats per acre for moderate brush and woody vegetation. Light growth reduces this, heavy/dense thickets increase it.

Sheep: ~20 sheep per acre for grass-dominant areas. Sheep graze low to the ground and are ideal for pasture restoration.

Steep terrain adds ~25% more time (goats love hills, but fencing setup takes longer).

Duration is based on typical clearing rates. Your free site visit will give us the specifics for an accurate plan.

Common Questions

Everything: animal transport to and from your property, temporary electric fencing, water supply, daily herd management, and a dedicated wrangler on-site. You don't need to provide anything.

It's a ballpark for planning. Every property is different, so we always do a free site visit before providing a quote. The actual herd size and timeline may vary based on access, fencing complexity, and specific vegetation conditions.

Goats are browsers -- they go after woody vegetation, brush, vines, and invasive shrubs. They'll eat things with thorns and toxins that nothing else will touch. Sheep are grazers -- they crop grasses and low herbaceous plants close to the ground, making them ideal for pasture restoration and meadow management. We'll recommend the right animal (or combination) for your property.

A 120HP forestry mulcher is faster and can handle heavy woody material (6"+ trunks), but it needs equipment access and leaves soil disturbance behind. Goats excel on steep slopes, near waterways, around structures, and in sensitive areas where you want zero soil impact. Many clients use both -- mulcher for the heavy lifting, then goats for ongoing maintenance. Our sister company Hudson Valley Forestry handles mechanical clearing if that's a better fit.

Nope! Our crew handles everything. We set up the fencing, manage the herd, provide water, and clean up when done. You're welcome to watch (it's pretty entertaining), but it's not required.

Our goats are contained within temporary electric fencing, separate from your animals. Dogs should be kept away from the fencing area, but otherwise coexistence is typically smooth. We'll discuss any concerns during the site visit.

For many situations, one thorough grazing is enough. Persistent invasives like Japanese knotweed or deep-rooted poison ivy may benefit from a follow-up visit 6-8 weeks later. We'll recommend the right approach for your situation.

Grazing Calculator