Help with my paddock

[skimobob]

Hi
I have two mini shetlands in my paddock who are on loan to me.
As we know the weather has been dreadful and I've struggled to get out to poo pick.
Their owner told me she just lets it rot down in the paddock - does anyone know how this works? I tend to pile it into a heap in the corner.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
L.

[Little Mermaid]

I very rarely poo pick. I rent 3 massive fields which are very rough, boggy and full of reeds and moss. It's not good grazing, and for the most part impossible to walk round as it is so uneven.

I pick up the stuff near our front gate, that bit is more grassy and is where the kids play. Thunder is on his own and is wormed regularly, and sheep also share the fields.

I've not really noticed how long it takes to mulch down, not that long I don't think. Especially if it rains. The birds tend to come down and pick through it too :o The grass has never died underneath it, discoloured slightly but never turned brown.

We have such a massive area, I'd never get round it all to find where he'd been. The patch of field near the house is what I concentrate on.

My two springers also sometimes help distribute the remaining muck by rolling in it!!

It works for me because of the land, but it wouldn't be for everyone - if I had wonderful grassy fields I'd be out every week picking up.

[gypsydust]

I think it works if you have enough acreage - but for me, I poo-pick daily. In summer I do it morning and evening, in winter just in the mornings because of the daylight (I'll be damned if I am trying to do it with a headtorch!) It only takes five minutes if I keep on top of it like this.

It did get buried under the snow we had in February tho, and I had ten days worth to catch up with - that was not fun!!!

[NoviceNic]

You would need to harrow if you dont poo pick. And yes you can only really do it if you have loads of grazing...

[Wally]

If you only have a small paddock and two ponies you are better to poo pick as it will conserve your grazing and keep the ponies' worms down.

[Joyscarer]

I agree.

I usually poo pick as I don't have as much land as I would like. The more ponies per acre the greater the need to put more effort into your paddocks.

However, my field is due to be harrowed so I have left it for the past couple of weeks. I hate the results but harrowing is just around the corner.

It won't break down quickly enough in certain weather conditions to prevent the grass underneath from suffer for lack of light and this will cause patchyness.

I have bought a heavy rake to spread out the poo and allow it to break down more quickly but for me the best way (whenever possible) is to poo pick as ofeten as possible and to consider yourself a grass farmer when you have limited available grazing ;)

[peerielee]

I normally poo pick once a week and get 3 barrow fulls! Over the winter this has lapsed slightly (cant getit done as often with the weather and being pregnant). Hubby is going to pick up the worst of it then harrow it when the ground dries out a little.