Field management. Or is Poo-picking really necessary?

[MrFibble]

I have just cleared a wheelbarrow of poo from my field. The field is only a small one (half an acre) for a bit of winter turn out and there's at least another 2 wheelbarrow loads to come off. Is it really necessary? Tell me it isn't so and I am not doomed to slogging around the field picking up poo for ever....

yes, yes, yes! Be encouraged. The worm count of the horses where i work is very low, which is attributed to diligent poo picking! It is done every day whch makes it easier. I used to find it quite therapeutic!

hope you are not making brownies with the poo?

OK, OK, I'll stick to it (but not literally I hope ). I guess if I do it every day it will be easier. I can see myself out there at night with a head torch pushing the wheelbarrow around. Ah well. Will have to invest in a poop-scoop too.

BTW how long do I need to leave the manure to rot before I chuck it on my garden? Can I stick it straight on the veggie patch now or will this result in something horrible?

yup, in a field that size afraid so.

I have an 8 acre and a 6 acre.. that doesn't get picked but gets chain harrowed regularly.

No, the brownies are not being made with the poo although earlier on today I thought the result might have been better if I had! I will not tell my guests that I poo-picked a field whilst their brownies cooled....

The girls are out on the field several times a week for between 2 and 8 hours depending on how much rain we've had. They really do have a favourite corner so that's making things a little easier to handle (unfortunate turn of phrase there). I would love a big field but it's so difficult to buy land around here in reasonable amounts. We tried to get a chunk of a lot that was sold last month but it was all 100 hectares or nothing and I don't think I need that much for 2 horses to live on permanently....

We have three acres and 2 and half ponies on it ,and we poo pick every day ,takes between 10-20 minutes ,worth doing ,keeps the grass nice and clean. I often drive past field and see them covered in poo and tut

2 and half ponies? The mind boggles!

We have two and a half as well, counting shetland as the half. We poo-pick every day which means it all just about fits on one wheelbarrow so doesn't take long. Our field looks lovely and clean and evenly grazed, no horrible manky clumps, and it makes up for our worming regime being a bit less strict than it once was.

How are you cleaning up? I know some people use those giant-dustpan-and-scraper thingys or a shovel but I've got a bad wrist and find them really hard work and time-consuming. Shovels are awkward unless the grass is short as you always end up leaving some poo behind (I'm a perfectionist ).

Rubber gloves for me every time, although you do need to have lots of pairs in the summer when they get all horrid and sweaty inside. Bigger ones in the winter let you wear woolly gloves underneath. See, after years of poo-picking I am an expert on the finer points. Not sure if that's a good thing or not .

We poo pick once/twice a week. You need to leave it at least 12 months unfortunately to rot down properly. Before that it's too acidic and will rot the roots of the plants so I've been told.

And don't put manure where you want to grow parsnips, it makes them fork and when you dig them up they look like horrible creepy hands!

Oh dear, I've chucked some of the poo around the bottom of my hedges - I hope it doesn't do horrible things to them. I don't know if I can stand having a giant muckheap in my garden for an entire year before I put it on the veggie patch. Maybe I could sacrifice a corner of the field for that?

Pixel - I'm using a shovel to pick up the poo but since the grass is long in their favoured poo-patch it's not easy. I was going to buy one of those massive poop scoops and wear rubber gloves!

buy a poop scoop they are brilliant. do it as often as you can we now have 3 and a half ponies on 4 acres and try to do it twice a day. if you only have half an acre and don't do it the grass will all turn sour and the ponies wont eat it. you do get used to doing it (honest!)

yes our half is a shetland , as wide as she is tall

Well, I hope you're all impressed. I poo-picked last night in the pee-ing rain with a head torch! Four hours on the field only produced 4 buckets so I am pretty sure I missed some. I will do a look over in daylight if I can today.

Seriously though, what else can I do to keep this mini-field as good as possible? Should I rake up the moss and sow more grass seed? Any tips gratefully received.