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Things that eat grass
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wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 15 10:55 pm    Post subject: Things that eat grass Reply with quote
    

I am vaguely thinking of getting something to keep the grass down. As I understand it, my options are (in more-or-less order of size)

Horses
Cows
Alpacas/llamas
Sheep
Geese
Ducks
Rabbits
Guinea pigs

Have I missed anything significant? Other than scale, is there anything to recommend any particular species?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 15 11:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tapir?

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 15 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you have a lot of grass, you could consider a camel, or if it is only a small amount maybe a tortoise? I would suggest something which you might eventually want to eat.

Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Anything you've missed ? - Venison

Easier in some ways to convert into meat, harder in others.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 1:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Tapir?


Can you make grass saag?!

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Chickens & turkeys probably graze more than ducks.
Although they both like to scratch & dust bath.

chickenlady



Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 9:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bloke with a lawnmower

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Unless you want to keep stock, then I would rent the patch out to some-one else and charge in meat!

Behemoth



Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

For pets get guinea pigs.

Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9702
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

what sort of size plot?

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Geese would discourage scroats, too.

Mutton



Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you do let out, make sure you have a well written lease which includes clauses on management so your field is not trashed by over grazing or heavy stock on it in wet weather turning it into mud (known as poaching).

Also horses tend to be selective in what they eat - they don't eat docks - and if your grazing is exclusively horses in time the field will be overtaken by all the things they don't fancy.

You will also need to look at the standard of your fencing as to what you are trying to keep in.

Is it a field with road access and reasonable smooth? As in no rocks? Because letting it out to a farmer to crop as hay might be the simplest.

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Guinea fowl. And they roost in the trees and just get on with it. Pheasant feeder with mixed corn in it just to keep them in the area.

Mutton



Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Never kept guinea fowl but neighbour did for a little while - made a noise like a squeaky wheelbarrow being pushed around the field.

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Jul 04, 15 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mutton wrote:
Never kept guinea fowl but neighbour did for a little while - made a noise like a squeaky wheelbarrow being pushed around the field.
& then the fox ate them. Or at least that's what happened to my neighbours gleenies.

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