Acorns

[santas_spotty_pony]

The pesky things have started to fall down by the tonne today in the wind. Luckily I have other paddocks so I’ve moved my boy out of his paddock for now as it has two oak trees in it. Joe paddock doesn’t have a lot of grass left in it so was concerned he may start eating them. After raking up and removing two small wheelbarrows I have to and moved him for now.

Does anybody know how many they would have to eat for it to be toxic? I wish I had one of the poo hoovers at the moment as they would be fantastic for removing them! I daren’t risk it and will fence the trees off if he goes back in there (I don’t want him in the other paddock 24/7 because there is quite a lot of grass)

The sycamores haven’t started dropping yet thank goodness but it won’t be long I expect!

What does everyone else do who has oak trees?

 

[little_critter]

I’ve just fenced an oak tree off. I noticed that acorns had started to drop and walked over to the oak to see if there were many on the floor. T followed me over and as soon as he saw me looking at the floor he started rummaging for acorns like they were pony treats ( he had a go at scoffing them last year, it seems he has a taste for them) I went straight back and grabbed the electric fencing to fence it of!

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

I’ve just fenced an oak tree off. I noticed that acorns had started to drop and walked over to the oak to see if there were many on the floor. T followed me over and as soon as he saw me looking at the floor he started rummaging for acorns like they were pony treats ( he had a go at scoffing them last year, it seems he has a taste for them) I went straight back and grabbed the electric fencing to fence it of!

Oh no! I must admit that was my thought - he might think they were treats or pony nuts! On the plus side my boy turned his nose up at them in the wheelbarrow when I was collecting them but I won’t sleep if i think he’s out there munching on them.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

The pesky things have started to fall down by the tonne today in the wind. Luckily I have other paddocks so I’ve moved my boy out of his paddock for now as it has two oak trees in it. Joe paddock doesn’t have a lot of grass left in it so was concerned he may start eating them. After raking up and removing two small wheelbarrows I have to and moved him for now.

Does anybody know how many they would have to eat for it to be toxic? I wish I had one of the poo hoovers at the moment as they would be fantastic for removing them! I daren’t risk it and will fence the trees off if he goes back in there (I don’t want him in the other paddock 24/7 because there is quite a lot of grass)

The sycamores haven’t started dropping yet thank goodness but it won’t be long I expect!

What does everyone else do who has oak trees?

They need to eat a lot, I supplement mine with milk thistle while they are falling as we have to many oak trees to fence off. Though did buy one of these for the pony paddock

 

[Surbie]

Does anybody know how many they would have to eat for it to be toxic? I wish I had one of the poo hoovers at the moment as they would be fantastic for removing them! I daren’t risk it and will fence the trees off if he goes back in there (I don’t want him in the other paddock 24/7 because there is quite a lot of grass)

The sycamores haven’t started dropping yet thank goodness but it won’t be long I expect!

What does everyone else do who has oak trees?

I don't know how many, but we had one in Liphook last year following acorn scoffing so my fencing is going up asap. You can see how many are being eaten by looking at the trees overhanging our track and comparing what is on the path with what is under the field side.

I'm hoping the wind stays westerly for a while as that will blow the sycamore seeds over the road and verge rather than in the fields.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

They need to eat a lot, I supplement mine with milk thistle while they are falling as we have to many oak trees to fence off. Though did buy one of these for the pony paddock

He’s already on milk thistle so that’s good to know!

 

[Anna Clara]

We have oak on one side and sycamore on the other. I'm keeping them about 100m+ from the sycamore, although wind is almost blowing the leaves and a few eaely helicopters that far. Never seen them that far over the field before. I've also fenced off around the oak tree, thank god acorns don't blow! Have had to fence them out of the field with the shelter in as the sycamore is blowing in, even though it wouldn't normally reach. Going to feel so sorry for them in todays weather.

Lovely yard owner thinks I'm mad as horses have lived there for years with no issues but I worry way too much to not do anything. Hate hate this time of year and horrible horrible wind.

Didn't know milk thistle helped but one is on it for sarcoids (has been amazing) and so will carry on with that for them both.

 

[dorsetladette]

No Sycamore here, but Oak on three sides.

I've configured the fencing so the winter field has no Oaks round it. They have been falling for a couple of weeks now.

 

[maya2008]

It’s the ones that get addicted and stop eating grass in favour of acorns that get in trouble. First sign of too many acorns is squishy poos in mine. Those ponies get moved away from the trees. The rest just treat them as an occasional treat and it’s fine.

 

[dorsetladette]

It’s the ones that get addicted and stop eating grass in favour of acorns that get in trouble. First sign of too many acorns is squishy poos in mine. Those ponies get moved away from the trees. The rest just treat them as an occasional treat and it’s fine.

Yep my old lad (lost him this time last year to colic - could be related) was addicted to them. Unfortunately he seems to have taught the others and the sheep to eat them too.