Kids poo picking - rate of pay?

[Fransurrey]

Thinking of asking one of the sharers (of a pony on the yard, not my horse) if their kid would like pocket money for poo picking. I've noticed they now poo pick the field when they're up there, rather than the mum. It's about half an hour if they go in twice a week. Is £5 too stingy per kid? Kids are about 10 and 8.

 

[honetpot]

I would pay them per barrow, so not matter how long it takes them, and how much they leave, you and they can see what they have achieved. I think £5 each is a lot.

 

[Catbird]

I pay my 8 and 6 year old 50p each per barrow they help to fill. Stingy I know, but I can't afford much and some times they do lots and other times they see it's nearly full and quickly put a scoop on top so it counts ?
I'd be more generous if it was someone else's kids, but mine think it's great
Agree that price per full barrow is better than time taken, as kids can get easily distracted (mine like checking out bugs in the poo) and work incredibly slowly so you could pay for lots of time but not much poopicking!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Depends. At 8 and 10, pushing a full barrow without adult help may be a big ask. Think I would ask mum if she minds them being given a fiver and see what the reaction is.

 

[ihatework]

Ask mum first at what she is happy for them to do!
And then deffo agree per barrow/half barrow.

 

[PurBee]

At 10yrs old i would have drooled for a fiver to fill a barrow of poop. Doubt id have the strength to push it tho!

Ash mum what she thinks.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I would ask mum too, they may stop doing their own once they realise they will be paid to do yours!
Per barrow is a good idea, £1 each per barrow [perhaps depending on how much they can fit in a barrow

 

[Fransurrey]

Thanks all. Sounds like I'm being too generous (or have been in Surrey too long!). I'll speak to the mum of course - just wanted an idea as I've never employed a poo picker before! The kids are quite big for their age and don't seem to have trouble with the barrow from what I can see!

 

[Auslander]

I pay per cleared paddock, as I've learned through bitter experience that youngsters (teenagers as well as smaller ones) will do just as much as they feel like if they're paid by the barrow, and I inevitably still have to poo pick, as I like my fields cleared every day. My 2 acre paddocks are easily doable in an hour at teenager speed, and they tend to be a lot faster when they aren't getting paid by the barrow!

 

[Widgeon]

Slightly against the general consensus but I think a fiver sounds fair...you can always explain to them that you will have to stop "employing" them unless they're actually doing the job. If they're concientious kids, and their mum is on board with the plan, it might work out fine.

Edited to add, as above - per cleared paddock sounds like a good way of doing it. Easy to check up on too!

 

[Auslander]

I challenged two early teens to see who could clear their side fastest once. It was highly amusing, watching one of them scoot down the dividing fence, sliding poos under the tape!

 

[Arzada]

It's about half an hour if they go in twice a week. Is £5 too stingy per kid? Kids are about 10 and 8.

I think this is fair.

 

[Ceifer]

I think this is fair.

Me too.

I wish I had some willing kids who’d poo pick. I hate it and would gladly pay them a fiver each.

 

[HashRouge]

I pay per cleared paddock, as I've learned through bitter experience that youngsters (teenagers as well as smaller ones) will do just as much as they feel like if they're paid by the barrow, and I inevitably still have to poo pick, as I like my fields cleared every day. My 2 acre paddocks are easily doable in an hour at teenager speed, and they tend to be a lot faster when they aren't getting paid by the barrow!

I have learnt this lesson too! I now pay £5 a time for my field to be cleared, for what is less than 30 mins work. I think that is very fair! My YO's son or daughter often like doing it to earn money in their holidays.

 

[meleeka]

I have learnt this lesson too! I now pay £5 a time for my field to be cleared, for what is less than 30 mins work. I think that is very fair! My YO's son or daughter often like doing it to earn money in their holidays.

I wish I knew someone like this. I’d happily pay a fiver not to have to do it!

 

[SEL]

I used to pay £5 a full barrow. One young lad (about 10) filled the huge barrow and neither of us could shift it! He got extra but I think his big brother took a cut for actually getting it to the heap and tipping it.

That was one summer when I had lots of riding to do and loads of "helpers" on school holidays.

 

[Jango]

I pay £3 a barrow to a lovely teenager who does 2 barrows a week for me. She's older though about 15 I think, as others have said at that age I'd be worried they wouldn't be great at pushing the barrow!