frozen poo

[Kyrabee]

My friend and I are like KitKat. It has to be done. Smallish paddocks. Yuck, if it isn’t done when it thaws out.

We use a garden hoe. That works very well. I make rounds of the pen with the hoe and knock it all loose then make the rounds with the cart to pick it up. This year, it has been so wet then really rutted when it froze that the horses spend most of the time standing on their mats where their feeders are. So, the majority of the poop has been on the mats which is pretty easy to clean even if frozen. Using the hoe might add 5 minutes to the routine/pen (2 horses, 2 paddocks…if done regularly). Yeah if it is really cold, there might be a few juicy ones that are not pickable until it thaws. We would both rather clean in cold conditions than if warmer and wet with ankle deep mud. Cleaning only…then it is too cold to ride. Yep, winter blows. Day are getting longer though…spring is coming someday.

Susan

[Sailboats]

At least once a year I give a frozen pile a good kick and remember why I swore to never do that again.

If my metal fork (6 tines, I think) can’t get it up, I’ll leave it until it thaws enough to pry it loose.

[mkevent]

When I had my farm I was OCD about manure too. I found carrying a sledgehammer when I was picking up paddocks was too cumbersome for me, so I used a crowbar like this

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/c/Heavy-Duty-Flat-Pry-Bar-Bronx-F716/10024974?Wt.ps_id=PS_google_1023&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=1925959763&catargetid=420003430000031947&cadevice=c&gclid=CjwKEAiAiZK1BRD509nPsYiUk2YSJAAMoAwCRM0jlUJI7pfiWKXGbZqVhruYHKp8uTfbOZ5zVt6B4RoCVgrw_wcB

I don’t know how it would work if you lived in an area with super deep freezes, but it worked well when I used it in NJ winters. I used the curved end and swung it so it got under the manure and then pried up the frozen pile. It came up easily.

[SquishTheBunny]

For all of those who pick the frozen poop daily, and that it takes 5 minutes… how big are your paddocks???

It takes me 20 minutes in the summer to walk around the paddock (it’s about 7.5 acres). I’m assuming they just have small spaces, or do you really carry around flashlights in large paddocks chipping up poop every night in the dark ??

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=judybigredpony;8497984]
Can I ask why?? I get it if you horses are milling around the barn area…otherwise the energy to try and remove frozen manure boggles the mind.[/QUOTE]

Good to see I’m not the only one rolling my eyes.

No disrespect to anyone but I just don’t see ANY reason to worry about let alone put that much energy into removing frozen manure. It certainly serves no purpose as far as to the health and well being of the horses. They could care less. Just don’t keep throwing hay in the same places.

I could possibly understand if someone only has a fraction of an acre to work with but even then no harm waiting until it thaws.

Anyone that has several aces to work with should just drag it when the weather suites.

To each their own on this. But really, 42 replies and over 800 reads?

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;8498730]
For all of those who pick the frozen poop daily, and that it takes 5 minutes… how big are your paddocks???

It takes me 20 minutes in the summer to walk around the paddock (it’s about 7.5 acres). I’m assuming they just have small spaces, or do you really carry around flashlights in large paddocks chipping up poop every night in the dark ??[/QUOTE]

I have several 7-10 acre paddocks 3-5 horses in them at times. I would never think of walking around picking up piles let alone doing the same with a flashlight. I just drag it on a regular bases. Especially before a good long hard rain storm. Even if you don’t have a tractor attach the drag to a car or truck.

Our paddocks look good with good grass. Our horses look good and hardly ever have any health out of the ordinary. Have never had ‘parasite’ issues.

I do horses for a living I don’t cut corners but I don’t do what is not necessary.

Again to each their own on this.

[FalseImpression]

Wait till next week. Temperatures are going up … again…
They don’t pick the poop at the farm… just wait until the ground firms up in the Spring and drag, drag, drag. I hate the in between times with mud and poop… but I sure would not go spend that kind of time picking up frozen poo.

[Draftygirl]

Last winter was my first with my mare and her new friend at home in the backyard and all that poop frozen to the ground made me antsy. I was like what does the UPS man think?
This year, meh, 55 or so days till spring and in the meantime I’ll pick up what I can during warm spells.
By the way, does anyone else cringe at the word “poo?” Am I the only one who think it sounds infantile?

[Mosey_2003]

To be honest, I’ve never actually picked the poo from my field. Never seen any adverse affects :uhoh:

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8496413]
I clean daily during daylight savings and in the AM and PM otherwise. I am anal.

Me too. Me too. I close my eyes and wait for a thaw. Then I am out there the SECOND I can.[/QUOTE]
Silly you, those dark times are what a head lamp is for.
I pick the small paddocks (where they spend the night) in the morning and the sacrifice area (where they go during the day as a group) in the evening.

[QUOTE=gumtree;8498747]
No disrespect to anyone but I just don’t see ANY reason to worry about let alone put that much energy into removing frozen manure. It certainly serves no purpose as far as to the health and well being of the horses. They could care less.[/QUOTE]
You are slightly wrong here.
Last year the weather was horrible so we stopped picking very early in the winter season.
What happened was, a horse length away from the round bale they developed a manure berm. Which kept getting taller and taller. After a month they were all standing very seriously down hill while they ate at the round bale.
We ended up with an injury (deep digital flexor tendon).
We had to take the tractor to the mound to make it safe for them to access the round bale because the steep slope got icy. It was not pretty.
It is amazing what a mess three horses can make over one long winter.

I will add that my sacrifice area is right next to my house and though the manure build up might not be a problem as long as it is hidden in snow, it certainly is a problem in the spring as it starts to thaw.

I have no problem if you want to keep your area the way you want to keep it, I will keep mine the way I want to keep it.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;8499214]
Silly you, those dark times are what a head lamp is for.
I pick the small paddocks (where they spend the night) in the morning and the sacrifice area (where they go during the day as a group) in the evening.

You are slightly wrong here.
Last year the weather was horrible so we stopped picking very early in the winter season.
What happened was, a horse length away from the round bale they developed a manure berm. Which kept getting taller and taller. After a month they were all standing very seriously down hill while they ate at the round bale.
We ended up with an injury (deep digital flexor tendon).
We had to take the tractor to the mound to make it safe for them to access the round bale because the steep slope got icy. It was not pretty.
It is amazing what a mess three horses can make over one long winter.

I will add that my sacrifice area is right next to my house and though the manure build up might not be a problem as long as it is hidden in snow, it certainly is a problem in the spring as it starts to thaw.

I have no problem if you want to keep your area the way you want to keep it, I will keep mine the way I want to keep it.[/QUOTE]

Not to be snarky but I suggest reading my comment a little closer. I did ‘qualify’ what I said by saying; “Just don’t keep throwing hay in the same places”

I don’t feed round bales for that reason among others. I have to hay over 20 horses in various paddocks/fields. It doesn’t take the much effort to take small squares out break up into individual 20 lb piles. If I am using big 850 lb square bales each ‘flake’ weights move than 20 lbs. I just stack on the back of my cart and flip each flake off as I drive around. No waste no mess. When the weather is right I drag.

Again to each their own. But winter weather makes for a lot more work as it is. I don’t see any reason to add to it. If all one has to work with is a very small area/property that’s a different story.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Draftygirl;8498931]
Last winter was my first with my mare and her new friend at home in the backyard and all that poop frozen to the ground made me antsy. I was like what does the UPS man think?
This year, meh, 55 or so days till spring and in the meantime I’ll pick up what I can during warm spells.
By the way, does anyone else cringe at the word “poo?” Am I the only one who think it sounds infantile?[/QUOTE]

“By the way, does anyone else cringe at the word “poo?” Am I the only one who think it sounds infantile?”

I don’t cringe but I do chuckle. I call a spade a spade. A lot of people wouldn’t want their kid working with/around me. I use lots of colorful 4 letter metaphors regularly.

[vxf111]

My property is divided up into 3 small runs (that the horses are rarely on), a paddock, and a 4 acre pasture. The paddock is 1/2 lit and I could maybe walk and pick poop with a head lamp… but I think if I went off to do 4 acres with one… I’d go insane. Especially doing it every day there’s not THAT MUCH POOP and I’d have to scan every square inch to find it. With light I can look out and see the areas where the poop is and just go there.

I am currently in “too much snow to do anything” mode. I did scoop the poop right around the water tub because it was fresh and that’s a crummy area to get all dirty. Luckily the horses have enough of an area to roam that the poop doesn’t really build up in any one area. I do hate this time of year, it just BOTHERS me know all that poop is out there and I can’t do a thing. BUT… the moisture from the snow is breaking down the poop so it’ll be much easier to clean once the snow all melts and it warms up. That’s one good thing!

[vxf111]

@gumtree;8499293

“By the way, does anyone else cringe at the word “poo?” Am I the only one who think it sounds infantile?”

What do you want to call it? Feces? Stool?

I think “poop” is a slang word that’s reached fairly common usage.

I think people like it in this context because poop and scoop rhyme.

[fordtraktor]

I keep the sheds picked out but don’t bother with the paddocks when it’s frozen. I’ll get the poop out of the small dry lots/paddocks when it melts and in the fields, agree with gumtree and others – never, just drag it spring and fall. I don’t have enough horses in the fields to make it a problem. It’s fertilizer. You’re removing the good stuff! Don’t tell me you pay to fertilize your grass after taking out the poop in fields!

I don’t use round bales, I feed hay in bale-size nets in the sheds and do remove the poop in the sheds, so the footing by the hay is lovely and dry and nice limestone chips.

vxf111, I interpreted gumtree’s post to mean he calls it $h1t, but perhaps I just have a dirty mind. He can confirm my instincts, I suppose. Actually, I am pretty sure that is what my DH would call it, left to his own devices.

[vxf111]

I assume so as well, ford… and I was pointing out that sh*t is not exactly the proper medial term (feces, stool) either

[Draftygirl]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8499341]
What do you want to call it? Feces? Stool?

I think “poop” is a slang word that’s reached fairly common usage.

I think people like it in this context because poop and scoop rhyme.[/QUOTE]

I like the word poop just fine; it’s “poo” that causes my left eyelid to twitch.

Anyway, just a pet peeve of mine that will not be mentioned again.

[HungarianHippo]

Yes, I agree “poo” it’s a cutesy reference and I wouldn’t use it in normal conversation with fellow adults. It’s manure, or just “crap”. :lol: But in this context it is similar to many other tongue-in-cheek references commonly used on COTH. e.g. lots of horses are referred to here as “Pony” or other diminutive terms.
(Is this the right moment to revive the Great Heart Horse Debate? LOL)

[cloudy18]

An axe. If I can get underneath at the right angle it comes up in a big chunk a lot of the time, with one good swipe or two. Careful, because sometimes small chunks fly back and hit me in the head. So awesome, winter chores. Still, it beats bugs and humidity.