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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Sep 2014 : 10:03:45 PM
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nettles again today; bumper crop this year. The horses love them and they are really good for them. I got two barrow loads but then it started raining so I had to stop. They are now spread out to dry and I should get a few more barrow loads before winter sets in. The mornings and evenings are drawing in now and it has definitely turned a bit colder.
Anyone else getting in the nettle crop?
Barbara
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2014 : 10:29:01 PM
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| Ive never tried picking nettles for mine. Can it be any kind of nettle? I know where I could find a batch. Do they have to be fed dry? |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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Misper
Bronze Member
101 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 08:53:47 AM
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I have never tried feeding nettles,but my senior endurance horse has just come down with a virus and my vet told me that he might need an iron supplement as a pick me up,after he recovers. How long should the nettles be dried for? Could I just cut them and leave them lying in the field for the horses to pick at?
Thank you for your advice!
Andrea |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 12:42:22 PM
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Yes, you could just leave them im the field if it is dry; to me a nettle is a nettle so if there are different types (which I am sure there are) the horses have always loved any I have given them. When it is hot they will dry in the sun in a day. Yesterday we had a bit of drizzle and there had been quite a bit of rain in the night so the ground was wet. I wiated until the afternoon to pick them when they were dry and then put them in the hay store to finish drying and then just pile them in the corner until I use them.
It was an old farmers helper who told me about 35 years ago when I was looking after a friend's laminitic pony while she was on holidy. He said they were excellent for laminitics and as they are quite stalky they have more chew value than hay and far less sugars and keep the horses occupied aeting for longer. In those days laminitics were walked and starved; wonder any of them ever survived never mind recovered!!!!
Barbara |
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sarahjo
Silver Member
England
262 Posts |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 1:28:15 PM
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| Garden shears and thick gloves? |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Misper
Bronze Member
101 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 2:59:07 PM
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| Thanks Barbara. I have been out this afternoon,pulling them up with my rubber gloves on. If you grip them hard,they don't sting....wouldn't recommend it gloveless though! |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 5:15:12 PM
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I wear thick gardening gloves and just pull them up. If they have roots on I just twist the stem and snap the roots off leaving almost all of the stem. If there is onlt a long thin root I just rub it hard to remove any soil leave it on. I have never known a horse who didn't love them.
Barbara |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 7:02:12 PM
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| I will be having a go at nettle picking this weekend, Ari loves the purple flowers off the *****ly ones too but he can get them himself. |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 7:19:44 PM
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| I use an old fashioned scythe, but just have to say *****ly because it makes me laugh that it's edited! |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 8:20:52 PM
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| I didn't edit it wow, it's only a *****ly nettle. |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 06:13:13 AM
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| The roots are good too! You can dry them in a very low oven - lay on a sheet and leave for an hour - if you need them in a hurry. I tie mine in buches with baler twine and hang from the hay barn rafters until dry then put in empty feed sacks and seal. |
www.spanglefish.com/kasanarhythmbeads/ |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 09:23:06 AM
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I too love the edit of the sharp things. Talking of *****les (hee hee) where I walk my stallions out there are loads of *****ly (there I go again with that rude word) thistles and the boye love the purple flowers, we always have to stop for them to have a few thistle flowers. Very spoilt boys!
Nice day again today so I will get a lot more nettles. By the way, nettles sting, they are not *****ely.
There, lots of lovery asteriscks for you all to have a snigger at my rudeness.
Barbara
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Edited by - barbara.gregory on 03 Sep 2014 09:23:56 AM |
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 7:36:06 PM
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| Mine love nettles, I've been weeding and tidying up the yard been stung everywhere despite coat and gauntlets but I keep throwing the nettles out to the horses who are scoffing them up..according to Millie and Flo who climbed up the muck heap to get at it..bind weed is also highly edible!! |
Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 7:43:19 PM
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Mine refused bind weed when I tried them with it; must try again as some of the nettles have bind weed round them and I have picked it all off. I have been out picking again today and have been stung badly so am sitting here with my arms on fire. It was too hot in my jacket so I just had a t shirt but I think I will cook in a jacket in future.
Hope they are grateful!!!
Barbara |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 8:54:04 PM
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| Another plant neds love is cow parsley. My boy enjoyed demolishing and eating quite a large plant whilst I was chatting to a friend on the lane. I was curious so googled and the Hemlock connection came up as poisonous. Clearly it wasn't Hemlock but am I right in thinking horse wouldn't eat it anyway. |
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Nashiba
Bronze Member
235 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2014 : 07:23:30 AM
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Ours all love cleavers-I think that is what it's called anyway.It feels quite sticky and it climbs all through other things.
A bit spiky but definately not *****ly ha ha ! |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2014 : 10:27:58 AM
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| We have loads in our little wood, i must go out and pick some and try my lot on them, wonder if i could tie them in bundles and hang them to dry . |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
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Been out picking
