Laura Corin Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Some of the houses we are looking at in Scotland have one or more paddocks attached, on average about 1.24 acres. We have no interest in keeping livestock, but would love to have an exploring space for the kids. I can't see there being a fire risk (damp climate) but presumably the grazing would deteriorate if it was just left. We could rent out the paddock for someone's livestock, but keep access... Any experience? Laura Quote
jail warden Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Oh my goodness!!! When I first read this I thought you wrote padLock!!! I thought, well you lock things up!!!:lol: Sorry I can't help you with your original question! Quote
nmoira Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 I'd get a cow or some goats, but that's just me. Quote
astrid Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Get some sheep---> have them shorn---> card/spin their wool ---> spend the chilly winters knitting lovely things for your family!! But that's just me. I have a serious wool addiction. :lol: Quote
MicheleB Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 You could just have it mowed by someone nearby who has the machinery to do that. Then your kids could still play there, and it wouldn't get all over-grown. Quote
Book Crazy Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Oh my goodness!!! When I first read this I thought you wrote padLock!!! I thought, well you lock things up!!!:lol: Sorry I can't help you with your original question! That's how I read it as well. I think I've had too many of these tonight Quote
Mekanamom Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 LOL, well I would get horses. And sheep. And goats too. And maybe one of those mini cows someone posted about a while ago. But... if you just want to keep it clear of weeds, sheep or goats would be very good for that. Sheep are grazers, goats are browsers. So it sort of depends on what kind of vegetation you have in the paddock to determine which animal would be more suited to it. Both sheep and goats are a little less messy in the manure department than either horses or cows. And really... spinning wool is very fun, like Astrid said!! So if you are into that, go for the sheep. I have two sheep; they keep their paddock mostly free of weeds (they don't eat the scotch thistle, though) and I shear them and spin their wool every year. It's a nice hobby. Quote
Laura Corin Posted July 12, 2008 Author Posted July 12, 2008 But... if you just want to keep it clear of weeds, sheep or goats would be very good for that. Sheep are grazers, goats are browsers. So it sort of depends on what kind of vegetation you have in the paddock to determine which animal would be more suited to it. Both sheep and goats are a little less messy in the manure department than either horses or cows. And really... spinning wool is very fun, like Astrid said!! So if you are into that, go for the sheep. I have two sheep; they keep their paddock mostly free of weeds (they don't eat the scotch thistle, though) and I shear them and spin their wool every year. It's a nice hobby. Shearing and spinning..... I can't see it, but one never knows. Laura Quote
Melissa in Australia Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 I am sure that someone in the neighbourhood would gladly put some sheep in there for some free grazing and not mind the kids running around with them I understood the word paddock perfectly, that is what they are called in Australia, not a field ! Quote
Laura Corin Posted July 12, 2008 Author Posted July 12, 2008 A paddock implies a small area of grazing, usually near a house, whereas a field could be any size, anywhere, and with anything growing. Laura Quote
Melissa in Australia Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 paddocks are small and large here in Australia, they could be 10 acres, or 1000 acres.:D Quote
sarah in tenn Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Paddock is such a proper term. There are a number of small ruminants that are so cute from that area.They could keep it grazed. Shetland sheep are great. Many are very low maintenance. I'd just enjoy having a fenced area to let the kids run wild in. Sarah Quote
Storm Bay Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Shearing and spinning..... I can't see it, but one never knows. Laura No, just sell the fleece. However, goats make good milk--perhaps Calvin and/or Hobbes could learn to milk goats. Think of the science involved, too, in having the kids, etc, not to mention how it might help illustrate history... Quote
Kareni Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Oh my goodness!!! When I first read this I thought you wrote padLock!!! I thought, well you lock things up!!!:lol: Sorry I can't help you with your original question! I find it strangely appropriate that someone named jail warden would see padLock. Regards, Kareni Quote
Spy Car Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 I find it strangely appropriate that someone named jail warden would see padLock. Regards, Kareni LOL :lol: Evidently I need to "spread" before giving you more "love", but that is funny! :D Quote
Cindyg Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Well, duh! Of course you put horses in each one! It makes me very sad to imagine a home with paddocks and yet paddocks with no horses. That's just very wrong. Very, very wrong. Quote
Laura Corin Posted July 19, 2008 Author Posted July 19, 2008 But.... if you have horses, then you have to deal with horses. Honestly, a dog is about as much livestock as I'm prepared for (and more than we've ever had before). Laura Quote
Storm Bay Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 But.... if you have horses, then you have to deal with horses. Honestly, a dog is about as much livestock as I'm prepared for (and more than we've ever had before). Laura Now, after living in foreign lands, you really mean a dog as a pet and not as livestock, right;)? My kids have been studying Lewis and Clark, and sometimes dog was on the menu... Quote
Laura Corin Posted July 20, 2008 Author Posted July 20, 2008 I suspect we won't eat the dog. After twenty-three years of avoiding eating dog in Asia, I suspect I will be able to restrain myself in Scotland. Laura Quote
Foofy Coffee Lover Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Oh, thank you. I was just getting ready to look up the exact definition of paddock. Sounds great! Quote
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