05-17-2013, 08:34 AM
We have the standard HPP lot that was bulldozed to death when the lot was first developed and then the builder built up a rock platform at the front of the lot which stair steps down to the flat and much lower back 1/2 to 2/3rds of the lot. During a long period of time when my husband was laid up with a foot injury, the weed whacking in the back part got way ahead of us, and now it is ridiculous.
I want to get some sort of herbivore or herbivores to keep the grass under control and need advice on what kind. We have the following conditions to work with:
1. The prior owners planted a bunch of really exotic fruit trees in the back, which are now mature, and we've planted a few other things which are still small, so I don't want something that will clear cut the fruit trees just for spite, which seems like it would rule out goats, although I've had goats before and liked them in spite of their goatish personalities. Have people been successful with orchard goats as long as they had enough other stuff to eat?
2. My dogs have never shown in interest in mammals bigger than them, although their prey instinct with anything chicken sized or smaller is intense, but I am still a little wary about sheep, because I know sheep can be really attractive to dogs.
3. I would prefer to cross fence with electric fence to keep the grazer out of the front "yard" where the house is, so the dogs would probably be able to get back to the animals.
4. I would love to get a weaner calf every year and raise him for the freezer, but my vegan husband would have a really hard time with that.
5. A donkey would be about the right size but they don't do well alone and can be noisy.
6. I have had a lot of experience with horses and ponies, and would give a pony a loving retirement home, but the prices for them in Hawaii are really high, even for retirement age horses and ponies. Plus ponies also are herd animals.
Any practical advice would be welcome.
Carol
edited to add a missing punctuation mark
I want to get some sort of herbivore or herbivores to keep the grass under control and need advice on what kind. We have the following conditions to work with:
1. The prior owners planted a bunch of really exotic fruit trees in the back, which are now mature, and we've planted a few other things which are still small, so I don't want something that will clear cut the fruit trees just for spite, which seems like it would rule out goats, although I've had goats before and liked them in spite of their goatish personalities. Have people been successful with orchard goats as long as they had enough other stuff to eat?
2. My dogs have never shown in interest in mammals bigger than them, although their prey instinct with anything chicken sized or smaller is intense, but I am still a little wary about sheep, because I know sheep can be really attractive to dogs.
3. I would prefer to cross fence with electric fence to keep the grazer out of the front "yard" where the house is, so the dogs would probably be able to get back to the animals.
4. I would love to get a weaner calf every year and raise him for the freezer, but my vegan husband would have a really hard time with that.
5. A donkey would be about the right size but they don't do well alone and can be noisy.
6. I have had a lot of experience with horses and ponies, and would give a pony a loving retirement home, but the prices for them in Hawaii are really high, even for retirement age horses and ponies. Plus ponies also are herd animals.
Any practical advice would be welcome.
Carol
edited to add a missing punctuation mark
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb