Buttercups.

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Buttercups.

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giveitago

Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Location: surrey

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 1:58 pm Post subject: Buttercups.
I have loads of buttercups, they look lovely when in flower but are poisonous to animals. I have dug up some of the single ones by hand but what do i do with the great swathes of them in the field? Should i apply lime to improve the soil which in turn will make it less appealing to the buttercups or should i spray to kill the blighters?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 2:09 pm Post subject:
How many animals have you lost to buttercups? We've never had a problems with them so they just add to the fodder/biomass.

chicken feed

Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 2677

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 2:12 pm Post subject:

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 2:46 pm Post subject:
blimey if buttercups were that poisonous our's'd all be dead by now for sure!

BadgerFace

Joined: 25 Mar 2009
Posts: 915
Location: Sussex

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 4:12 pm Post subject:
I've seen buttercups (when in flower) cause photosensitivity in a pink muzzled horse (a Palomino), generally horses avoid them. We had lots when we first moved here, now only a handful - I guess the sheep have cleared them ? I've also never heard of them to be toxic - goats love them

Dogwalker

Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 1231
Location: Mid Wales

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 5:43 pm Post subject:
Alot of the fields here are full of them, no-one seems too bothered about it. Glad to here goats love them, when I do finally get goats they'll think they're in heaven - buttercups, thistles, nettles ....

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 5:50 pm Post subject:
Just enjoy them.

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 11 7:48 pm Post subject:

Click to see full size image

My old pony in the big meadow - she lived to about 32, and was grey with a pink muzzle. Sheep pigs chickens etc all seem fine

Apparently African Geese eat buttercup roots, so I have bought a pair, (one is sitting at present) however they seem keener on the chicken food, and manage to get in through the pophole

All the best
Sue

PS I think it is a sign that the soil is too acidic, so liming would probably be your answer, and of course then you would get a better crop of grass, but I expect the livestock farmers will be able to give more info.

giveitago

Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Location: surrey

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 11 9:06 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the replies. They take up too much room and i dont want them in the hay. I'll ask mr farmer when he comes to cut the hay.....meanwhile, will think about a goat.

chicken feed

Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 2677

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 11 5:00 am Post subject:
best think about 2 goats,they need their own company

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46375
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 11 7:13 pm Post subject:
farm critters are fine with buttercups in forage as far as i know many plants that are toxic or unpalateable to humans are a nice dinner for most critters that chose to eat them some things taste nice but are toxic but they are quite rare critters usually know what is edible

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 11 8:24 pm Post subject:
I read somewhere that they can be toxic when fresh but not when dried (i.e. in hay)

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46375
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 11 8:37 pm Post subject:
trust your critters to know what is ok ,they will reject wrong snacks most times

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35089
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 11 8:38 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

I read somewhere that they can be toxic when fresh but not when dried (i.e. in hay)

That's what I thought. Also there's an awful lot of different species get called "buttercups".

Liz in Ireland

Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Posts: 1287

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 11 1:15 pm Post subject:
Apparently my late lamented Roger Rabbit shouldn't have been eating buttercup leaves

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