It sounds like you live right next door to me. I have not had any problems with cactus and my chickens or ducks. We keep the mesquite cleared on our farm but let it grow on the fields next to the mowed field and cattle graze there. We do keep the lantana cut because it is poisonous to most animals and we choose to err on the side of caution. Good luck in this heat. Too bad you can't just get a burn permit and wipe it all out at once. But then you would probably be on the 6 o'clock news.Odd question for those of you for whom prickly pear is a nuisance/weed:
I'm clearing the "wild" part of my property in preparation for (finally) getting it properly fenced in - the work crews need to have access without having to wade through waist deep grasses, lantana and mesquite saplings! I've been using my (very tough) mower to just systematically go over and shred everything - very hard work in this heat. I am doing the same for the prickly pear, just running it over - I don't really have too many proper big stands any more, but the pads keep popping up. (And I'm sure they'll regrow form the shredding bits, form my experience.)
For those of you who range your chickens in this sort of terrain, are there any problems with prickly pear, or any of the other thorned weeds? It seems that it is the rare weed/native plant that ISN'T thorned, some of them wickedly so. While I'd like to assume they'd be smart enough not to eat something like that if it would hurt them (e.g., swallowing spines), and to stay away if it scratches them, I thought it would be worth asking. (Eye injuries?) Also, anyone have issues with ducks and this sort of vegetation? I'm possibly getting muscovies in the spring, and was hoping to let them roam most of the property (about an acre in the back).
I'll sit here and search BYC as well while I rest - I have to let my body temperature come back down before going back out there...
- Ant Farm