Fat Hens will they eat them or am I going to have to kill the clover

Bojangles

Member
Location
Scotland
Got a reseed that is just full of fat hens 🤦‍♂️
I took the chance as it was sprayed off and put a decent amount of clover in the mix. Now I’m staring at a bloody mess. Have put ewes on it and obviously they are loving the grass but it’s becoming obvious as they eat it down how bad the bloody things are. If I graze it bare how enthusiastic will they be tomunch on the weeds ?. I expect I’m going to have to spray but I’m sure all of you fine optimistic folk will say otherwise 🙃
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Have used Leystar in similar situation with good effect, may well knock your clover but there will be seeds still in there.
I think if it were me and your sheep are already on it I would let them eat it off and then mow/top if needed.
Only an annual weed so won't be there next year anyway.
 

Bojangles

Member
Location
Scotland
Have used Leystar in similar situation with good effect, may well knock your clover but there will be seeds still in there.
I think if it were me and your sheep are already on it I would let them eat it off and then mow/top if needed.
Only an annual weed so won't be there next year anyway.
Cheers mate. Hope you are well. Been a long time
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
Problem is it’s my best grass 🤦‍♂️
Put a lot of mouths on it and eat as much as you can before the fat hen goes stalky and runs to seed.

Then mow it off. With the heat and moisture available now you'll get a good regrowth of grass and clover.
Am I stuck with them forever now
No, you not see them again - well, until the next time you re-seed it :facepalm:
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
Put a lot of mouths on it and eat as much as you can before the fat hen goes stalky and runs to seed.

Then mow it off. With the heat and moisture available now you'll get a good regrowth of grass and clover.

No, you not see them again - well, until the next time you re-seed it :facepalm:
👆this. Very much this. No need too spend on chemicals
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Nothing available to spray now is clover safe, which limits options somewhat. If you can mob stock it, it will be gone. Alternatively topping, or a light silage cut, will kill it out too.
It’s an annual, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.

I’ve removed it from one new ley by mob grazing this year, and another by mowing & baling.
Another reseed is just emerging, with plenty of fathen seedlings there too.:(
 

Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Nothing available to spray now is clover safe, which limits options somewhat. If you can mob stock it, it will be gone. Alternatively topping, or a light silage cut, will kill it out too.
It’s an annual, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.

I’ve removed it from one new ley by mob grazing this year, and another by mowing & baling.
Another reseed is just emerging, with plenty of fathen seedlings there too.:(
We had a world champion sized crop one year.
Advice from agronomist was cut and bale it. We had 11 solid round bales off 7 acres. Moved bales quickly as it turns to mush over time.
Excellent result and no chemicals.
Cut and dump -NOW….!


I cut and ensiled fat hen in a reseed few years ago as was short on forage.
Just as well as tipped it on the dung heap.
Was a layer of crap onto of the clamp.

I'd top it of mow and bale to remove it.

Cutting it and leaving rows would affect the sward beneath.
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
I get fat hen every time after reseeding, fat hen in august sowings never gets tall so just leave it to die over winter, fat hen in spring sowing I top it even if it’s just knocking it half way down rather than at ground level
 

Happy

Member
Location
Scotland
Have used Leystar in similar situation with good effect, may well knock your clover but there will be seeds still in there.
I think if it were me and your sheep are already on it I would let them eat it off and then mow/top if needed.
Only an annual weed so won't be there next year anyway.

On fat hen?
Leystar doesn’t do much on that in my experience.
Just topped a reseed absolutely full of it sprayed with leystar. On reflection should probably have put a touch of MCPA in with it.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Few options I used
No clover spray
Graze as early as it will take stock as in the picture , not much weed left there and does it the world of good
Got two fields that I could not graze so gone for the cut and bale option , weed was not to bad so it did no harm leaving at a while
Top early if you can't graze or spray and weed is at an unsafe level
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
our biggest weed problem, after docks and thistles, just top it off, shouldn't come back, if it does, winter will kill it.
We call it bacon weed, always told it came in with pig feed, anywhere we cultivate, up it comes, if the spray doesn't work in the kale, we can get 5/6foot tall stands, plenty of kale underneath thankfully.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Sheep may be a better option but are more selective , cows seem to munch the lot if it's not to mature , but you need a big mob so they are in and out quick
IMG_20210714_144619__01.jpg
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
our biggest weed problem, after docks and thistles, just top it off, shouldn't come back, if it does, winter will kill it.
We call it bacon weed, always told it came in with pig feed, anywhere we cultivate, up it comes, if the spray doesn't work in the kale, we can get 5/6foot tall stands, plenty of kale underneath thankfully.
Think with docks you just have to give up with clover for a few years Minstrel is relatively cheap and will sort them out in grass , but roundup them before you sow anything

Imo , you've been farming as long as me so not trying to tell you how to farm sorry [emoji23]
 

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