Walnut Trees

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 7:49 am

In the olden days in Europe the pigs were driven into the oak forest to eat the acorns before winter.

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:00 am

Why OC? Just to clean them up?

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:40 am

Running pigs in the forest was common here too. Pigs running loose grow heavier than stuck in a yard and fed corn: and leaner meat with the exercise. We get a mast year (acorn harvest) every two years and the turkeys and deer spend a lot of time eating acorns.
We had a friend with a remote farm and one year he raised a hundred pigs running free. They ate apples and acorns and he fed them once per day. He'd put feed in the trough in the yard and call them in and they came running from everywhere. Best pork we ever had.

Post by **WLLady** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:38 am

yep! deer LOVE acorns! most hunters will stake out the oak stands in the fall under all the acorns have been browsed up. oak trees are nice looking trees too.

having drafts with walnuts is fun...the walnuts fall and generally will sink into the sand okay, but the one that doesn't manages to enbed itself into the space beside the frog in their feet! last year molly stepped on one just right and i had to drill a screw into the walnut and hit it sideways with a hammer to get it out, the hoof pick and the screwdriver couldn't fit under it she wedged it in so badly....so of course she comes limping over on 3 legs and holds it up for me....took about 20 minutes and she had a huge bruise afterwards. not an issue for "normal horses" with "normal feet"...they'd just stand on them and get bruised, but these drafts i tell ya....LOL. my vet had advised that when we take the trees down to close off the paddock so they don't breath in the shavings from the chainsawing. but that won't be happening for a few years....since they've been hit by lightning i'm actually thinking about keep the logs and getting them sawn to use in the house, or for a table or something. i'm sure they look interesting inside from lightning strikes.

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:47 am

My 870 has a lovely walnut stock hubby made for me!

ross · Post by **ross** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:58 am

Funny you say that KB . Back '65 i bought my first 12 ga a single shot Cooey . Still use for home/ farm protection . Shortened to 20" barrel from 28" for easier handling in tight areas . The original stocks & forearm were Maple but this one came thru with a Walnut wood . Still looks great after all these years of heavy use . Luck

JP* · Post by JP* » Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:02 am

Add me to the list of folks with Allergies. Yikes. We could start a whole thread about it. :)

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:54 am

Maximus wrote:QR_BBPOST Why OC? Just to clean them up?

Why not KB??? although I can take a guess, free feed? :)

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:58 am

Yes, grazing the common land!

G Williams · Post by **G Williams** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 11:06 am

The walnut trees and butternuts grow so fast around here!! much faster than any maple tree. The 'baby' down by the mom tree had walnuts on it in 10 years.

Yes, we collect them. Tractor buckets full... and then dump them back in the bush. I can't believe the size of the ones growing in my garden. Before I even realize another one has grown... its 7 feet tall!

Our experience with Walnut trees is similar to Bayvista's