Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder

   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #1  

kzack

Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Messages
42
Location
Homer City, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Tractor
2210D
I'm asking to see if there is such an implement designed to 'shred' manure or leaves / straw or other compost into a fine media that could be spread onto a lawn as fertilizer.

I am aware of wood chippers, but have never seen a tractor mounted pto unit in operation and don't think that they would shred the compost fine enough (I could be wrong). I do have a rotary tiller and it creates a fine result, but I'd have to turn up my lawn and I didn't want to do that, I just wanted to add it to it like fertilizer.

Here's my situation...I have a large amount of horse / alpaca manure and other compost at my disposal. I also have a large yard with a lousy lawn. I could pay for loads of topsoild and redo my lawn, but frankly don't want to spend the money. I would like to put the manure to good use by using it to build up the lawn over time without tearing it up.

I have a Yanmar 2210d (22hp at pto). Is there any pto attachment designed for this application?
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #2  
Sounds like you are looking for a "Hammer mill" to pulverize the material.

There are probably many more, but here is a link that I have looked at for such item. I don't have one, but would need something if I were to take my Chipper product and get it to a state where I could make Pelets for a Pelet stove for heat.

Buskirk Engineering | Products | Pellet Mills
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks FxdGrMind,

Can you describe exactly how this hammermill works? What do I put in, what do I get out? Seems pretty small, are there larger models that run off of a tractor pto?

Thanks, Keith
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #4  
You could buy a small manure spreader. I bought an old one for $350, the bed's about 10' long. Small ones like this are ground driven, so you don't need PTO drive. As long as you don't go out there when it's wet it gives a pretty nice even spread that would build up over time.
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #5  
I have a chipper/shredder that I use to shred leaves before putting them onto the compost pile. If I were you I would just start a very high volume composting operation and then spread the finished compost out onto your lawn with a manure spreader. I compost leaves, horse manure, grass slippings and any other stuff that comes up in the spring cleanup.
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #6  
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder #7  
Can you describe exactly how this hammermill works? What do I put in, what do I get out? Seems pretty small, are there larger models that run off of a tractor pto?

Around here you can find old PTO hammermills sitting in fence rows for around $100-150. These were used to grind feed for cattle etc. As tractor HP ratings went up I believe 'they' all switched to tub grinders and the like for ease of loading, use etc.

Googling around to find you some reference pics I came across this blog that has great pics and talks about using it a little:

Life on a Southern Farm: Grinding Oats with the Hammer Mill

Might need to screen rocks out of your manure before sending it through something like that to save yourself on possible repairs.
 
   / Shredder / Manure Compost Shredder
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks Guys,

I really like the Chariot Spreader. Seems pretty expensive, but if it works as well as it claims and is durable, seems like a good way to go. I also really like the hammermill idea once I saw the picture of the output. This seems like a good avenue to pursue as it is on the cheap and if it didn't work out, no problem.

Thanks again, Keith
 
 
 
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