DIY horse manure breaker-upper(er) - suggestions request

[Wagtail]

G'day all. I've got a couple of horses who's main job in life is to make manure. And they're darn good at it too. Instead of purchasing some fancy vacuum/chopper device that I've seen advertised, a friend has suggested that I make something to drag the paddock & break up the balls. The most common suggestion is to get my hands on an old metal gate to drag behind the tractor. A log or old tyres attached to the leading edge to hold it down & a series of chains D-shackled to the back should finish it off.

Later in the season I'll till the whole paddock to work it in.

Suggestions gratefully asked for, especially 'what worked best' & 'DON'T do this...' . Please note, there may be a wee bit of a language barrier (paddock = pasture) and I don't know if I'm simply trying to reinvent the wheel. :laughing:

Ta (= thanks)

 

[DJ54]

A piece of chain link fence attached to a post on front & back for weight has worked well for me in the past, scattering horse biscuits. Made the tongue out of chain in the form of a V, with a ring on center to pull it.

Made it from "stuff" I had laying around. Works pretty good..!!

My buddy who runs the local starter gen. shop uses a hay tedder to spread out the cow patties in his pastures.

 

[Localmotion]

Just get a chain harrow - you should be able to pick up a cheap second hand one easily...?

 

[Localmotion]

Just noticed you're in Tas... try these people: Pacific Supply Group. They are Siromer dealers - and siromer sell a very cheap (at least here) chain harrow set which would do your job perfectly and last a lot longer than a gate or chainlink fence....

 

[camshawn]

I used a piece of old light gauge railroad track that I welded a set of old truck triple tire chains to. The track broke the up the heavy stuff and the chains further broke and leveled. This also dug up a lot of the moss that is in the ground and leveled high spots. The connection to the tractor is via 2 pieces of chain to form a V and a ring. All stuff that was around at the time, cost $0, time, a couple of hours.
Cam

 

[bjcsc]

I started with a 6'x8' piece of chain link fence weighted down with an 8x8, then went to 8'x8' chain harrow, then went to and currently use a landscape rake. Problem with anything you drag is 1) It has to stay in the paddock or you have to drag it in and out, or pick it up high with the FEL and move it around 2) You can't back up to store it/move it or get into corners when using it and 3) If you have any vegetation at all (grass, leaves, pine needles, etc.) they clog and are a pain to clear. Another plus for the rake is that it is useful for many other things, too...

 

[camshawn]

I pick up my drag with the FEL. My neighbour had the local welder make a frame for his 3 point that he picks up his chain harrow with. Seems to work well for him.
Cam

 

[dusty3030]

Whole lot of chickens.

 

[OldMcDonald]

All workable solutions - if you have spare stuff lying around. If not, I go with Localmotion. There are tpl mounted chain harrows available, but I have not farmed in Oz (northern NSW) since 1991 so not up to date with suppliers. If you can pick up second hand then it will probably work out cheaper than making your own.

 

[zzvyb6]

I've used a 2 stage snow blower to do the job nicely on dried, not frozen manure. It turns in into a powder that goes everywhere in the wind. Before that I used an old Jacobson paddle type snow blower to re-home the stuff over the fence. Also not recommended for frozen stuff. Other than the dust, these two deals worked really good in a sand lot (no grass or weeds). Most recently, I've used a trailer type of leaf vacuum attached to my JD F-935 72" front mower. This collects it up so I can take it to a pile and burn it. (Gives the neighborhood that good old burning cork smell). This method does NOT work well with fresh stuff, though. It tends to plug up the chute and hose. Once it's dry, though, sheit happens ! I'm still surprised that no one has perfected a manure burner for their home or garage. A lot of heat value in the stuff, especially horse residoo-doo.

 

[Wagtail]

Ah HA! A Chain Harrow. That's what it's called. I like the idea of using old tyre chains, unfortunately it just doesn't snow in the majority of Australia, let alone Tasmania. supply & demand being what it is they'd be a wee bit pricy. I suppose I could cross-link with more D-shackle/chain.

Good point on transporting it between paddocks. Fortunately I have a forklift/bale spike attachment for the 300CX!

Ta.

 

[Leejohn]

If the paddock isn't super big try a 3 pt tiller set about 1" deep. What do you think, this is just off the wall.

 

[donais]

i use my arenavator i made mine myself but it looks alot like the arenavator

 

[whistlepig]

We have used this for years and it works pretty good:

Welcome to FHM Equipment LLC

 

[Wagtail]

i use my arenavator i made mine myself but it looks alot like the arenavator

It would be very interesting to see a picture of what you've created donais.

 

[Wagtail]

I've used a 2 stage snow blower to do the job nicely on dried, not frozen manure. It turns in into a powder that goes everywhere in the wind. Before that I used an old Jacobson paddle type snow blower to re-home the stuff over the fence. Also not recommended for frozen stuff. Other than the dust, these two deals worked really good in a sand lot (no grass or weeds). Most recently, I've used a trailer type of leaf vacuum attached to my JD F-935 72" front mower. This collects it up so I can take it to a pile and burn it. (Gives the neighborhood that good old burning cork smell). This method does NOT work well with fresh stuff, though. It tends to plug up the chute and hose. Once it's dry, though, sheit happens ! I'm still surprised that no one has perfected a manure burner for their home or garage. A lot of heat value in the stuff, especially horse residoo-doo.

That is a hilarious mental image. Horse poo blowin' in the wind! Or a 'fresh stuff' mortar! Unfortunately there's not much call for snowblowers in Tasmania (0% actually).

 

[Notforhire]

I have good luck using a chain harrow. It tends to level out any ruts, and loosens a little soil, if you have the tooth side down. My paddock is small, so I use a york rake to drag the manure out to the pasture. Once it's in the open I can drag the chain harrow over it.

Another method used by folks around here is to attach truck, or tractor tires together and make a drag. A friend raises cattle. He uses the tire method, says it works better than a chain harrow.

 

[Wagtail]

Another method used by folks around here is to attach truck, or tractor tires together and make a drag. A friend raises cattle. He uses the tire method, says it works better than a chain harrow.

That is an interesting concept. Instead of using old tyres to weigh it down, use them as the actual drag. How do the folks attach them together so that it securely stays together and in place? Old tyres are readily available from the 'tip' at about A$3 each and would be a great recycle project.

 

[bcp]

From:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...best-way-level-farm-ground-2.html#post2797388




From:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/89698-drag-harrow-2.html#post1011416




From:
Functional Horsemanship: Tracking - Dragging Sign Cut Areas

 

[Wagtail]

Ooooh! THIS is why TractorByNet is such a great site. Answers, like all of these suggestions (and older forums) help to stop 're-inventing the wheel'.

Good stuff.