Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone?

   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #1  

countryguy1225

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
119
Location
Fenton, Mi
Tractor
Kubota M6060 & L2550GST(4wd), W/ Backhoe attch. Mitsubhish MT160D (4wd) :- )
Hi everyone -

My question(s) for Haying today.
I see a lot of articles on what you "can do w/ horse waste". My question to the Hay makers here on the ranch; What do you suggest for a good hayfield fertilizer blend? It's a grass mix only we're pushing up. This coming spring will be my first time fertalizing. I hear the following: I can get a cart full of a fert blend and simply deploy it onto my field. Or buy 10 10 10 type stuff and spread my own, or... Use those hay-burners w/ ears as my source. I'm interested in using the horse kind as it's free to me.

The 2nd part- Anyone have a cleaver DIY (do it yourself) Manure Spreader idea? I will need something to shred and spew ... sorry "distribute"
They look so simple and I think I could make something that worked w/ some free time but you folks may even know a qick and easy method. Who's our master MAGyver here? For instance- I remember watching a TV show where a guy made a corn meal ginder from a push type lawn mower. It was pretty darn neat and very effective. LOL.

Thanks everyone.
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #2  
Take a look at the Northern Tool manure spreader. It is close to being homebuilt. I have seen them made out of an extruded metal drum that had a door to put the poop in then roll it around untill it is all out.
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #3  
If you do go with a commercial fertilizer take soil samples to determine what your soil needs. I wouldn't just buy a straight 10-10-10 not knowing if that's what it requires. With what it costs now you can't afford to. Contact your local fertilizer dealer for the sample boxes. If you buy fertilizer from him he'll probably have them analyzed at his cost, although its not expensive to do.
 
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   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #4  
Do you have loaders on the tractors? If so I would find a smaller manure spreader new or working old one maby a 10 to 25 bushel (1000#) model and spread any manure you collect. I use only composted manure and composted hay, nothing green. Find a spreader suitable for the small tractors, maby 1000# dry capacity. Locally we add seed to hay ground now and sometimes again in the spring to improve the stand. Additionally spread commercial fertilizer in the spring for MI probably April.
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #5  
I would take soil sample to extension ag agent. Talk to them they can offer help and direction and options. The soil test here are $6 they ship it to MSU soil lab and send you results, the agent can recommend options and may know of people how have or looking to get rid of ... My wife was a county agent and she spent most every day helping. You are already paying for a consultant most people just don't capitalize on them.
On horse manure, we use a lot of compost. We let it go through its heat and mellow. You are going to have seed from what ever the horse ate good and bad. A good spraying plan is great for pasture management and more cost effective than clipping. Some agents are more knowledgeable in areas than others. But you can always ask to talk to the forage specialist. My wife's background is in integrated pest management and horticulture. She now is home working as momma farm manager. If you need real good info she is smarter than I.
Manure spreader: I would hunt for one in an area that has a lot of commercial chicken houses. They are common, broke, fixable and you can really put it out! Good luck!
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #6  
It has been my experience that if that horse crap isn't composted for at least 3 years, all you will be doing is repreading the weeds they are eating. Not one grass seed will grow, every weed will. Plenty cheap manure spreaders on Craigslist and the faceplace market place, no need to reinvent the wheel on this one. But Compost that poop or you WILL regret it.
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #7  
I'll have to agree with the soil testing. You may actually need more lime, than fertilizer. Whether through the local extension office, or sending to an independant lab, it's money well spent, compared to the price of fertilizer. And, you really don't want a lush pasture for horses, it can cause problems with laminitis, especially in the Spring. Spring grass has 21% protein, and if any of your horsesare suceptable to founder, afew hours on ealy lush Spring grass can cause big problems. Don't ask how I know...

As far as a spreader, spend the money for a good spreader. More money well spent. Newspreaders usually only have 2 speeds. Fast, and real fast. If you compost the manure (I agree with that too) these newer lighter spreaders just aren't designed to spread that type of manure. I bought a new Pequea 80 bushle, single beater, pto spreader about 15 years ago. Nice little spreader if you're spreading fluff. Spreading composed, wet heavy manure, it would really make things hammer. And, I only loaded it level with the sides. It had 2 speeds as mentioned, fast, and real fast. Thesingle beater just didn't spread like what I was wanting.

I kept looking for a slightly larger spreader with at least 2 beater's, 3 would have been better. We had an old New Holland 3 beater years ago when we had cattle, and it di agreat job of tearing the clumps apart, and spreading evenly. 5 years ago, I found a New Idea 2 beater spreader, and it has I'm thinking 5apron chain speeds, and one more speed, that when tyou pull the rope for that last notch, it kicks the beaters out of gear, to do a final cleanout. I absolutely LOVE this spreader..!! I pull it with my Super C Farmall with ease, and load it as high as the bottom of the top beater, and it does a great job. It cost afew coins, but less than a new one, and was money well spent. I sold the 10 year old Pequea, and covered it's cost, so I flet pretty good about that, and got a heck of a deal on the Pequea when I bought it. Dealer's wife posted the price online, and I questioned the price before driving 1-1/2 hours to get there, I questioned the price again upon arrival, He had no idea what she'd put on it. Come to find out, it was $300 below his cost. I gave him the old "false advertising schpeel", and he did agree to sell it to me at his cost. He went to the office, and pulled the paperwork on it, and showed me his cost. I grumbled a bit, but bought it. It was right at $700 less than any other 80P's I'd priced, so it all worked out.

Here's a pic of the New Idea 217 I have now...
DSC01726.JPG
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #8  
Keeping in mind that this is an 8 year old thread;
I once visited a nursery which used pure horse manure for a potting medium. The place they got it from used hardwood shavings for bedding, which probably kept the Ph down a little vs softwood. When it was brought to the nursery he'd spread it out and walk the 10-10-10 right to it, getting it so hot that it would burn the seeds out. (Most likely the N2 also but...)

I'm not sure how he kept his organic certification using that method but it gave him free potting medium to sell his plants in.
 
   / Horse Manure for fertalizer? & DIY Manure Spreader anyone? #9  
Keeping in mind that this is an 8 year old thread;
I once visited a nursery which used pure horse manure for a potting medium. The place they got it from used hardwood shavings for bedding, which probably kept the Ph down a little vs softwood. When it was brought to the nursery he'd spread it out and walk the 10-10-10 right to it, getting it so hot that it would burn the seeds out. (Most likely the N2 also but...)

I'm not sure how he kept his organic certification using that method but it gave him free potting medium to sell his plants in.

Being 8 years old now, it should be well composted :)
 
 
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