Brush Hog or Goats

[kiphorn]

I have an area of land adjacent to my house that I want to clean up. First I thought about goats and even started putting up an electric fence. But the deer are tearing down the fence as fast as I put it up and the wife and kids are worried about what will happen to the goats over the winter.

So I started thinking about a brush hog. I've never used one and never seen one in action. There are briars, poison ivy, saplings, trees, stumps and I'm sure there are some rocks in the area I want to clear. The picture I attached shows what I’m up against. The picture makes it appear that it slopes but it really is pretty flat.

What happens when you encounter stumps and rocks with a brush hog? Since the brush is so thick, can I back into the brush instead of driving through it and being torn to shreds by the briars?

After reading the many posts on brands and so forth I'll probably look into the KK's at TCS depending on what the response is here.

Thanks,

Kip

 

[kiphorn]

I have an area of land adjacent to my house that I want to clean up. First I thought about goats and even started putting up an electric fence. But the deer are tearing down the fence as fast as I put it up and the wife and kids are worried about what will happen to the goats over the winter.

So I started thinking about a brush hog. I've never used one and never seen one in action. There are briars, poison ivy, saplings, trees, stumps and I'm sure there are some rocks in the area I want to clear. The picture I attached shows what I’m up against. The picture makes it appear that it slopes but it really is pretty flat.

What happens when you encounter stumps and rocks with a brush hog? Since the brush is so thick, can I back into the brush instead of driving through it and being torn to shreds by the briars?

After reading the many posts on brands and so forth I'll probably look into the KK's at TCS depending on what the response is here.

Thanks,

Kip

 

[Bird]

Yes, you can back a brush hog into the brush. You can even raise it, back over some things, and let it down slowly onto them. But stumps and rocks? You might just shear a shear bolt or slip the slip clutch, if your brush hog is so equipped, or you might do a lot of damage, depending on how big those stumps and rocks are, how fast you hit them, etc. That does look to me like a good area for goats, and of course the number of goats required to clear it out would depend on how big an area you have.

 

[Bird]

Yes, you can back a brush hog into the brush. You can even raise it, back over some things, and let it down slowly onto them. But stumps and rocks? You might just shear a shear bolt or slip the slip clutch, if your brush hog is so equipped, or you might do a lot of damage, depending on how big those stumps and rocks are, how fast you hit them, etc. That does look to me like a good area for goats, and of course the number of goats required to clear it out would depend on how big an area you have.

 

[1bush2hog]

Since I don't know how much area you are talking about, I will assume it is large. Either one will be effective over a period of time, but sounds like your best bet would be to get a bushhog, unless you are familiar with goat husbandry. All animals require care, as does equipment. I learned caring for goats is much more involved than I ever thought.

My old pasture property was overgrown from appx. 20 years of growth. I could not walk, much less see what I was running over so I chose the "crab" method to do the initial cutting. I would raise the hog, slowly back into areas, and slowly lower hog as I went. If you encounter a stump or rock, this manner of cutting will allow you to raise the hog back up before you do any real damage. My cutter also has a slip clutch, but I used the crab method for first cutting and now I know where most obstacles are. I still hit a few stumps and rocks but the slip clutch helps protect my cutter and tractor from severe damage - at least it has so far.

I thought goats seriousy for awhile, but since I am a weekend warrior and do not live on the property, I could not find a good caretaking solution to having goats full time.

If you can find someone who will let you borrow their goats, then that would be ideal too.

Go slow and try the crab method if you go the hog route. Keep everyone else far away when hogging.

 

[1bush2hog]

Since I don't know how much area you are talking about, I will assume it is large. Either one will be effective over a period of time, but sounds like your best bet would be to get a bushhog, unless you are familiar with goat husbandry. All animals require care, as does equipment. I learned caring for goats is much more involved than I ever thought.

My old pasture property was overgrown from appx. 20 years of growth. I could not walk, much less see what I was running over so I chose the "crab" method to do the initial cutting. I would raise the hog, slowly back into areas, and slowly lower hog as I went. If you encounter a stump or rock, this manner of cutting will allow you to raise the hog back up before you do any real damage. My cutter also has a slip clutch, but I used the crab method for first cutting and now I know where most obstacles are. I still hit a few stumps and rocks but the slip clutch helps protect my cutter and tractor from severe damage - at least it has so far.

I thought goats seriousy for awhile, but since I am a weekend warrior and do not live on the property, I could not find a good caretaking solution to having goats full time.

If you can find someone who will let you borrow their goats, then that would be ideal too.

Go slow and try the crab method if you go the hog route. Keep everyone else far away when hogging.

 

[63DH8]

I used goats and an electric fence. In regards to the deer, you may have to use something that'll make them sniff or otherwise touch the fence wire. Maybe a tape style wire covered with molasses and salt. Once they get the idea that the tape or wire will zap them, they'll steer clear of the wire. When I set the fence, I used brake drums welded to fencepoles. That way, I could move the fence around to force the goats to graze where I wanted them to instead of roaming around. Goats tend to browes sample everything instead of graze. If you don't keep them in the area where you want them to eat, they'll go back there only once in a while instead of focusing where you want.

 

[63DH8]

I used goats and an electric fence. In regards to the deer, you may have to use something that'll make them sniff or otherwise touch the fence wire. Maybe a tape style wire covered with molasses and salt. Once they get the idea that the tape or wire will zap them, they'll steer clear of the wire. When I set the fence, I used brake drums welded to fencepoles. That way, I could move the fence around to force the goats to graze where I wanted them to instead of roaming around. Goats tend to browes sample everything instead of graze. If you don't keep them in the area where you want them to eat, they'll go back there only once in a while instead of focusing where you want.

 

[dmccarty]

kiphorn,

You can use a rotary cutter to do this....

But.

You do have to watch out for stumps, rocks, downed trees and limbs. A slip clutch and going very slow minimizes you hurting yourself or hte equipment. You have to watch out for snags and widow makers in the trees.

The other problem is will your tractor FIT into the woods? I can mow some of my woods but I have stopped and limit my self to the trails and "open" areas. I ended up with a DR Mower to do what you are doing. It will cut up 2.5 inch diameter saplings just like the MX 6 and its much easier to move in the woods. Mostly. It is WORK to run the DR and if you have limbs/trees larger the 3-4 inches you have to move them or work around them. With the tractor you could drive over.

There really is not a perfect way to do this. Or if there is I ain't found it. If you have to clear 5-10 acres then the rotary cutter and a good weed wacker with a saw blade will work. But remember you don't do this just once. It has to be maintained. I have areas I mowed a few weeks ago and they need to be mowed again.....

Goats take work as well. You have to fence and keep them in. They are supposed to thrive eating brush but you still are likely to have to suppliment their diet depending on local conditions. They don't do well in wet and cold weather so they need shelter. And they need water. Do you have local predators? I have some coyotes that are hitting the deer herd real hard which is a good thing but they would have a field day with goats. So I would have to get a donkey(s), Lama(s), or dog(s) to stay with the goats.....

I'm hoping that after a couple of years with the DR I'll get things under control. Its real rough work right now. If the DR does not work out I'll be looking at goats.....

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

kiphorn,

You can use a rotary cutter to do this....

But.

You do have to watch out for stumps, rocks, downed trees and limbs. A slip clutch and going very slow minimizes you hurting yourself or hte equipment. You have to watch out for snags and widow makers in the trees.

The other problem is will your tractor FIT into the woods? I can mow some of my woods but I have stopped and limit my self to the trails and "open" areas. I ended up with a DR Mower to do what you are doing. It will cut up 2.5 inch diameter saplings just like the MX 6 and its much easier to move in the woods. Mostly. It is WORK to run the DR and if you have limbs/trees larger the 3-4 inches you have to move them or work around them. With the tractor you could drive over.

There really is not a perfect way to do this. Or if there is I ain't found it. If you have to clear 5-10 acres then the rotary cutter and a good weed wacker with a saw blade will work. But remember you don't do this just once. It has to be maintained. I have areas I mowed a few weeks ago and they need to be mowed again.....

Goats take work as well. You have to fence and keep them in. They are supposed to thrive eating brush but you still are likely to have to suppliment their diet depending on local conditions. They don't do well in wet and cold weather so they need shelter. And they need water. Do you have local predators? I have some coyotes that are hitting the deer herd real hard which is a good thing but they would have a field day with goats. So I would have to get a donkey(s), Lama(s), or dog(s) to stay with the goats.....

I'm hoping that after a couple of years with the DR I'll get things under control. Its real rough work right now. If the DR does not work out I'll be looking at goats.....

Later,
Dan

 

[Pooh_Bear]

I have mowed fields of rocks with a bush hog.
Even with sharp freshly sharpened blades it don't work too well.
Believe me on this. I have tried it.

Long as you use a shear pin you shouldn't have a problem.
If the terrain will allow a tractor I would prefer that.
If not you would do well to hire a dozer for a day, about $400.

I considered goats but I was told you need good fences for goats
and I don't want to put money in fences.
Plus I would have to feed them over the winter.
Too much cost and too much work for too little gain.

I'm gonna run a couple of strands of electric fencing around the
area and open the gate to let the neighbors cows in there.
I figure they will trample it all down at least and eat what they want.

Pooh Bear

 

[Pooh_Bear]

I have mowed fields of rocks with a bush hog.
Even with sharp freshly sharpened blades it don't work too well.
Believe me on this. I have tried it.

Long as you use a shear pin you shouldn't have a problem.
If the terrain will allow a tractor I would prefer that.
If not you would do well to hire a dozer for a day, about $400.

I considered goats but I was told you need good fences for goats
and I don't want to put money in fences.
Plus I would have to feed them over the winter.
Too much cost and too much work for too little gain.

I'm gonna run a couple of strands of electric fencing around the
area and open the gate to let the neighbors cows in there.
I figure they will trample it all down at least and eat what they want.

Pooh Bear

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I use goats but it takes a decent amound and they do need draft free shelter. electric fence works well, use T posts instead of electric posts and the deer wont knock it over. Set your posts 30' apart and dogs and deer will bounce off instead of damaging and after a couple good jolts they wont do it again.

Best protection is a great pyraneze dog that lives with the animals. It will need dog food. The goats get most of their water from the vegitation but they still need clean fresh water.

Goats do require trimming hooves every 3-6 months and regular vaccinations. Worms are a problem and especially in areas with large deer populations. Aside from that they are pretty independant.

I have Boer goats, but you might want to check on Kikos. They are supposed to be really resilient and almost wild. If you have anyone with goats in the area maybe you could work out a deal where they cared for the animals in return for pasture.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I use goats but it takes a decent amound and they do need draft free shelter. electric fence works well, use T posts instead of electric posts and the deer wont knock it over. Set your posts 30' apart and dogs and deer will bounce off instead of damaging and after a couple good jolts they wont do it again.

Best protection is a great pyraneze dog that lives with the animals. It will need dog food. The goats get most of their water from the vegitation but they still need clean fresh water.

Goats do require trimming hooves every 3-6 months and regular vaccinations. Worms are a problem and especially in areas with large deer populations. Aside from that they are pretty independant.

I have Boer goats, but you might want to check on Kikos. They are supposed to be really resilient and almost wild. If you have anyone with goats in the area maybe you could work out a deal where they cared for the animals in return for pasture.

 

[dancer]

In a somewhat similar situation, I first killed one 6' rotary cutter on a hidden log and then moved to a slower but less risky 15-HP DR Field and Brush Mower (about $2150 new six years ago). After I had used the DR over the entire area once, I marked the brush-hog-unfriendly obstacles like stumps and potholes and rockbeds with flags on cane poles, and then was able to use the faster cutter. I didn't have any big trees though... And still the process took over two years working part-time as I was able. I have finally upgraded my old JD 2130 Ag tractor to a Kubota TLB and now am prepared to "fix" all the problems in the long run -- remove stumps, fill holes, cover rock beds or excavate, and so on. Pouring money on the ground, as my wife says.

 

[dancer]

In a somewhat similar situation, I first killed one 6' rotary cutter on a hidden log and then moved to a slower but less risky 15-HP DR Field and Brush Mower (about $2150 new six years ago). After I had used the DR over the entire area once, I marked the brush-hog-unfriendly obstacles like stumps and potholes and rockbeds with flags on cane poles, and then was able to use the faster cutter. I didn't have any big trees though... And still the process took over two years working part-time as I was able. I have finally upgraded my old JD 2130 Ag tractor to a Kubota TLB and now am prepared to "fix" all the problems in the long run -- remove stumps, fill holes, cover rock beds or excavate, and so on. Pouring money on the ground, as my wife says.