Corn Sheller

[bindian]

I am wanting to grow field corn for my growing duck raising endeavor. I will be buying a corn sheller and was wondering if any American made electric corn shellers are on the market. I would even consider an old one powered by a tractor. Not really wanting hand cranked, but might go that way if I have to. Hand crank would be no fun, compared to hooking up the tractor to run one.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dave1949]

Some hand cranked mills and shellers have the option of mounting a v-belt pulley in place of the hand crank on the shaft. Then they can be used with an electric motor. You could probably find a suitable pulley for most.

Just FYI.

 

[2458n]

Some hand cranked mills and shellers have the option of mounting a v-belt pulley in place of the hand crank on the shaft. Then they can be used with an electric motor. You could probably find a suitable pulley for most.

Just FYI.

You still see these conversions at auction. Electric really changed things on the farm.

 

[bindian]

Thanks Guys! I will look for a hand crank one that can be adapted to use a pulley instead of a crank.
hugs, Brandi

 

[charlz]

Just FYI, the ones that typically can be made electric are the 'stand alone' versions... not that counter mount style. Do you already have some way to grind the corn? I am currently down to 12 pet ducks... buying cracked corn in the farm store got really expensive so I thinned the flock. I was able to locate a farm that is also a grain wholesaler... they sell by the bag and it is about half the price the farm store wants. Their corn is ground where I believe the stuff from the farm store is steam flaked. I will put up with more fines for 1/2 the price though

 

[bindian]

Just FYI, the ones that typically can be made electric are the 'stand alone' versions... not that counter mount style. Do you already have some way to grind the corn? I am currently down to 12 pet ducks... buying cracked corn in the farm store got really expensive so I thinned the flock. I was able to locate a farm that is also a grain wholesaler... they sell by the bag and it is about half the price the farm store wants. Their corn is ground where I believe the stuff from the farm store is steam flaked. I will put up with more fines for 1/2 the price though

What are referring to when you mention "fines"?
Brandi

 

[dave1949]

What are referring to when you mention "fines"?
Brandi

"Fines" are dust and small bits that result from grinding. I don't know which is better for ducks, whole kernel, ground, steam flaked ...

 

[bindian]

"Fines" are dust and small bits that result from grinding. I don't know which is better for ducks, whole kernel, ground, steam flaked ...

Your ducks will not mind any "fines". I just toss their food to them. That is, the chicken feed I supplement their roaming and feasting on 1/4 acre.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dave1949]

Your ducks will not mind any "fines". I just toss their food to them. That is, the chicken feed I supplement their roaming and feasting on 1/4 acre.
hugs, Brandi

I don't have ducks, just answering your question about "fines."

The difference to the animal is that they may not extract as much nutrition from whole kernel grains as ground grains--you feed more weight in whole grain to get the same nutritional result. Whole grain may cost less, ground grain may mean more waste but is an easy way to add diet supplements to the feed. Pros and cons.

As I say, I don't know the relative difference specifically for ducks, whole or ground. I know ducks love to chase whole kernel corn tossed into their pond.

 

[charlz]

Yes the 'fines' in cracked corn are basically corn meal or corn flour type stuff. My ducks don't like whole kernel corn, I tried some as a test and they just left it in the bowl. I also tried some cracked barley which had a fair amount of screenings (chaff etc.) in it... they just looked at me like I was stupid When I mixed it 50/50 with corn they would eat the corn and leave most of the barley/screenings. For something that dabbles in the dirt around the pond and the fields when they are being irrigated I didn't think they would be that picky. fortunately the tweety birds, quail etc. are not that picky and cleaned up the rest. I went back to the cracked corn.

Corn does take a fair amount of water, especially during the 'kernel fill' stage so that is something to think about, I know TX has been dry/in drought.


Is your motivator to keep down expenses or just to try something new?

 

[bindian]

Yes the 'fines' in cracked corn are basically corn meal or corn flour type stuff. My ducks don't like whole kernel corn, I tried some as a test and they just left it in the bowl. I also tried some cracked barley which had a fair amount of screenings (chaff etc.) in it... they just looked at me like I was stupid When I mixed it 50/50 with corn they would eat the corn and leave most of the barley/screenings. For something that dabbles in the dirt around the pond and the fields when they are being irrigated I didn't think they would be that picky. fortunately the tweety birds, quail etc. are not that picky and cleaned up the rest. I went back to the cracked corn.

Corn does take a fair amount of water, especially during the 'kernel fill' stage so that is something to think about, I know TX has been dry/in drought.


Is your motivator to keep down expenses or just to try something new?

Charlz,
My ducks love whole corn. They are not pet ducks. They have their own pond and fenced 1/4 acred to roam on. They eat anything I throw to them. Well, not banana skins. Here is their (my) pond thread... http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/251326-instant-pond.html?highlight=

We just got over 6 inches of rain. We're doing well here in Southeast Texas. Both ponds were overflowing last week. Normal annual rainfall is around 36 inches. Last year, I put in 700 feet of water line to water in the plowed area. At the time, I didn't know why. I just felt led to put a water line in out there.

My motivator is to have fun, get back to basics, and to cut down costs. I really didn't mean to turn some dirt and decide to plant corn..........it just happened. When I was young, Dad raised corn and had it mixed with our horse feed, in toad sacks sewed up like store bought! That feed mill no longer does that now. Maybe these two threads will explain it better...........http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/331834-ford-model-101-3-bottom.html?highlight=

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/270878-amco-offset-disc.html?highlight=


I just had 25 more ducklings shipped yesterday in the mail. So the extra corn will come in handy while these ducks are here.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I found a hand sheller that can be converted to electric. It's only $69 with free shipping. But it is currently out of stock. Maximizer hand corn sheller at PHG : PleasantHillGrain.com

hugs, Brandi

 

[Depmandog]

I found a hand sheller that can be converted to electric. It's only $69 with free shipping. But it is currently out of stock. Maximizer hand corn sheller at PHG : PleasantHillGrain.com hugs, Brandi

Looks like that should work. Been years since I have shelled corn by hand cranking, but to only feed a few ducks I doubt you will ever think it necessary to hook it up to power.

 

[bindian]

Looks like that should work. Been years since I have shelled corn by hand cranking, but to only feed a few ducks I doubt you will ever think it necessary to hook it up to power.

35 ducks is more than a few ducks.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Depmandog]

35 ducks is more than a few ducks. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/rural-living/417645-corn-sheller-3-17-15-mallard-ducklings"/> hugs, Brandi

Oh I wasn't meaning to belittle your expanding brace? of ducks. I say power that dude up!!

 

[dave1949]

I wonder what the best rpm's are? Some things made to operate at relatively low speeds don't always work as well running faster. I hope you let us know how it works and about how many rpm's you are cranking.

I have the Country Living Grain Mill they sell. Getting the 3 to 3-1/2 cups of flour for a loaf of bread takes a bit of hand cranking effort and time. The grain mill could probably be run faster but I think it would heat the flour a bit as the burrs warm up.

 

[bindian]

I wonder what the best rpm's are? Some things made to operate at relatively low speeds don't always work as well running faster. I hope you let us know how it works and about how many rpm's you are cranking.

I have the Country Living Grain Mill they sell. Getting the 3 to 3-1/2 cups of flour for a loaf of bread takes a bit of hand cranking effort and time. The grain mill could probably be run faster but I think it would heat the flour a bit as the burrs warm up.

It will be a lot of trial and error figuring out the speed. I have a tail rotor 90 degree gearbox that can increase or decrease 250 to 1 that is currently hooked up my shop's tail rotor ceiling fan. I also have an old washing maching pulley that has two different size pulley together for speeding up or slowing down. All RPMs depend on which pulley is powered. So.............let the playing begin.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dave1949]

It will be a lot of trial and error figuring out the speed. I have a tail rotor 90 degree gearbox that can increase or decrease 250 to 1 that is currently hooked up my shop's tail rotor ceiling fan. I also have an old washing maching pulley that has two different size pulley together for speeding up or slowing down. All RPMs depend on which pulley is powered. So.............let the playing begin.
hugs, Brandi

It sounds like you are well prepared. I'm jealous of that tail rotor ceiling fan.

A belt drive, compared to direct, would probably provide some useful shock absorbing capability if the belt is allowed to have some slip in it.

 

[charlz]

By hand you are probably doing about 60 rpm at best. They say the pulley is 10" and most AC motors are around 1725 rpm. If you went with a 2" drive pulley you would still be about 345 rpm... I would think that is a bit fast for that sheller. You probably want a counter shaft with pulleys between the motor and the sheller to help reduce the rpm's even more.

I found one video of that particular sheller in action:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsBPhGIXbkk

 

[bindian]

By hand you are probably doing about 60 rpm at best. They say the pulley is 10" and most AC motors are around 1725 rpm. If you went with a 2" drive pulley you would still be about 345 rpm... I would think that is a bit fast for that sheller. You probably want a counter shaft with pulleys between the motor and the sheller to help reduce the rpm's even more.

I found one video of that particular sheller in action:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsBPhGIXbkk

Please reread my post #17 above. Also, who says the 10 inch pulley has to stay on it?
hugs, Brandi