Digging through frost?

[shvl73]

We have two horses and two hogs buried next to our "barn". It is not legal or code to bury large animals here but the previous owners said "too bad" and dug. He made the comment that both horses had to choose to die in the winter. He dug through frost with a backhoe. The hogs were supposed to be raised for meat but acquired names and became pets before they could became bacon. They were somewhat reluctant to tell us about this.

I'm going with, "don't ask, don't tell" on this one.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I bought the larger HB breaker hammer to set fence posts in hardpan. The store gave me the internet price of ~369. A couple of three foot points cost me another 300 bucks.

I think the max depth of frost I have gone through is maybe six inches but I see no reason why it would no go deeper. My hardpan is about just as hard as frost is anyway.

I don't know that you could use the tool commercially and have it hold up like the thousand dollar Bosch should but for my needs it works quite well.

As you said, out in the field, the frost is more minimal but it is possible even a large hoe would struggle to break through. Years ago, while working construction, we actually burned trees to replace a water line acrossed a dirt parking lot. I think the frost was two foot thick. We did not have the nice big equipment that is common today although I suppose we could have use a jack hammer.

I like to go down about ten feet for a large animal then cover the carcass with a generous cover of limestone dust. Chaining the legs together and lowering the carcass with the hoe is not the most pleasent of tasks by the way. Discretion is usually best.

 

[Dozernut]

You need a frost tooth for your backhoe to dig in frozen ground. Here is an example: AMI Attachments | BACKHOE > Rippers

 

[shvl73]

Thanks for the help guys, I think the larger one is probably best. The spring thaw is right around the corner but, I may go for it now anyway.