How gentle are manure spreaders

[forgottenben]

We spread compost and sawdust over our gardens, how roughly do they spread over an area? Is there a gentler alternative? We'll often go through after a crop has come up to mulch them in and I'd prefer an easier and more self reliant way than one person on the FEL spreading the stuff out.
Thanks

 

[wolftree]

I am pretty sure sawdust would be no problem and well broken down compost should be ok as well. Most manure spreaders have adjustable speeds on the beaters to vary the rate of unloading.

 

[oosik]

Ha, Ha. I'm sorry forgottenben but I've never heard of a manure spreader being referred to as gentle. I've sure heard a lot of other descriptions. As wolftree indicated if the manure is well composted - ie dried out, aged - the manure spreader does not need the force to spread and can be turned down. If you are trying to spread fresh, hot & steaming cow poo then it can get pretty wild. This can easily happen if you are attempting to spread manure from the bottom of a large pile.

 

[JimRB]

I laugh when reading Oosik's post. Thinking of a manure spreader spreading remembering the time I ate Some salmonella laden chicken. That chicken violently exited my body from both ends with extreme prejudice. That is the only way I have seen a manure spreader in action. Stuff flying every which way with great flinging. Limited experience though watching a spreader in action.

 

[wyeguy]

Holy s**t! That's funny right thar...

 

[WilliamBos]

Holy s**t! That's funny right thar...

I agree!! Being gentle should not really be a concern, unless you are spreading concrete!!

 

[grsthegreat]

i use a manure spreader 2 times a year..they spread far and wide. not gentle. They also spread in clumps and not evenly.

 

[powerpace]

It is what it is! Let it fall where it may.

 

[Tony M]

If you want a controlled, even spread of finely-sized manure, you'll need to look to design alternatives, as I did when i researched this a while back.

Here's a link for one example in the US: Home of the Stablers Rotary Manure Spreader

And here's another relevant post:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/284906-atv-manure-spreader.html#post3374778

I'd be grateful if anyone could point to one single advantage of the conveyor belt paddle ones that seem to be the industry standard, except maybe their speed........in doing the job badly.

 

[grsthegreat]

If you want a controlled, even spread of finely-sized manure, you'll need to look to design alternatives, as I did when i researched this a while back.

Here's a link for one example in the US: Home of the Stablers Rotary Manure Spreader

And here's another relevant post:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/284906-atv-manure-spreader.html#post3374778

I'd be grateful if anyone could point to one single advantage of the conveyor belt paddle ones that seem to be the industry standard, except maybe their speed........in doing the job badly.

well the benifit of the conveyor belt one is when you have straw in the manure pile. the unit with the stainless steel drum would be less than useless to spread that. My manure pile also contains straw and uneaten hay. wont fit thru any hole, even after 1 year digesting in a manure pile.