Choosing a Manure Spreader

[LHF2019]

Some pictures from yesterday. I try hard to not waste hay but the cattle still pull more through than what I like so it was a good representation of what I spread in the spring when I clean them out. A baler with a processor is in the future. Enough about that. Using a small NH 213. What I like about it is back in the day spreaders had 5 speeds. I did not know that and the slowest speed is just about perfect. I would love to find a 2nd beater because I'm curious if it would help that much or not. Question. With the single beater it grabs the chunk and flips it on to the ground. Depending on the circumstance wouldn't the 2nd beater just assist and pull it off with the same results? I can see the top beater helping on tall loads but what happens with large chunks? I spend a lot of time trying to break up the chunks. I put thought in to where i dump in the spreader that hopefully results in it broken up the most. But it is a small spreader and it does limit me.

Currently I spread about 3 loads a week from November through May. Main goal is to not have to go through in the spring and run the drags to break up the clumps. Obviously the clump in the picture will be there in the spring and it is actually to large for the drags to do much to it. Sometimes I take a fork out and break it up. I don't have time for that. In the spring when I clean the pens out I probably do an additional 20-30 loads. Takes 3 buckets to fill the spreader and I don't max it out. Only heap it up if I feel it will result in a nice spread job.

 

[LouNY]

Yes a two beater will work to spread it a little better.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Not that it matters but I use a Kuhn 727 2x axle. Holds about 4 yards or more but I compost all my bedding and manure together. The side discharge throws it out to 150' but good coverage in my opinion is 50-70'. Composting it all and no time wasted dragging the chunks. It doesn't break up non composted hay, but it beats chunks of solid muck to pieces. Not good for a slurry at all, it'd just leak out the side door. Only time I've had a plug was when I left a load in overnight and we hit 20 and froze the crap. Heated the door up to free it then it was fine with the rest. I really like the screw drive on it though sometimes you need to scrape the front are to get it all out. Buying a used one, look for bent rims from people hitting them with a skid loader. Then only once did the main gear come out of alignment causing it to toss it's chain. Over all happy for a tool that all it does is fling poo.
I also will take a load and run it through into a pile (use a back drop) for my wife in her greenhouse.