manure grinder???

[kossetx]

Hello Folks,

I've been using a lot of manure and urine soaked hay lately to both improve my plants and to add to compost. Chopping this stuff up is a bit harsh on my 48 year old body when you do it in quantity. My arms are getting bigger but my waist climbs also??? Is there anything that I can make or buy reasonably that will help in breaking up dried manure and hay? The green stuff is put directly into the compost pile. I've been using a hoe or the old timey step edger to do it lately, and as much as I enjoy it I have my limits on what I will do for fun. I have a jimna chipper but I'm repelled at the thought of a 1100.00 shredder too.

Any thoughts?

As always, TIA, Mark

 

[vallyfarm]

Just load it into a PTO driven manure spreader and don't drive. It will leave a pile of shreaded matter,and all you have to do is wait a few months, turn it 1-2 times, and it will be all composted down. Mike

 

[1bush2hog]

Depending on the size of the piles (not sure if you are spreading first), could you not use a push mower or riding mower with a mulch kit (screen), or if larger pile - your rotary cutter, to shred/mulch this stuff?

 

[deereguy]

I'm with vallyfarm- I went to a organic farming seminar a number of years ago and that's how they recommended turning compost piles.

 

[kossetx]

Thanks for the replies. Have you guys priced a manure spreader ? It makes a shredder look cheap.

I'm really looking for small scale. Thant's why I do it by hand. My 13 cows and 6 calves aren't reliable enough to buy anything expensive.

I was thinking about an old corn sheller.

 

[Onthesauk]

Other option is to compost it dry with grass clippings. Have done that with old, dry horse manure. Layer it with fresh grass, wet it down as you layer it and it heats up and breaks down very quick.

 

[Knotbored]

Just a guess-but it seems to me a weed-whacker with one of those three-blade choppers would work well on the dry stuff.
The blades are not rigid-they swivel if they hit something too hard to chop. The hardware store sells a variety of replacement blades, including plastic and metal ones.
Another advantage is the sweeping action seems like it would blow the chopped (dust) away from your pathway as you work. Wish I had all that compost available for my garden.

 

[LarryD]

I've used my tiller to fluff up composted manure. We don't have straw in it so that might get rolled up in the tines but it doesn't me long to cut out similar material that gets tangled up there.

 

[mygoatboy]

Why not buy a used or new chipper/shredder? I have an old 5 hp gas powered one that works great for shredding leaves, hay, and it will chip branches tolerably well. Used you could probably get one for $250. The usually have two chutes, one on each side. The chipper chute has blades mounted in a flywheel and the shredder side has blades like a lawn mower.

 

[kossetx]

onthesuak, I here ya, I'm just waiting for the grass to grow.

Knotbored, That is also an option. I'm just wondering if it will spit the poop all over.

Larry, Tilling is out for me. I try to do everything notill so the machine to do that would be to costly.

Mygoatboy, I've been watching for one too, to no avail so far. Everyone want 500.00 for a 650.00 retail chipper. I kinda don't see paying 20% off for used and no warranty.

Thanks again!!