What do you do with your "pile"

[~Dan]

Hi Linda, what we use here is we have a small trailer (that is unenclosed) that I dump the manure and wet shavings into and when its full we haul it up to a family friends property where he mixes it in with fill to create topsoil for his landscaping company, we get rid of our manure and he gets topsoil for free, unfortunately we cant do anything with it during the winter so that leaves one big "mountain" for me to move in the spring LOL.

Dan.

 

[LindaL]

Linda,one thing that Im sure you are already aware of is how "friggin" hot the manure piles get here in Fl. This really makes me nervous in our dry season unless we are diligent in moving and turning up the piles....I know of 2 brush fires that were started by poop piles just in our little town. scarey

OK, I was not aware of this. I guess I need to figure out a way to keep it turned/spread out somewhere...

We use the Tractor Supply shavings, which are a medium shaving...not too fine/dusty, but not too thick either. I like them, but they just do not decompose like I'm used to...I guess patience is key here...or I guess I could spread them out along the edge of my outdoor arena (which is of course sand) and it will make for better footing.

I would do the pasture thing, too, but right now our pastures are all being used to separate stallions from mares/geldings. Once we get them divided, maybe we can do that.

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

Our local landfill site has a composting program and will take anything organic of that nature, leaves, grass, plant clippings and the like but also happily takes shavings and manure as long as its not dog or cat feces. They then sell the compost top area gardeners. Its a win win thing, we (local residents) can dispose of our plant matter without adding to the landfill and gardeners can find the 'black gold' they desire for a reasonable price. Of course I live on a large acreage and love to garden so I compost my own and use it or share it with the community garden and a few neighbours

 

[albahurst]

OK, I was not aware of this. I guess I need to figure out a way to keep it turned/spread out somewhere...

We use the Tractor Supply shavings, which are a medium shaving...not too fine/dusty, but not too thick either. I like them, but they just do not decompose like I'm used to...I guess patience is key here...or I guess I could spread them out along the edge of my outdoor arena (which is of course sand) and it will make for better footing.

I would do the pasture thing, too, but right now our pastures are all being used to separate stallions from mares/geldings. Once we get them divided, maybe we can do that.

You ought to try Paper Shavings Animal Bedding- GREAT for composting!

 

[Connie Ballard]

Connie, I looked into the newerspreaders a couple of yrs. ago and almost bought one but decided against it at the time. I use a large flake shaving and Im not sure if the spreader would be able to "grind" it up enough and I know it may sound strange but putting manure right back in the pasture after I spend a couple days a month mucking it all out seems wierd.

I do have other places to spread it that is not pasture that might be fine.

Not attempting to hi-jack thread but what model do you have Connie?

We have the smaller one 8 cu...with the agitator. We use shavings/sawdust mix and works fine. The pasture we spread it on isnt used for grazing...just big field where I drive.

 

[midnight star stables]

What we do with the wet bedding depends on the time of year. Right now, it is extremely valuable when spread over the ice so the horses and people can walk somewhat safely. Some of our turnouts become skating rings between snow storms as the snow melts and refreezes. We stockpile it when we have good snow cover or don't need it. Not something you have to worry about in Florida, but VERY handy in Connecticut.

We do the same here. There are some areas that get worn down and icy and I have found old bedding to be very useful.

We also have a large pile in the court-yard adjacent to the the back or our barn which is normally used. We PAY to have it taken away each year, but since it has so much shavings mixed in, I don't see how it'd be valuable to any farmers.

 

[BBH]

Found a small manure spreader on internet, hauled it home and it has been a life saver...no more wheelbarrowing to the back end of property.....it takes abotu 2 weeks to fill, hookto it and about 20 minutes to spread and my knees are much happier.......kind of hard to find the small spreaders but well worth the money old or new. This one handles shavings, hay, an poo really well.....when it dies I will gladly spend the money on a new one.....yep, wouldn't do that until I had used one.....but now would do it in a minute.

 

[Helicopter]

Been reading these posts and noticed several people said they would not spread it on their pasture. Could I show my ignorance and ask why not?

 

[Poodlepill]

Been reading these posts and noticed several people said they would not spread it on their pasture. Could I show my ignorance and ask why not?

I am curious to know also although I am pretty certain its because of parasites. However, my 2 mini's are on pasture 24/7 and poop all over, there is no way I can go around and scoop it all. I have to drag my pastures with a harrow to break it up so it melts back into the earth. They poop in the barn and I scoop that out and compost it along with the WASTED hay (next project) they toss out of the feeder and my chicken coop manure.