STRAW BLOWER

JDMAN60 · Dec 17, 2015

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to blow straw with a 2 stage snow blower. I see these straw blowers for skidsteers and loaders but they are way to big and expensive for a small operation. I think with a little fabrication a snow blower would do the same thing. I don't like getting in the pen with the feeders as they get frisky and want to jump ,kick , and play in the new straw. Have any of you tried this?

notjustair · Dec 17, 2015

I never bother with spreading the straw - even in the chicken houses. Put it in there and they will have it spread in a nice even layer in a couple of minutes. It gives them something to do and it's fun to watch! You will have it wrapped around every moving part six ways from Tuesday with a snow blower.

johnpop1 · Dec 17, 2015

You can buy bedding choppers and they are moved around with people power. Put a small square bale in and have at it. We always have one for bedding the cows in our barn. They aren't terribly expensive and they do a very good job chopping and blowing the bedding into the stalls or pens. They are usually powered by a reliable gas motor and are designed for the job at hand.

Kickinbull · Dec 17, 2015

First off, DON'T use the snow blower!!!! It's not intended for that purpose. With cattle,hogs and chickens just toss it over the fence and let them do the spreading.

DoubleR · Dec 17, 2015

When mine are acting frisky they do a good job of spreading it for me.
I know what you mean about getting in there with them though. I keep visualizing one kicking my steel knee when they get messing around..

ss55 · Dec 17, 2015

Snow blowers don't have an air filter before the carburetor, it will eat a lot of straw dust. My 8HP snow blower will shred a daily newspaper into one inch pieces, but will either snap a shear pin or stall the engine on a thicker Sunday paper.

Can you feed the cattle to move them out of the barn, lock them out of the loafing area while you spread the bedding, then let them back in when you are finished?

NY 986 · Dec 17, 2015

Unless I am not understanding your comment I would find an old silo blower and blow the straw from the other side of the gate. Don't need anything fancy just something cheap at an auction will do. I don't know about the kind that mount on a skidsteer but you will have to feed the silo blower by hand. There was an old timer who did that. Parked the tractor and blower by the barn door and blew the material into the small cattle yard.

NY 986 · Dec 17, 2015

The throat of a New Holland Whirl-a-feed is a bit small so I would find something auger feed with a big throat to the fan. Any make and model of that type will do. When scrap was high I would see such blowers for around 100 dollars.

JDMAN60 · Dec 18, 2015

I had not thought of that. Thank you.

JDMAN60 · Dec 18, 2015

Thanks for your responses. I am sure everyone has a job on the farm that they just dred doing and this one is mine. Just looking for an easier way to bed the barn.

STRAW BLOWER

JDMAN60

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notjustair

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johnpop1

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Kickinbull

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DoubleR

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ss55

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NY 986

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NY 986

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JDMAN60

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JDMAN60

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