Spreading chicken (layer) muck accurately at 12m - is it doable?

Spudmaster

Member
Location
NW Midlands
We produce (and use) a lot of chicken sh*t. Historically we have spread and incorporated ahead of drilling (plough or sumo). With 95% of our cropping being autumn sown - we need a pretty major re-think in light of the EA’s seemingly non-negotiable stance…

It is inevitable that our rotation will evolve fairly quickly to include much more spring cropping (possibly ultimately 50:50); which should allow us to move towards a More regenerative type system with beneficial over-winter cover crops etc…

One thing we cannot do is stop the chucks sh*tting 365 days of the year and we are giving thought towards spring top-dressing the stuff onto winter crops…. However, we currently spread at 15 m with overlaps and i shudder at the mess, (and ultimately damage) we might make….

However, if we were to move towards a CTF system (3x12m to tie-in with our 36m tramlines)- is there a spreader on the market with a proven ability to spread layer muck accurately to 12m?

Any other thoughts much appreciated!
spud
 
Last edited:

Jack Russell

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Holderness
Can be done easily. We used to spread it to 24m with bunning vertical machines with sludge augers. Can now go wider with horizontal machines with discs. Is it worth considering composting the layer muck with anything else to make a better product to top dress with, no smell, no scorch etc.
 

Horn&corn

Member
Easily achieved. We’ve a contractor with Bergman on gps weigher. Some follow up with N sensor to fill in gaps. Might get it to 18m if damp enough product. Probably worth building a shed for storage!
 

Jack Russell

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Holderness
The n sensor can’t really fill in the gaps as it’s altering the full 24m width. That said with the right operator on a decent spreaderyou won’t need to worry about filling in the gaps.
 
Buy the right spreader and apply from the tramlines. Will save you a shed load of nitrogen and soon pay for itself. Bit in seed bed for spring crops plus a go up the tramlines and you will wonder why you didn't do it before. Poultry muck is rocket fuel.

Forget filling in the gaps and slightly uneven bits. I'd go back to 24 metres if needed, the benefit of the manure is way more important.
 

Jack Russell

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Holderness
You’ll not get to the 36m tramline width with any spreader. 24m doable. If your at 36 then split to 18m. If your CTF and want to run at 12m then you will get further with a load and so run each wheeling less.
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
We produce (and use) a lot of chicken sh*t. Historically we have spread and incorporated ahead of drilling (plough or sumo). With 95% of our cropping being autumn sown - we need a pretty major re-think in light of the EA’s seemingly non-negotiable stance…

It is inevitable that our rotation will evolve fairly quickly to include much more spring cropping (possibly ultimately 50:50); which should allow us to move towards a More regenerative type system with beneficial over-winter cover crops etc…

One thing we cannot do is stop the chucks sh*tting 365 days of the year and we are giving thought towards spring top-dressing the stuff onto winter crops…. However, we currently spread at 6-8m and i shudder at the mess, (and ultimately damage) we might make….

However, if we were to move towards a CTF system (3x12m to tie-in with our 36m tramlines)- is there a spreader on the market with a proven ability to spread layer muck accurately to 12m?

Any other thoughts much appreciated!
spud
Buy a keenan, it will spread 18m to the left then turn round and spread the other side
 

Spudmaster

Member
Location
NW Midlands
Can be done easily. We used to spread it to 24m with bunning vertical machines with sludge augers. Can now go wider with horizontal machines with discs. Is it worth considering composting the layer muck with anything else to make a better product to top dress with, no smell, no scorch etc.
I like your thinking…. The only problem would be the process of blending and storing - we gave a lot of it!
 

quattro

Member
Location
scotland
We produce (and use) a lot of chicken sh*t. Historically we have spread and incorporated ahead of drilling (plough or sumo). With 95% of our cropping being autumn sown - we need a pretty major re-think in light of the EA’s seemingly non-negotiable stance…

It is inevitable that our rotation will evolve fairly quickly to include much more spring cropping (possibly ultimately 50:50); which should allow us to move towards a More regenerative type system with beneficial over-winter cover crops etc…

One thing we cannot do is stop the chucks sh*tting 365 days of the year and we are giving thought towards spring top-dressing the stuff onto winter crops…. However, we currently spread at 15 m with overlaps and i shudder at the mess, (and ultimately damage) we might make….

However, if we were to move towards a CTF system (3x12m to tie-in with our 36m tramlines)- is there a spreader on the market with a proven ability to spread layer muck accurately to 12m?

Any other thoughts much appreciated!
spud
Is that layers muck?
 

CPF

Member
Arable Farmer
We produce (and use) a lot of chicken sh*t. Historically we have spread and incorporated ahead of drilling (plough or sumo). With 95% of our cropping being autumn sown - we need a pretty major re-think in light of the EA’s seemingly non-negotiable stance…

It is inevitable that our rotation will evolve fairly quickly to include much more spring cropping (possibly ultimately 50:50); which should allow us to move towards a More regenerative type system with beneficial over-winter cover crops etc…

One thing we cannot do is stop the chucks sh*tting 365 days of the year and we are giving thought towards spring top-dressing the stuff onto winter crops…. However, we currently spread at 15 m with overlaps and i shudder at the mess, (and ultimately damage) we might make….

However, if we were to move towards a CTF system (3x12m to tie-in with our 36m tramlines)- is there a spreader on the market with a proven ability to spread layer muck accurately to 12m?

Any other thoughts much appreciated!
spud
PM me . I will gave you my phone number . When we was contacting use move about 100,000 tonnes and spread 60,000 tonnes per year . If you got a chicken farm you will probably now me .
 
Last edited:

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top