QueenDee_
Well-Known Member
As title really..have seen mixed opinions! 
Do Poo Picking 'machines' actually work?
- Thread starter QueenDee_
- Start date
iconique
Well-Known Member
Yes they do
But the sweeping ones come with fears over problems with grass sickness (some opinions)
The sucky hoover types where you really need 2 people to operate properly come with some huge arguments - for example husband drives tractor and forgets to stop when you are trying to suck up poo or keeps you out of reach of what you want to suck up!!
They can pick up much more than poo picking, but this depends on the type of grass you have and the operator!!! We have a predator and I am sure it could suck up more than just poo! Watch out bunnies!! lol!
But the sweeping ones come with fears over problems with grass sickness (some opinions)
The sucky hoover types where you really need 2 people to operate properly come with some huge arguments - for example husband drives tractor and forgets to stop when you are trying to suck up poo or keeps you out of reach of what you want to suck up!!
They can pick up much more than poo picking, but this depends on the type of grass you have and the operator!!! We have a predator and I am sure it could suck up more than just poo! Watch out bunnies!! lol!
WandaMare
Well-Known Member
Yes i have a trafalgar and it is brilliant. It makes picking up the poos in long grass or the heavier ones so much easy, I couldn't do without mine now. I had a leg injury and struggled to push the wheelbarrow back to the muck heap (its uphill most of the way) so I invested in a poo machine a few years ago.
I operate mine on my own from the quad, much more fun than boring old shovelling!
I operate mine on my own from the quad, much more fun than boring old shovelling!
Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
I have a Predator Lynx which is pulled by a Honda 350 ATV. It works fine. We've tried two person operation but I really much prefer to do it on my own as using the suction pipe separately is hard on the back. Much easier sitting on the quad! Makes a good job of lifting poo even out of long grass and doesn't smear the wet stuff.
Ideally, I'd like a paddock sweeper as well! When it's dry, I am sure they work well and it must be quicker than hoovering. But as a previous poster has said, I'd be concerned it would just smear the wet stuff, or in wet weather, which apparently has been associated with grass sickness (though I've not seen any scientific papers about that).
But they are expensive. The 13.5HP petrol engine on the Predator drinks petrol and the quad, also petrol, is not very economical. Red diesel would be cheaper. Or perhaps even a sweeper that works off the PTO of a small tractor. My Massey Ferguson 135 runs for ever on a tank full of diesel but in wet weather leaves more tyre tracks than the quad.
If you want any more information on the Predator, pm me. I've no connection with the company that sells them and will give you a warts and all report! If I had to do it by hand, I'd probably give up horses!
Ideally, I'd like a paddock sweeper as well! When it's dry, I am sure they work well and it must be quicker than hoovering. But as a previous poster has said, I'd be concerned it would just smear the wet stuff, or in wet weather, which apparently has been associated with grass sickness (though I've not seen any scientific papers about that).
But they are expensive. The 13.5HP petrol engine on the Predator drinks petrol and the quad, also petrol, is not very economical. Red diesel would be cheaper. Or perhaps even a sweeper that works off the PTO of a small tractor. My Massey Ferguson 135 runs for ever on a tank full of diesel but in wet weather leaves more tyre tracks than the quad.
If you want any more information on the Predator, pm me. I've no connection with the company that sells them and will give you a warts and all report! If I had to do it by hand, I'd probably give up horses!
ghost&secret
Well-Known Member
I am lucky, have both a Predator Lynx - towed by a small John Deere tractor and a wessex paddock sweeper - runs off PTO shaft of larger JD.
The PL poo sucker is powerful and does an excellent job and yes if you read the hand book it does say to keep small mammals away from the hose when on !! It picks up from long or wet grass but I do find it a bit hard on my back - as previous poster has said it does drink the petrol, but saying that the cost of fuel outweigh having to do the job with wheelbarrow and gloves -
The Wessex is fine, easy and cheap, but doesn't work that well in wet grass, and they do tend to beat the ground and sweep up everything so a lot of dead and loose grass will also be swept up. On the tractor we have Turf tyres which really help with tyre marks on the grazing.
Never had grass sickness nor heard of anything connected to sweeping paddocks .
Each one does a good job and I personally wouldn't be without either !!
The PL poo sucker is powerful and does an excellent job and yes if you read the hand book it does say to keep small mammals away from the hose when on !! It picks up from long or wet grass but I do find it a bit hard on my back - as previous poster has said it does drink the petrol, but saying that the cost of fuel outweigh having to do the job with wheelbarrow and gloves -
The Wessex is fine, easy and cheap, but doesn't work that well in wet grass, and they do tend to beat the ground and sweep up everything so a lot of dead and loose grass will also be swept up. On the tractor we have Turf tyres which really help with tyre marks on the grazing.
Never had grass sickness nor heard of anything connected to sweeping paddocks .
Each one does a good job and I personally wouldn't be without either !!
Tnavas
Well-Known Member
I have had a lady come in and poo pick my paddock with a machine called the tow and collect - it was fabulous and my grass grew the best ever afterwards - it swept out all the dead grass and dung - brillient.
http://www.towandfarm.com/collect-farm-c-2.html
http://www.towandfarm.com/collect-farm-c-2.html
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gallopingby
Well-Known Member
Anyone used mucktruck for poo plcking?
Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
Just to add to my previous post, I think it makes a big difference WHEN you poo pick with the various machines.
The sweepers will smear wet poo which I think would contaminate the grass with faeces, but I think they would probably be faster in short grass when the poo is dry. The vacuum types work better in long grass than a sweeper and will pick up wet or dry poo.
I now tend to harrow more. I have a set of spiked chain harrows behind the tractor with an old railway sleeper dragged behind that. I wait until the poo is crumbly after rain so the harrows breaks up the piles and the railway sleeper spreads and breaks it up further. I harrow in one direction, then at 90 degrees, and rest the field until the poo has disappeared. So far this has helped promote grass growth and seems to be destroying worm eggs which don't like wetting and drying, especially in sun light.
The sweepers will smear wet poo which I think would contaminate the grass with faeces, but I think they would probably be faster in short grass when the poo is dry. The vacuum types work better in long grass than a sweeper and will pick up wet or dry poo.
I now tend to harrow more. I have a set of spiked chain harrows behind the tractor with an old railway sleeper dragged behind that. I wait until the poo is crumbly after rain so the harrows breaks up the piles and the railway sleeper spreads and breaks it up further. I harrow in one direction, then at 90 degrees, and rest the field until the poo has disappeared. So far this has helped promote grass growth and seems to be destroying worm eggs which don't like wetting and drying, especially in sun light.