Newer spreader vs. smallest ground drive (like a Mill creek?)

[ayrabz]

Had decided originally on the newer spreader, after much reading and reviews. Will be 2.5 horses…(two horses one mini)

:winkgrin::D:lol:

visited a farm where: her advice was NOT to go with a newer spreader, (she actually had one…ended up giving it away) because of the fact in her opinion it doesn’t ‘spread’ but is actually a ‘drop’ spreader.

So, now of course, I question what would be best for me. Can you guys with an opinion and experiences with either please let me know your thoughts?

I plan? to compost first, then spread as quantity requires and weather permits. will have a 3 bin compost set up. One of my ideas is: when spreading compost to also use as ‘put out grass seed’ to re seed when conditions merit, and utilize ‘spread’ compost as a topper for the reseeding as well.

paddocks/pastures are small and maneuvering will be important. Either behind current small husqky lawn tractor or upgrade to sub compact JD.

thanks guys!

[Flash44]

I have a newer spreader and loved it, until I switched to pelleted bedding. It works best with dryish sawdust/shavings bedding, and the composted pelleted bedding stayed too wet, clogging the newer spreader. I’m getting ready to put it on Craigslist. But it’s great for small farms, very lightweight (you can drag it around empty by foot) and did a fine job of “dropping” the compost or manure in the paddocks. It made no difference to me that it “dropped” instead of “spread.”

[bathsheba8542]

I have one and used it to spread fresh manure all over the farm (not in fields); it chunked it up to reasonable size where it dried and broke down fairly quickly. I don’t know how effective it would be to compost and then spread … probably fine but it’s a lot of work to get the manure in the pile, and then take it back out. So, when I was spreading, I just did so daily. Now, I put manure in the dump trailer and take to dump where they compost (free for me!).

[paintjumper]

I have a newer & have had a Mill Creek ground drive

Make sure you get the model of Newer speader that has the agitator in it or you will HATE it. I use pelleted mostly but flaked also for one horse that is a stall walker and it works well for all of my stalls. It is a drop, not a spreader, but it really does not make any difference to me. I gave my Mill Creek away for the reason, if the bedding is heavy for whatever reason, the ground drive can’t make the “spreader” move forcefully enough to sling the manure/bedding–then you are left to dig it out by hand because it has stalled the blades. I have a 6 stall barn and my Newer handles it just fine, have to make a few trips if we are stripping stalls, but thats ok.
I also have a huge PTO driven and have not used in in 2-3 years, since I bought the Newer spreader.
I added a 6 inch board to the top if mine and it holds a LOT more shavings

[horsepoor]

We compost before spreading, and use the smaller Mill Creek ground driven one and it works great. I’ve only seen the Newer Spreader at one place where they spread fresh stuff daily, and it worked for them, but I wasn’t that crazy about it especially after seeing the prices. We bought mine off craigslist, barely used, for a decent price (less than $1k, can’t remember exact). I can pull the Mill Creek with our heavy duty lawn tractor while my partner fills it using the tractor, so it can go pretty quick. I use pelleted bedding and we do a three bin compost so things compost quick and well, and spread the finished compost – just getting ready to do some soon as I like to head into winter with three empty bins. They fill up too quickly! I keep three horses here and clean up almost every where as I keep pastures and paddocks fairly well picked up too.

[ayrabz]

Thanks ! these are exactly the input I wanted to review— Yes, I will compost. I won’t spread fresh on the few turnouts we have, so I’ll rest one and spread once there is enough to do so. (my only spaces to spread are my fenced turnouts and I have built my compost bins)
And, yes, I will be using pelleted bedding…(again, limited space, nowhere for bulk delivery for loose sawdust or larger shavings )

so, it will be composted and then spread, and it will be pelleted bedding.

[Equibrit]

If you are able, go with a small Millcreek PTO driven spreader. It means that you can fill holes with it, and you don’t have to go faster to fling it further.

[RiderWriter]

Hi, Arabz - glad you are interested in a manure spreader! If you are in the market for a compact but powerful machine that can handle any type of bedding you throw in it (including mixed-in hay, which is a problem for drop spreaders), you can consider either a Millcreek Economy or Traditional model. If you’re interested in options like Rhino lining, a tailgate or even the only stainless steel models available, they have those, too.

You can check out this video and others on YouTube under MillcreekMfg for lots more info on selecting a spreader: http://youtu.be/Yc0Qpx4O90Y There’s one about PTO v. ground-drive as well.

I recommend entering the current Millcreek Sweepstakes while you’re at it - you might just win exactly what you need!

[moving_to_dc]

I had a Pequae 25G ground driven spreader for our 5 acres and 3 horses. I only kept it a few months, as it was just too big for my small property. I couldn’t get it in the barn easily, it was too big to tow with the lawn tractor, and towing it with the 45hp New Holland w/FEL meant it was impossible to navigate my long, narrow strip grazing lots.

I bought a Newer Spreader, the larger model, and I LOVE IT. I can wheel it into the stalls by hand, or zip thru the barn with the zero turn mower. I can spread fresh manure + sawdust from the stalls, or chicken poo from the coop, or composted manure from the manure pile. It grinds it all up and spreads it evenly. The Pequae DID fling the poo further, but that’s it - it flung it, and it landed as whole turds. The Newer Spreader pulverizes everything before dropping it.

The only downfall, IME, to the Newer Spreader, is hay or straw. A bit here or there is no big deal, but if the entire load is wet hay/stray, it is NOT going to spread well and will likely bind up. It’s easy to unclog it, but a PITA.

[ayrabz]

well, I do hope to keep most? of the hay out, but we all know how those plans go! Because it will compost before spreading that may be a help. but if pelleted bedding will hamper vs. help, that would be important to know…

the newer does appeal to me in size and maneuvering. but this person was adamant that it didn’t do a good job vs. a ground driven…

[moving_to_dc]

A ground driven or PTO model is going to fling a wider path behind it, but IME, it does not grind/pulverize anything. It just flings out the contents as they are. Poo balls stay poo balls.

The Newer Spreader leaves a perfect strip behind it, exactly the width of the bin. Everything in that path is pulverized, poo balls are ground up/broken apart. It leaves a perfectly even layer of manure - compost - whathaveyou.

The Newer Spreader is so nimble that we can easily spread compost or manure on our 12x48 garden without spilling any over. With our 22hp ZTR JD mower, we can whip it 180* around back and forth, and you can line up the strips perfectly.

Like I said, I love mine. It is the perfect size for my smaller acreage and small # of animals. (3 horses - 1 beef steer - 3 to 12 goats - 22 chickens)

[lesson_junkie]

I second dc-I have had a ground driven Mill Creek, and now have the larger Newer Spreader. The Newer Spreader is tons easier to use, as long as you don’t plan to spread straw, or have to clean up much hay. I’ve never had any trouble spreading pelleted bedding. It’s easy to handle in the barn, very simple to maintain-I love mine.

It’s a goal of mine to not have to ask Mr. Lesson junkie for help in the barn. More than once, the Mill Creek would break a chain, or a spring would let go, or a lever would get stuck, and the contraption would be full of manure. Soon, my DH would be trying to fix it, and in horse poop up to his elbows-not a good day in lesson junkie land!

The Newer Spreader has required very little DH participation. If you aren’t cleaning up behind more than three, you can’t go wrong.

[ayrabz]

thanks so much you guys. I wanted to hear the Newer was right for me, and yes, Lesson J, I have a ‘no I will not be involved with the horse stuff’ husband… so, as I know this is on me, simple is something I value!

[paintjumper]

I’ve never composted manure before…

but that sounds like it takes time (in other words it would be packed) & would be wet. I PROMISE you a ground driven anything speader will get clogged against the blades, I have dug it out a many a time and that was with just recently cleaned stalls. That is why I gave the ground driven away, they used it to establish new pastures with grass sprigs, and bought an old PTO driven. I used it a lot but it was more work to hook up etc.
My friend bought one of the first models of the Newer Spreaders and it did not have the agitator in it, it would get clogged too, she later added the agitator when they became an option. I waited till the one with the agitator came out a few years later, and LOVE it. Use it every day.

[horsepoor]

If properly composted, it should be easier to spread than fresh manure as it will have broken down into kind of crumbly, humus like material. The former “poo ball” shape should not be recognizable. And pelleted bedding, as opposed to shavings or straw, will break down faster and better when composted.

Our Mill Creek is only used a few times a year, when we spread compost, but during those times, we use it heavily as we are spreading the entire contents of an ~8’x8’x4’ bin. I have had no mechanical issues so far. I hope I haven’t jinxed it or myself for the next round!

No matter what, a spreader of any sort is better than our old method of distributing tractor buckets (or before tractor, wheelbarrow loads!) of compost and raking out by hand.:yes:

[morganpony86]

I have a Newer Spreader and have spread everything from flake/fine/pelleted shavings and fresh/composted manure. No issues, with the exception of the well-known issue with spreading lots of hay. Mine has the agitator, though, and I can imagine how frustrating it would be without it.
I have 3 horses; 2 fat Morgans and 1 giant TB. Daily I spread at least 100-150lbs of manure (usually overfilling the 8cuft spreader). Worth every penny I spent on that thing.

[ponygirl]

If you get the Newer Spreader, I’d suggest getting the stainless steel agitator. I just replaced the original agitator after 7 yrs of daily use with the new stainless steel agitator and I don’t expect to have to replace it ever Love this spreader!

[FairWeather]

I just got a Mill Creek ground driven spreader and LOVE IT. Easy to hook up, holds my five stalls just fine (though needs to be emptied daily) and spreads well. Ideally I would be composting first, but I’m not really set up to do that quite yet.

[Futuresmom]

I have a newer spreader and bought it used! I love it…going on about 8 years with it and I have the smaller one. Have 4 horses and a mini and it works great! I would like a bit bigger one but it has worked like a dream. I highly recommend the Newer Spreader!!

[fordtraktor]

OP, you might also look around for an antique ground driven spreader. I have an one that functions just like a Mill Creek. Pretty sure it is a International Harvester from the 1960s. It is SOLID as a rock because they made things to last in those days. My dad found it for me when I started my farm and the big benefit is that it cost $400 instead of $4000 for one its size. We put down some new boards in the floor for $20 and painted it, everything else has functioned perfectly for 3 years now. I do try to store it inside so it will continue lasting! I wanted one without a PTO for safety reasons, I have kids and my dad did not want any grandkids’ arms getting ripped off unclogging spreaders when they are old enough to help. This one has been great. (Of course I would love a bright shiny new one so if you have the budget, why not! Just thought I would mention this is an option.)

I looked at the newer spreader but worried about clogging with hay, sometimes I put all sorts of thick stuff in the spreader and I like the heavier duty spreader I have. It will spread and fling anything. Sometimes to my detriment, as I’ve been known to get whacked in the back of the head with a stray ball of poop while I’m driving the tractor. But darn, I have to be impressed with the flinging power, at least.