OK. For those of us who do our own poop pickup (in stalls and elsewhere). What is your favorite poop fork and why? What features do you want in a poop fork?
Future Fork for using with shavings, and for scraping poop up outside–they wear down slower than any other brand I’ve ever used. Current fork head is going on 3 years. For cleaning pelleted bedding, nothing beats a Fine Tine. Fine Tines seem a bit clunky when you first start using them, but once you are accustomed to them, you can speed pick a stall in a couple of minutes. Duraforks wear down too quickly and their basket models are really heavy, and the tines will break. I’ve stayed away from no name forks so can’t comment on them.
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Forever fork…the polycarbonate head is semi flexible, hasn’t broken or bent yet and the aluminum handle is strong and light. It also has a d handle which for me is a non negotiable feature. I’ve used it for all sorts of off label things like raking up wind fallen pears and sifting debris out of river rock and it’s still in one piece. The other brand forks have made it to the trash can within the same timeframe.
I’ve been using an ergonomic manure fork for years : https://www.miller-mfg.com/product/PDFERED.html.
The bent handle really makes a difference for smallish me.
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I use whatever brand basket style manure fork TSC sells.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/little-giant-durapitch-1
i only use it on the stalls which have pine shavings in them.
If I do any clean up outside, I have a wide mouth aluminum shovel and use a garden rake to pull the manure pile into the shovel.
I use whatever brand basket style manure fork TSC sells.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/little-giant-durapitch-1
i only use it on the stalls which have pine shavings in them.
If I do any clean up outside, I have a wide mouth aluminum shovel and use a garden rake to pull the manure pile into the shovel.
Durafork. Can’t STAND futurefork or basket forks or ergonomic handles.
Have a futurefork for raking hay in the hay room and loads just slide off. Can’t keep stuff on that fork to save my life. Basket forks are heavy and difficult to turn over. Ergonomic handles have terrible balance for me and are awful to turn over.
Durafork all the way! 
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I paid “the big bucks” to get a Wave fork. We were breaking 3-4 plastic fork heads a year anyway, so at $8 -10 each for replacements, that added up! I got pulled in by the “unbreakable” advertising words!
I tried the fork as it came, with side shields to prevent stuff falling off the sides. I did not care for the side shields, have to turn fork 180* to empty it clean. I called the company to explain the problem, she sent me some plain tines as replacements for the built-in shielded tines. Replacing was easy! Snap off the lock ring at the end of bar tines go on, slide tines off or on, then replace the locking ring.
I liked this configuraton MUCH better, less work dumping the fork cleanly. I did add a couple cable/zip ties on the sides where tines plug together, because I was snagging the outside tine, then getting dirt in the hole so tines could not get tight again. I cleaned out the dirt, got tines tight agin, then put on the zip tie tightly to hold the outside tine right against the next tine. It has worked very well since.
I like the angle tines are molded into, flat bottom slides them right under a load, let’s me push handle down to “break it free” in a smooth motion, then lift it to the spreader or muck tub. Tines stay pretty firm under the load, not bendy. Long handle is comfortable to use, I really like the mishroom cap on end that fits my hand, stays comfortable pushing under a load.
I have not broken any tines in 3 years of daily use. I have worn them down some, sliding tines on the cement aisle. Lady at the Company number said tines are warrented, call if any get broken.
I would buy another Wave fork if I needed a new fork! It has been a good product for me. We bed on wood fiber, fork gets things clean in the stalls.
I prefer basket forks because you can get more poop in them. I don’t find them to be too heavy. But the plastic ones I get at TSC do not seem to last all that long.
As I mentioned, the Wave fork has side sheilds, making it a smaller size basket fork. I found the extra step of having to totally rotate the fork to empty it, causing me more work and a bother. I had similar issues with other basket style forks holding heavy loads to lift up and harder emptying into the spreader. So no basket forks here!
I do NOT like lifting big, heavy loads. I dislike any kind of basket forks for this reason. I prefer doing more smaller loads, so I am not straining to get them up over the side of the spreader. Having done years of daily barn cleaning, shoulders and arms still pain free, no body problems, I think my method works pretty well! Ha ha
We did a lot of ergonomic study at work to find the “better” method of getting a job done without hurting the worker. Better to make three trips instead of carrying all the boxes at one time, sort of thinking. Stoop down, bend your knees to pick up loads, NEVER bend over to pick heavy things up. People who followed this method DID stay healthier, uninjured, over those “saving tIme and walking steps” who just bulled thru a task fast, ending up with injuries and persistant body problems. The infamous “sore back” they always talk about, usually caused by bad work habits.
I have a smaller double-wheeled wheelbarrow, 8 cu ft instead of the more common 10 cu ft models. Smaller size PREVENTS me from overloading when I am in a hurry. Hurting yourself working poorly, will be with you a LONG time. Think smarter, work like a girl!! Home Ec in the old school days, taught you this kind of thinking. Save your body for an easier old age. I still get the jobs done, 9 stalls daily, along with other farm work, in a reasonable amount of time…
Another vote for Durafork. I also hate the basket type forks.
I sometimes take care of a neighbor’s horses who has basket type forks and I dislike them so much I bring my own fork when I go over there.
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I love Equi-Tee forks. I use their fine tine model for cleaning stalls and the regular tine model for picking up poop in the dry lot and pastures. They are lightweight, comfortable to use, and durable. I bought mine when I moved to my farm four years ago, and they have been used literally every day since and they look brand new. My horses have stepped on them, and I have jammed them into things and I have had no tine breakage. They are a must have for me.
Not lasting “all that long” depends on who’s doing the talking:)
I generally get 3-4 years out of one, even when I had four stalls to clean but again, I only use mine in the stall. I could see me doing major damage to one if I were using it outside; especially if I’m in a hurry, lol
DURAFORK with Aluminum handle , not wood.
Do you break the handle? Or is there another reason you like the aluminum?
I’m rather fond of the wood, with the spots worn smooth and shiny where my hands go :lol:
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Durafork with a wooden handle and no basket. I hate the basket.
@Marla 100 I suppose in Florida the aluminum would work, but I would cringe here in VA and when I was in the North East.
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I had a Future Fork forever and liked it much better than the backup Durafork. It finally died and I replaced it with a different standard fork, and finally figured out why I liked it so much better: The handle was a slightly bigger diameter. It wasn’t enough bigger that you would notice it when the two forks were side by side, but it was enough to make it feel better in my hands, and maybe make my hands less tired using it. I can’t really explain WHY I liked the larger handle, but I did.
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We use what is sold locally, Dura Pitch.
some have a small basket and that works best when cleaning pens as you can carry more to your bucket from further away than with one without any basket at all.
We have not broken any yet and some are decades old.
We have one, don’t know the brand, that has an aluminum curved handle that no one likes.
The complaint by everyone is that if you don’t balance it right, it twists and drops what you picked up.
It is relegated to cleaning in the wash room, where it doesn’t get much use.
Everyone likes a different kind, that is why there are so many for sale.
It’s interesting that not too many people like the basket forks. I prefer them because then the poop stays in when I shake the bedding out and I can pick up more poop. I don’t have a problem with flipping it over, tilt it slightly and gravity takes over.
Forever Fork. Best pitchfork I have ever used. We all fight over it in the barn…
