I was out spreading manure this past weekend, and on one of my last runs late Sunday evening, the beaters (or paddles) on the back of the spreader started flinging all kinds of wet poo towards the cab. I was looking back through the rear window, keeping an eye on the manure load as it was being flung out, when the window started getting covered -- splat! splat! splat!
Typically, the spreader flings the manure backward and out of the spreader behind you as you drive. It's not supposed to fling it forward. But somehow towards the very end of the load there was a section of old hay and manure sliding down the floor of the spreader towards the beaters ... and it was low enough to catch the bottom of the beaters as they spun around, but not high enough to have the top of the beaters catch it and fling it out backwards. So there I was, watching (and listening) to the splattering of all this poo hitting the window and instinctively ducking as each blob smacked against it. I was thinking, thank heavens we have a tractor with a cab on it!
Back in the old days, we had a smaller John Deere tractor with no cab and a smaller ground-driven manure spreader. Because it was ground-driven, i.e., operated at the speed we were pulling it, versus the PTO-driven spreader we now have (powered by the tractor's engine and operating at much higher speed), you were less likely to get hit with poo or other debris, though I do remember it happening just a bit too often!
You can see in this next shot that it's a long way from the beaters in the back of the spreader to that tractor window:
The good news is, one corral finished. The bad news: three more to go!
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Poo! Phew!
Posted by: MsFitzTX | June 06, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Yuck! Taking care of animals is not always fun and a "bed of roses" so to speak. Thank goodness for the shelter of the cab - thanks for the smile!
Posted by: Bev | May 30, 2011 at 09:23 AM
And I thought I could handle anything after your sheath cleaning post a few years ago.
Posted by: cheap jerseys | May 27, 2011 at 03:15 AM
I"m just glad the name is Rolling Dog Farm and not Flying "Stuff" Farm; REAL glad.
Posted by: Moon Rani | May 26, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Having lived on a farm for several years growing up this post brought back all kinds of memories. How I wish the tractors we had 30 years ago had cabs on them.
Posted by: David | May 26, 2011 at 12:33 AM
It's true that most of us don't even think about the "background" work that goes into running a sanctuary for all the animals.
I think you should call the Discovery Channel and see if you can get Mike Rowe from "Dirty Jobs" to come out there. They are always looking for locations!
Posted by: Ann | May 25, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Guess everyone now knows to stay clear of the area when this job is going on!
Posted by: Lisa K. from CA | May 25, 2011 at 01:35 PM
This totally grossed me out! And I thought I could handle anything after your sheath cleaning post a few years ago.
Good one Jerry S. :-)
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | May 25, 2011 at 01:10 PM
I laughed out loud! :) But you came out smelling like a rose, Steve, kindof'. What next?
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | May 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Steve
Thank You I finally understand the phrase
"It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it"
Posted by: Eric | May 25, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I love reading about the animals at RDF but I am very glad that you also show some of the other aspects that go into running a ranch/farm. There is so much more to it than snuggling with the animals. I am glad you and Alayne are such good stewards of the land and the animals that you share it with. It shows great respect. Oh, and I am glad that you had the cab, noone like a poo shampoo.
Posted by: Anne in FL | May 25, 2011 at 09:31 AM
Not sure what to say about this post. But sure am glad you now have a covered spreader. And I'm betting Alayne is, too. :)
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | May 25, 2011 at 08:49 AM
Oh, my... I can just see you ducking. Thanks for the chuckle!
Posted by: Glenda | May 25, 2011 at 07:40 AM
Talk about the proverbial hitting the fan!!!
Posted by: Cathy - Australia! | May 25, 2011 at 03:27 AM
Talk about slinging it!
Posted by: Linda | May 25, 2011 at 12:06 AM
OMG--Jerry S comment was hillarious! There is so much that goes into running the Sanctuary--most of us don't even have a clue!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | May 24, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Wow. Just like being back at a corporate job.
Posted by: Jerry S. | May 24, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Ewwww!!!!
Posted by: [email protected] | May 24, 2011 at 06:21 PM