Best mower for weedy pastures?

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  • May 11, 2012 at 7:53 pm #43807
    1ecofarmer
    Participant

    Hi Everyone,

    One of the main jobs I want to do with my team is mowing. I’ve got some weedy pastures and a large weedy patch along my (long) driveway. I can’t figure out what to use horse-drawn rather than hiring a bush-hog. The gang mowers are clearly for short, clean grass like ball fields. The sickle bars apparently clog up all the time and then one risks having one’s fingers chopped up if the horses step ahead while cleaning it out, I’ve been told. What do you all think?

    My team is a bit hot, I wouldn’t count on them for that! Also, the way it sticks out to the side, I’m afraid I’d hit a fence post as I’m not that experienced a teamster and my team tends to waver. I saw that I and J in Lancaster has one that isn’t supposed to clog up. Anyone tried it? Of course, it’s 5K! But then, I’d guess I’d pay that to keep my fingers! ;0) I could hire a lot of bush-hogging for that, though. I’m not interested in getting a generator-powered bush-hog, as that would defeat the whole point of doing it with horses, for me.

    Thanks! Leah

    August 15, 2012 at 1:55 pm #73842
    8BitFarm
    Participant

    No suggestions, but hoping someone with some good answers chimes in, I have the same problems/questions as you! Thanks for posting so i can read and learn along with you.

    August 15, 2012 at 7:26 pm #73848
    carl ny
    Participant

    There is a lever to take the sickle mower out of gear so you don’t loose fingers.That being said,I’ve not had that much problem with plug ups, as long as the knifes and guards are in good shape.You would want someone with experience to drive your team the first couple times they are hooked to a mower.A whole new ballgame.They would settle down after an hour or so,they don’t pull that easy and there’s a lot of weight on the collar.HTH

    carl ny

    January 9, 2013 at 5:42 pm #73845
    back-forty
    Participant

    Sickle mowers if in good condition will work fine for the first cutting but if you do not havest off the cut material and leave it lay they are very prone to the second cuttings when attempting to cut the new regrowth and the earlier cut vegitation that is laying down.

    I use a 44inch rough cut swisher trail mower that I pull behind the forecart. The engine and blade noise are significant so you need to ease the team into it. It is also difficult to reach the disengaement control on the mower so I keep a rope tied to the hitch pin so that I can pull the pin and disconnect the mower from the cart if needed. I have not had to do so but would not want to find myself in a situation with a neverous team in front of me and a brush mower running at full speed behind me.

    January 11, 2013 at 6:20 pm #73850
    Dickel
    Participant

    I see fore carts with three point and an engine that would work with a rotary cutter. Might be more cost than you want to go.

    January 11, 2013 at 7:53 pm #73843
    Jonathan Shively
    Participant

    I have looked at and threatened to buy off of craigslist a couple of the DR or Swisher trail (rough) mowers. But I have a 6′ bushhog pull type that I haven’t used for years, going to pull it up this spring, take off the PTO shaft, put a belt pulley on it, build an engine stand and put an electric start engine on it. Figure a long choke cable for a throttle cable, electric start and an off button, open the back of the mower up and put a stiff belting on the front over the opening. I am not working in a woods or unmowed ditch banks, I just want to mow pastures. I know my Fjords won’t have any trouble pulling this behind my forecart, quieten the exhaust as best I can so I don’t have ringing in my ears at the end of the day of mowing. Will try to take pictures as I build this contraption.

    January 11, 2013 at 8:11 pm #73841
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I used to be very interested in a rough cut mower of some sort before I got goats. Either alone or mixed with cattle, goats clean large areas weeds and brush, and make meat while doing it. Cattle alone eat alot of weeds and some brush if rotationally grazed through the weedy areas. These concepts might not work out for your situation, but thought I would mention them anyway.

    January 12, 2013 at 3:54 pm #73849
    Dickel
    Participant

    @Jonathan Shively 38955 wrote:

    I have looked at and threatened to buy off of craigslist a couple of the DR or Swisher trail (rough) mowers. But I have a 6′ bushhog pull type that I haven’t used for years, going to pull it up this spring, take off the PTO shaft, put a belt pulley on it, build an engine stand and put an electric start engine on it. Figure a long choke cable for a throttle cable, electric start and an off button, open the back of the mower up and put a stiff belting on the front over the opening. I am not working in a woods or unmowed ditch banks, I just want to mow pastures. I know my Fjords won’t have any trouble pulling this behind my forecart, quieten the exhaust as best I can so I don’t have ringing in my ears at the end of the day of mowing. Will try to take pictures as I build this contraption.

    I can see that working.

    January 14, 2013 at 3:32 pm #73847
    back-forty
    Participant

    I mostly use mine for mowing along the fence lines on my lower meadow pastures so the option to offset the tongue on the swisher trail mower works well. I have also used it to clip pastures. You defineately need some type of skirting on the front to protect the horses. I have also used a 60 inch swisher finishing mower to clip pastures, a cleaner cut on the grass and I am considering changing the tires to a larger diameter to achieve a higher stubble length.

    January 15, 2013 at 12:40 pm #73839
    Rod44
    Participant

    Here is that easy pulling mower someone was asking about. My friend was pulling it with his donkeys. Pulled like a dream.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr6gZnsZfEI

    January 15, 2013 at 12:47 pm #73844
    Billy Foster
    Participant

    I spoke with Bob and he mentioned how easily it pulled. Could not clog it either. Rod I wish I realized you were there, We went both days, as the kids would say…bummer.
    Billy

    January 15, 2013 at 3:10 pm #73846
    back-forty
    Participant

    Looks like the I&J mower? High on my wishlist but unfortunately not within my budget.

    January 16, 2013 at 12:54 am #73840
    Rod44
    Participant

    WE are planning on going again this year. Hopefully we can make a connection.

    May 2, 2013 at 5:42 pm #79388
    Billy Anderson
    Participant

    I was reading on another forum about guys who had converted Bush hogs to ground driven horse drawn but there were no pictures and searching the web is not coming up with anything. Have any of you guys got any experience or seen this done??

    May 2, 2013 at 11:02 pm #79392
    j.l.holt
    Participant

    Well here is a different way to rid your self of weeds….When I worked for the Rail Road and they needed weeds worked on,,and they did not want to call in a contractor.  They put a boom arm out the side and ran steam and scalding hot water on them..Cooked them in there tracks.  The end.

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