Barn tools

What is your favorite muck rake? Do you have a type or brand you prefer over others?

I am writing an article about barn tools. So, I just wonder, since we all need a muck rake if one is better than another?

We don't muck here, our horses are on pasture but in the smaller pen we have, we use a potato pitch fork - (short handled with 4 wideish tines) and a grain shovel to remove "apples" from the pasture. This works better than a traditional muck rake due to all the grass doesn't get caught in the many tines of the muck rake.and we can roll the apples if need be.

Just thought I'd share

Thanks! I think I could write an whole article on just muck rakes and pitchforks. There are a bazillion different kinds, for all kinds of special situations. You jsut gave me another one!

I just like the regular ol' plastic kind like this...

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...2-00b0d0204ae5

...for cleaning matted stalls with shavings or pellets or for dirt turnout areas. They're also great for picking the poo from the arena.

I like those big shovels (is that a grain shovel?) for loading shavings out of the shaving shed and re-filling stalls.

I don't like using the big shovels for cleaning stalls because the handles are shorter and it hurts my back bending and lifting the heavy waste like that.

I agree, if there's any sort of plant life growing where you're mucking, the fewer tines the better!!

I use a metal fork and a garden rake. :)

I love the plastic manure forks. I have several I couldnt tell you the names. I have one that is extra deep I think its called a stable fork. Don't have to make as many trips to the cart with it since it holds more. My favorite pitch fork is one I got at an auction sale. Its just an old well loved hay fork with long metal tines. Its the best for pitching hay but won't pick up poo. I'm a little OCD about tools I love the old ones, they seem to be made so much better.

I have a small collection of old farm tools. If you need photos let me know I'd be glad to post them.

No rakes or forks for me. I use an ordinary, long-handled, flat-point shovel. And prefer one made from steel and with an oak handle. It takes some practice to get the hang of scooping with one but to me, it is much easier to use than anything which has tines.

DGW