Trying Out A Lewis Brothers Crustbuster For The First Time!

For years we have used a PLR (Poultry Litter Rejuvenator) to help grind up out litter between flocks. It does a great job in the corners, near the walls and also busting up some of the big chunks. It finally gave out on us, and since PLR is no longer in business, we weren't able to get any parts for it. We talked with Lewis Brothers and decided to get us a Crustbuster.
#lewisbrothers #crustbuster #chickenfarmer
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[@BC-lt7jj]

Another poultry farmer here…so to another grower I’ve owned prefert pulverizer, Lewis pulverizer, PLR pulverizer, and now own LVI 110 inch pulverizer. Along with LVI windrowing machine. Along with a DB4 Lewis housekeeper. I’ve been a Lewis brothers fan all my life. But now to me LVI has much better equipment. As Eric was trying to compare the PLR machine and Lewis and to me that’s what you get when I run the LVI pulverizer. LVI was started for turkey litter farms….and therefore everything is so much bulkier as a material, shaft size, etc. if y’all ever get a chance to try some LVI equipment, then give it a try. I wish I could say LVI ambassador but unfortunately I’m a paying customer. But a happy one. Just trying to make each flock better. Between cows and chickens we have a lot in common. I wish many blessing for y’all from one farmer to another.

[@FarmerHunt]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Sounds like the LVI may be what we need. The Lewis Brothers Crustbuster does a. great job busting up the cake but it doesn't grind it real fine. We'll look into the LVI pulverizer. Thanks again!

[@TwoFarmBoys]

The best thing to do when you get a brand new piece of equipment is to start cutting stuff off of it. Lol. Anyways, the Crustbuster looks nice. Now that mask is especially nice! I appreciate all the knowledge you guys offered up on the chicken houses. Great video! - Everett

[@FarmerHunt]

Haha exactly!! Thanks for watching.

[@keiths4874]

looking good, the crustbuster looks to be a good investment and time-saver in the house with the boarded walls, I'd be willing to bet the LB offering will get better with a few "refinements" , although I'm thinking the more finely powdered litter in Eric's houses would/will do better as far as "caking"???, will be interesting to see/read results from the different procedures and finished product, the Battery powered respirator is a great idea, after all it is your sinuses and lungs and I have never regretted buying quality tools, another great video👍

[@FarmerHunt]

Thanks! It is a nice addition to our litter lineup. So far, I think Eric’s houses are doing a little better but both are doing pretty good. We’ll have to see how this flock finishes out. That mask is a game changer! Especially in the summertime when it’s so dang hot. Makes it easier to keep that mask on when there is some air circulation. Thanks for watching!

[@thepitpatrol]

Hey always wear that mask brother. 30 years in the poultry business and i have 50% lung capacity. Glad to see you wearing one.

[@FarmerHunt]

It makes such a difference wearing a good mask. That dust can be very rough on your lungs and eyes

[@thepitpatrol]

@FarmerHunt 100% it does. I was stupid. Back when I started you weren't tough enough if you wore a mask. Now I'm paying the price.

[@BryantsFamilyFarm]

We got the Priefert 7’ offset kind of like what you have. The hammers swing free which is why I went with them. Either way, it helps out on your crust machine by not over working it. Good luck with your new machine.

[@FarmerHunt]

Thanks! So far it has definitely helped, especially on these winter flocks.

[@thepitpatrol]

I am not a big fan of the preferred. Those flat knives take a lot of horsepower. We have a creek view that has a T hammer. Does an excellent job.

[@geraldleindecker8857]

I have a creekview rejuvenater that I run 4 passes through each house and it turn litter to powder. Like you said, you have to run fan time between passes to dry litter. So it takes a few days to do it right, doing it all in one day will never dry floors.

[@FarmerHunt]

I’ve heard good things about the creek view. May be what we need to look into next. Thanks

[@christophermichaels-i5q]

Can you please show more information on PLT and if you have ever considered using SouthLand Organics 'Litter Saver' for ammonia control and litter management. Also how you guys replace and manage litter as well as possibly managing your litter sales or usage. Thank you for this information. Love what you guys are doing!!

[@FarmerHunt]

We have always used PLT. Our integrator pays for it so that’s the route we go. Haven’t ever tried the Litter Saver. We’ve got some videos from a while back of crusting/decaking and also windrowing and some other various videos maintaining the litter. We are going to be doing a full clean out this spring so I’m sure we’ll have at least a video or two on that

[@farmingforfunandprofit940]

Quite a few Hay growers use chicken litter, we did also untill we came to the conclusion that what we were saving in Fertilizer we were spending in herbicides to control the weeds the litter introduced into the fields......., Our operation centers around Supplying Hay( large numbers of bales) to TSC stores mostly for Horse people...... We didn't attend the Sunbelt. but Had to go after it was over to pick up 2 Vari-core 190 krone balers and an 1 8 basket Krone Tedder.....

[@FarmerHunt]

Yeah, we have actually started doing more commercial fertilizer on our hay fields because of that. Do yall run a lot of Krone equipment?

[@farmingforfunandprofit940]

W e have had for 4 years 3 Krone Easy-Cut 320' mounted on 4760 KMC carts....1 Easy-Cut 3200 trail type mower, 2-- 4 basket Krone tedders....... 1 New 8 basket krone tedder.... We have replaced slip clutch disc on one cutter and 2 universal joints in 6 years and about 3 changes of blades per cutter per year,,,,

[@hunterolds5170]

creekview.....you will never look back

[@FarmerHunt]

Does it work good in wet litter?

[@hunterolds5170]

@@FarmerHunt we run over it with a 7ft disc with the gangs straightened up first if it is super wet, this tends to flip the cake up so it will dry in a day or 2. Then hit it with the creekview and it will be pure powder.

[@FarmerHunt]

@@hunterolds5170 Thanks for the info!

[@thepitpatrol]

Do yall ever windrow?

[@FarmerHunt]

Yes we do. Occasionally we may skip a flock but for the most part we windrow each time if we have enough time.

[@chrismichaels-h5d]

Can you give more information on controlling ammonia. Thank you much

[@FarmerHunt]

Here's what we try to do. There may be other things that work also 1) remove as much of the caked litter/chunks - typically we crust/decake between each flock. In the summer we might do one complete run over the whole house. In the colder months we usually do two runs. We also rake walls and corners to remove cake the cruster cant get. When we finish we want minimal chunks and very dry litter 2) sometimes we will grind the corners and walls and even grind the whole house (in warmer months, not typically in colder months) in place of crusting or will do both if necessary 3) if we windrow, make sure you are able to level your litter back out at least 5-6 days prior to getting chickens back (7 days if possible). We were pressed for time one flock and unrolled out litter and had to get houses ready and chickens back in 3 days I think. Ammonia was awful that flock. 4) PLT - we always apply PLT (less in summer months) to knock down ammonia for the first couple days 5) Stay ahead of ammonia with ventilation when you get chickens 7) we also run 1-2 48" fans the entire time we are out of chickens.

[@chrismichaels-h5d]

Thank you for putting informational videos out here.Absolutely wonderful information and helping me compair other poultry operations.@@FarmerHunt

[@markbaxley7258]

What was the difference in ammonia release? Winter time is always tough ventilation. Good luck this flock!

[@FarmerHunt]

Eric’s farm was definitely better as far as ammonia goes. I had to run some more runtime starting out but overall it wasn’t too bad. I think had it been a warmer month it would have been just fine.

[@jasondiestel2190]

Do you have any pro / con of the litter buster vs roto-tiller? Does it blend the bedding underneath very well?

[@FarmerHunt]

The Crust Buster does a much better job handling deeper, wet litter. It doesn't bog down and does a good job of busting up the crusting and blending it in with the drier litter. The PLR we had was bad about bogging down if you got it in much wet crusting or if you tried to run it too deep. If the Crust Buster would grind it up as fine as the PLR did then it would hands down be the best all around. The PLR does a better job of grinding the litter much finer. During the warmer months you could easily run the PLR through and never take out any crusting as long as your floors didn't get bad wet during the flock. Hope this helps answer your question.

[@kylelawrence5062]

Do you ever ad lime to kill bacteria?

[@FarmerHunt]

Ive never specifically added lime I don't think. Ive used other products though to acidify the litter.

[@thepitpatrol]

You are not restricted on your ventilation in the winter. Ask you service tech, they will tell you to run more heat and more air😂

[@FarmerHunt]

😂😂😂 they love to tell you to run more fans so your humidity will drop in the middle of December

[@thepitpatrol]

@FarmerHunt my favorite one is when it's zero and they tell me that if I have my vent doors set right, when a fans comes on it will pull tye warm air off the ceiling and shut my heaters off.

[@FarmerHunt]

haha yep! Makes no sense

[@aaronbrown8166]

Was there a noticeable difference with the total amount of litter taken out with cruster after running the crust buster first? As opposed to just crusting?

[@FarmerHunt]

Yes I think so. A lot of times in the winter if we just crust we only make it about halfway down the house before getting a full load. When we ran the crustbuster first we were able to make it to the fans on some runs if not farther.

[@aaronbrown8166]

How was the ammonia comparison?

[@FarmerHunt]

The ammonia was better on the farm where we took more crusting out. I think had the crustbuster ground up the litter a little finer the difference would have been very minimal.

[@troyfrench3323]

When are y'all getting more chicken's

[@FarmerHunt]

We got them back about a week ago. Just late getting the video posted

[@colestroud8300]

As annoying as it may be, I'd take raking the sidewalls over moving slats and pressure washing layer houses any day.

[@FarmerHunt]

I have never done that. Hope I never do!

[@duotronic6451]

"Quit rambling and get cutting."

[@FarmerHunt]

😂😂 he tends to get a little long winded sometimes