Chicken bald back

[dancing cloud]

It's getting to completion time on my field (Friday ) and I should soon be able to get into it and properly assess the state it's in. Link to previous post here:-

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=94239

 

There's 60m needs stock fencing, two gates to acquire and install (not yet sure of measurements but think about 8ft) and grass, brambles, weeds etc of about 4ft tall to get down to a height where I can see what the land is like underneath. I know it's boggy from the irises growing in it and I doubt it's very even, but can't tell because of all the vegetation.

 

Three questions - what equipment will I need? Where do I get it from (buy or hire)? Is this work I can do myself (with just my aged dad to help) or do I need to bring in professionals and where do I find them? I'd like to keep costs down as far as possible, but accept that a decent job done once is better than a shoddy job that's only cheap at the time.

 

There are a couple of farmers my dad knows locally who may be prepared to give me advice as well as a favour to him, and any and all hints/tips, do's and dont's from those of you in the know would be very welcome. I know there are no quick fixes when it comes to land, I just don't really know where to start!

 

Many thanks in advance

[sjp]

something like this might be an option http://www.hss.com/g/62146/Power-Scythe.html or this http://www.hss.com/g/62246/Flail-Mower.html as a petrol brush cutter would take to long and would end up taking to much out of you, there are other higher shops if you go down the DIY route

stock fencing isn't hard to come by and it's not that hard to fit other than digging the post holes out the tricky part is straining the wire which is a 2 handed job along with the wire netting(stock fence) the gates are pretty straight forward to do if you have a bit of DIY knowledge steel farm gates would be lighter than timber so would be easier to lift onto the hinge pegs this place will give you some ideas about what's available http://www.mcveighparker.com/

[Eggasperated]

We bought a power scythe to clear an acre of land and found it a real struggle to use especially over rough ground, we also found it didn't cope particularly well with very tall thick stemmed vegetation. We eventually part exchanged it for a field mower which has worked far better but is still hard work to manoeuvre through rutted ground, this mower has a large blade which OH bent by hitting a metal bar hidden along a wall so you need to be careful of obstructions in the weeds. I don't have any experience of a flail mower so I dont know how that would perform.

As regards getting the land cleared professionally we've struggled here to find anyone interested in doing that kind of work and when we have had bits and pieces done we've frequently been left with worse ruts from their machinery and piles of rubble s"Ooops, word censored!"ed from the land and, in my opinion, damaged top soil.

I hope I don't sound too pessimistic but it is worth considering everything very thoroughly before starting any work and also being very aware of what your land is like and what you want to achieve.

[The Dogmother]

Re stock fencing, I'd recommend getting someone in to do it; the best result is achieved when you use a tractor with a post ram to get the poles in, and a tensioner for the fencing and any wires. We do a lot at work and they can get it done pretty quickly once it's set up.

 

Good luck