Kerbl Silage Fork 6 Tines 35 x 29 cm, Hand-Forged and Hardened
Kerbl Litter Fork 4 Tines 31 x 23 cm, Hand-Forged and Hardened
Kerbl Litter Fork 5 Tines 31 x 24 cm without Handle
Kerbl Manure Hook with Stem Socket, 3 Tines, 21 x 17 cm
Kerbl Manure Hook 4 Tines, Hand-Forged and Hardened, Without Handle
Kerbl Scattering Fork Without Handle 3 Tines 30 x 30 cm
Pitchfork for hay: Forks for Muck, Bedding and Silage
A fork is quickly bought and then annoys you for years if it does not match the job. Tine count, tine length and spacing decide whether the material stays on or falls through, and the handle joint decides how long the tool stays in one piece. What you find here are hand forged muck, bedding and silage forks along with muck drags, in other words the kit that gets picked up in the stable every day.
Which fork for which material
The muck fork with four or five tines is the standard tool for mucking out. Four tines at around 31 centimetres long take hold of straw and muck without letting everything drop straight through. The silage fork with six tines is wider and more closely set, so short, heavy material does not get lost between the tines. Bedding forks have only three tines and are much lighter, they are meant for spreading and not for loading. The muck drag with three or four angled tines pulls material towards you instead of lifting it, which saves your back when you clear out.
How to spot a fork that lasts
Hand forged means the steel is compacted as it is shaped, and tines like that bend open far less often. The second decisive point is the joint to the handle. A clean socket encloses the handle over several centimetres and takes the levering, while cheap push fit kit works loose there over time. Ash handles flex and do not break the first time you set to work. If you spend a lot of time working overhead, take the telescopic aluminium handle instead, which you set to your working height.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a hay fork and a muck fork?
A hay fork has few long, thin tines for loose hay. A muck fork has shorter, stronger tines that hold straw and muck without bending open.
Which fork for mucking out a cattle shed?
A muck fork with four or five tines and a socket. For short silage the silage fork with its closer tine spacing is worth it.
What is the muck drag good for?
For pulling instead of lifting, for instance when clearing tight pens or dragging material away from a wall.
Muck, Bedding and Silage Forks from the Stable
Which fork you need is decided by the material in the stable. What lies here are hand forged muck forks, bedding forks, a silage fork and muck drags for the daily round. For mucking out you reach for the muck fork with four or five tines of around 31 centimetres, which holds straw and muck without letting everything fall through. For short, heavy silage the silage fork with six more closely set tines is the better choice. Bedding forks have only three tines, are a good deal lighter and are meant for spreading rather than loading. And the muck drag with its angled tines pulls material towards you instead of lifting it, which saves your back when you clear out a tight pen. On all of them, look at the socket at the handle joint, because that is where every fork gives way first. Ash handles flex, telescopic handles adjust to your working height.