Hi I’m Mike, today we tackle the project list once again and prepare for more snow
on the way.
With calving also starting soon, we have to look at a way to keep cow paths open to be
able to bring pregnant moms and calves into the barn and corrals and that starts with
a new snow blower for the BCS tractor, its coming up today on our Wyoming life.
Welcome back and thanks for joining us once again, if you are new, please subscribe and
join us as we explore the ranch life and escape the ordinary.
Every Tuesday we take a look at the project list behind me and pick out something we can
do together and today we are planning for the next few weeks, where we are going to
be starting to calve and one of the issues that we deal with during calving can be snow
and snow build up.
If a momma cow has trouble during calving, it means we are going to have to bring her
into the barn and help her out.
But late winter and spring storms can bring plenty of snow and we have been in the situation
before where its extremely difficult to get them to the barn due to that snow.
Many of these alleys are too narrow to fit a tractor down to clean them out, the bobcat
works for some but not for others and this year we have a new addition to our BCS implement
line up that should be able to help us out with this problem.
Inside this box is the BCS 28” single stage snow thrower, we should be able to use it
to get into those tighter spots, such as gates and alleys to be able to make a cows trip
through the corrals a little safer and easier.
I can also use it to clean off my mother in laws driveway.
First we have to put it together.
Which looks fairly easy.
After getting everything out of the boxes, the snow thrower is mostly assembled already,
we just have to attach the snow chute to the main body using 5 bolts.
Then bolt on the quick change PTO coupler that will allow it to attach to the BCS tractor.
The BCS two wheeled tractor is used extensively on the ranch.
Erin has attachments for it to help her make raised beds in the garden, she has a tiller
and she has a precision depth roller to prepare those beds.
Other implements that we use on the ranch include a flail mower that we can used to
keep weeds and brush back and a pressure washer attachment boasting 4000psi.
Attachments for the BCS are quickly changed out using the quick change PTO and the 13
hp engine powers it through the work it needs to get done.
The tractor is also versatile, with a rotating handlebar and control system that allows you
to run front and rear mounted tools with the same machine.
The decision to get this snow thrower was made after pricing out new snow blowers and
since we have the BCS already we have only one power unit to worry about.
We have another snow blower on the ranch, an 8 foot model that we can mount behind the
tractor, although I really only use this on roads and open areas.
It will pick up a rock and toss it quite a ways and can do some damage when operated
around buildings, especially those with windows.
Don’t ask me how I know that.
So this little snow blower should be just about right to work where we need it.
After mounting the snow blower to the BCS tractor the only left is to mount the control
crank to the handlebars, this will allow us to aim the chute and control where it is throwing
the snow.
The only thing left to do is adjust the shoes on the snowblower to control how low it sits
to the ground, since I plan to take it out today for a practice run we are going to put
them at their highest setting for now and adjust from there.
Quick and easy assembly get us up and running fast but now its time to give it a try, first
I must get dressed for the occasion.
Temperatures aren’t rising much lately, today its 8 degrees, I think its supposed
to be up in the teens today for a high and overdressing is never a bad thing, and a little
coffee to warm up before heading out is a good thing too.
Finding somewhere to test this thing might be a bit of a challenge though, I’m not
going to use it on my mother in laws driveway yet, I don’t want her to get spoiled but
a lot of the snow build up we are dealing with now is caused by drifting which really
packs in the snow.
But the best place to test it, might be where its going to get the most of its work, and
that is in the corrals and alleys.
Snow build up over time will limit our ability to open and close gates, the ground under
the snow will become icy, causing a hazard for not only the cows moving over it but me
as well and drifts may even stop cows from wanting to go the way we need them to go and
in an emergency calving, having these pathways open it top priority.
I am impressed with it so far, without much snow to pickup and tackling drifts it really
does its job eating through the snow, it throws it up to 40 feet, and I guess if you live
close enough to your neighbor it then becomes his problem, out here, it moves it from one
area to another hopefully more suitable area.
BCS also offers a two stage snow blower in the same width and up to 33” but for me
this one seems to be working pretty well.
But the true test is yet to come.
For now, we take it over to the fuel tanks and fill it up.
Then its back to shop to wait for the incoming snow and stand ready.
The BCS for us has been a fine machine, being able to maintain only one engine and still
have access to a number of different attachments has really been a time saver and in the long
run a money saver for us.
Feel free to check them out at bcs America dot com and you can always tell them that
we sent you, I don’t know if that would do any good but it never hurts to try.
With more snow on the way I hope to really get out and use this thing, put it through
the paces and hopefully be able to bring a calf into this world or help a momma cow with
its assistance.
Its easy for even me to get so focused during calving that you can forget the simple things
that make the process so much easier and if you have ever had to try to move a cow in
labor through a snow drift you will appreciate the usefulness of being able to clear those
ahead of time.
I’m going to head back out, no I’m not, I’m going to go get some more coffee, then
I’m gonna head back out but I hope that you have enjoyed our time together here today.
Erin has a video coming this week, where she is getting ready to start seeding but first
wants to take a look at seed viability and how you can test it for yourself.
I think I’m gonna learn something on Thursday.
Again please subscribe if you like what you see because we have a lot more coming up as
we blow this snow away and head into spring.
Quick note, the ranch round up, our subscriber meetup taking place right here on the ranch
on August 24 is almost sold out but there are a few tickets left.
If you are planning a vacation this year to Yellowstone, mount rushmore or anywhere in
this area, check it out as its your chance to come visit the ranch, hang out with us
for the day, meet each other and have a ton of fun.
I can’t wait for it and I hope to meet you there.
Coffee is calling my name so I am out but until next time have a great week and thanks
for joining us in our Wyoming life.