Combines Can I use a rigid header as a swather

If you are talking draper header, most manufacturers make them switchable from swathers to combines. I have seen combines used as swathers by dropping the short canvas to the feeder housing, but the clearance under the combine is poor for heavy crops. Some headers have a sliding table for double swathing. This would give you end delivery and eliminate clearance problems. As for an auger type header, I haven't seen one used for that puropose on a combine, my guess is that it could shell a lot of seed from the head if not swathed very green. If you already have the machine and header GO FOR IT!

Thanks. It is an auger header. Milk would be the latest I would swath so I don't think shatter will matter much.

If you are going to cut the oats before they are ripe a combine head will not cut them. The cutting system on a combine will not cut in tough conditions like a haybine does.