Re: Round Bales For Dummies

On Nov 27, 9:41 pm, john jacob <j.jacob-bikeh...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
NancyD....@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Just try to keep it dry. The mold can make a horse sick.
JJ

I have never bought, or seen up close, a round bale. I'm thinking
about getting one or two, and sticking them under my run-in. It's a
small run-in - 12 X 20 or so. I'm guessing two round bales will fill
it and turn it into a big hay feeder with no real shelter for the
horses until they eat their way under cover.

If a delivery truck can drive easily to the run-in, what will I
typically need to provide to unload the suckers? I *think* my Kubota
is too small to lift them, even if I did have a spike (which I
don't). But I really have no idea.

The small bales I've found locally kinda suck. I've been told I can
get something nice if I take round bales. Just gotta figure out how
I'm going to handle them.

Nancy DeMarco
Mason, NH

I've used round bales now for 4 years for various livestock, including
my horses. With a tombstone style round bale feeder there is minimal
wastage. Of course I unwrap the strings before placing the bale in
the feeder (some people don't, which I don't agree with). If the
bales are not stored inside, the outer inch can get discolored or a
bit moldy, but the rain can't penetrate more than that inch or so if
the bale was properly made and the hay dry when baled. Fortunately I
have my own hay custom baled and I can store it inside.
This year, for the first time, I wanted to control feed some animals,
so I plopped a bale in the barn on end. I just unwrap like a spool as
much as I want and feed it. (It would be difficult to weigh the amount
fed that way though). Our winters are cold rather than wet, so the
hay going moldy before it is eaten is not a problem. I use 2 feeders
so that bullies don't drive away my old boy, and the 4 horses & 6
llamas go through 2 bales every 6 days approximately. 4 foot bales
weighing approx 800 lbs each. They have access to the hay 24/7. Works
for me, but I have the tractor to easily move them.

Sally J
.

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