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  Discussion on Saving Hay
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New Member:
readjoe

Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 4:02 pm:

I have a pasture with a run in shed. I do not have a tractor. I get a round bale, loaded into the back of my pick up truck. I back it into the shed, run a strong rope (I use the yellow plastic kind)around the bale and tie each end to the steel poles on back wall. I then drive fwd and the bale rolls into the shed. I then take a COTTON rope and take it across the front, in whatever way your barn is set up. My horse then come and eat anytime, but are unable to walk around it, walkon loose hay,use the restroom, and it NEVER gets rained on! It makes my hay last forever...like it would if it was 25 square bales. I have done this for years, and occasonally a horse will do something that causes the rope to break..its ok, its cotton, and no one got hurt. My neighbor has the same amount of horses and DrOps hers in the middle of her pasture..well you know what that looks like, and her round bales lasts about 2 weeks, compared to mine lasting 2 months. My shed row is large enough 12X48 to where at the first of hay season, I get 3 good, clean round bales..and put them in close to each other, and just treat that portion of the barn life a buffet table. It was a little scary the first couple of times I did it. Just make sure your dogs are in the truck with you, and close your window in case the rope should snap for some reason when you pull fwd. Anyway, it has saved me lots of $$$$$ in hay. Hope this helps.
Member:
imogen

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 3:51 pm:

Crikey. My horses (2 of mine, 5 of someone else's) would get through a round bale of hay in about a day to a day and a half at this time of year... What breed are yours and how many would be eating the bale?

All the best

Imogen
New Member:
readjoe

Posted on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 - 9:22 am:

I've had 2-3 Arabs on my round bales. The horse pasture is about 3 acres. My barn with the round bale is at one end, and the horses move around and don't 'park' in front of the bale all day, like I seem to notice horses doing when its DrOpped in the middle of pasture. Just my observation. I have a friend who also has arabs, and she has her horses go thru the bales in record time, like maybe 2 weeks for 3 horses, and her horses are on 10-15 acres. This is Tx. no grass to graze really. I also get a load of square bales and will put those out maybe 2-4 flakes every few days..just to give them a different place/way to eat. My horses are not fat, either. Alot of horses that seem to 'park' in front of their round bales get tubby..as my friend who has the arabs do, and my neighbor who has the same amount of horses..but dutch warmbloods. Hers are 2 mares, tho and are not ridden. Mine get lots of exercise, ridden several days a week. I also grain my horses twice a day, in case you are wondering. I hope this answers some of your questions.( : I like hearing your thoughts.

readjoe
Member:
sonoita

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 1:21 pm:

Hey readjoe,
I just bought a big square and put it between two panels and covered most with a tarp. The side the horses can not get to. And they are doing good so far. They are not parking but grabbing a mouthful every so often.Now I will cut back on my alf/mix and the square is mountain and brome. It was only 80 bucks.So I think it will save me from buying until summer now.
Member:
readjoe

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008 - 8:56 am:

Wanda,

You have the right idea..and it may work better for some others! Mainly, the way I see if its working is just doing the math. I pay about 50 for a round bale, that should be 25-30 bales..so lets say 25. That should last me 50 days for my 2 horses if it were sq. bales. If the round bale is only lasting 1-2 weeks..yikes..that is a bunch of waste, or too much eating. By doing what you are trying, or what I have ..the waste is just about elimnated..my horses will clean the hay up completely if it stays clean and dry. sq. bales ,coastal, cost me 5.00/bale, so I do save by buying a round bale. I buy both, b/c I still take squares on the road with me, and supplement for variety. anyway..I think you have the right idea! Like I mentioned, my neighbor with 2 horses has round bales lined up, and goes thru them every 1-2 weeks, and there is quite a pile of mucked up hay lying her pasture. That is alot of $$$$$. Hope this helps!
Member:
totty2

Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 10:51 am:

We use round bales too. My husband made a "feeder" that has a panel from an old dog kennel under it (to keep the hay off the ground) and wood on the sides with a roof covered with tin.

The guy I get my round bales from stores them inside for me until I need more (very nice man). We can keep 9 at a time, under cover. We are lucky because we only pay $20 a round bale and they run about 800#, maybe a bit more.

I can take a picture of our homemade feeder and put it on my flikr page. He used trees from our property to build it (much like something you would see in the old west).
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 12:05 pm:

Sally I would like to see a pic of your feeder, quite a few members have made there own, from slow feeders to big bale feeders, if you search round bale feeders or slow feeders you should find some discussions. I'm still using the metal one and really don't like it
Member:
totty2

Posted on Sunday, Oct 10, 2010 - 4:48 pm:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tottons-2/5068643577/

it isn't pretty, but it sure works well. All made from wood around the house and the tin was donated by the neighbor. Only cost us my hubby's time.
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