Best way to open round haylage bales and a few other Q's pls.

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Teabelly

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Yesterday I moved my horses from a very very unpleasant situation at my livery yard to my home. Whislt this was always on the cards, it has happened quicker than I though, so a little bit disorganised.

I have large round hay bales, and tbh not sure the best way to open to stop the hay from spoiling so am looking for some tips please. They are stored standing up if that makes a difference.

Also one of my horses gets a little stressed and when he does so he chews, I have protected some of the edges of his wooden stable with a metal chew strip, but on going down there this morning, obviously I need to do something with the others. I have tried painting alsorts on to prevent him chewing but was just wondering if anyone had a more permenant but quickish solution.


Thanks in advance.
 
I am sure I read in another post to mix the horses poo with water and paint it on fence posts to stop them chewing them?!

Also maybe some sort of vitamin supplement or lick as it might be an imbalance or lacking of some sort of nutrient?

Mine has a dengi 'lite lick' in garlic flavour - so he doesnt eat it all at once, its very low sugar (so won't rot his teeth!) and it is lasting a long time.

speaking of teeth - worth checking them too to make sure he is not chewing due to tooth discomfort?
 
It sounds harsh but it definatly works, mix the strongest chilli powder with water and paint onto the wood, the wood absorbes it and it doesnt look unpleasent or spoil the stables,
The hay bales are they undercover or outside?
 
Put it up on a pallet and either buy a bale cover from robinsons or something or get a big tarpaulin(sp?) and put it over held down with bricks to stop the wind getting hold of it x
 
Wizzlewoo, they are outside unfortunately. The Chilli idea sounds good.

EdTheNed, there is no way we could lift it up to put on a pallet , but thanks for the idea of a tarpaulin.

Featherpower, thanks his teeth are fine, not long checked, yes did think about buying hime something to play with to keep him from getting bored.
 
I've just had a large bale of haylage delivered and I've opened mine by running a knife around the middle of it, pulling the top half of the plastic off and the netting that's underneath and using the top half. The bottom half of the bale is still sitting inside the plastic wrapping so it stops it getting dirty of dusty from the ground and also stops it unravelling and all falling off!
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I just pull the haylage from the top of the bale until it's all gone, then dig into the bottom. Mine is inside so I don't need to cover it, but a tarpauline will do the trick nicely. Just remember to weigh the edges down with some bricks or some tyres or you may lose it in this windy weather.
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the way i open mine is the following. bale is stood on flat end. Run knife up and over at the middle so that you have two halfs then i pull each open and work round the bale. once done pull the halves back and cover with a tarpaulin. The halfs act as a little bit of an apron so keeps the waste and mess to a minimum
 
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