Big bale hay.

S

Sandstone1

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 July 2010
Messages
8,788
Visit site
Anyone else use big bale hay? If so do you think it works out cheaper than small bales? Also how do you find managing it ie unrolling to fill nets etc?
I'm thinking of the 4 foot round bales.
 
I think it's much cheaper than small bales I pay £35 in the summer and I switch over to a very light Haylage in winter same price, for 2 small horses in summer it can last me weeks if I have grass, if you stand the bale up on either end the hay should just wind off like a toilet roll does, no need to roll it around to much hard work, it can take a bit longer to stuff nets but only a few minutes nothing major the dust can be an issue because the hay is loose but I often wear a mask if it's really but most of the time the stuff I get is really not that dusty.
 
Last edited:
Yep i use them, although i am really lucky i can have round bales of hay or haylage for £25! So definitely worth the money!
Right now, whilst my guys are out, i'm sticking a round bale in the field for them to eat - it's taking them like 3 weeks (2 horses - 1 in foal) to eat it all.... in a months time, they'll be in and we'll have a round bale of haylage which will do us every 10 days (between 3).. find it easier to fill nets/hay bars!
 
Definitely works out cheaper than small bales. On the other hand, small bales are easier to work with, especially if you're filling up nets.
 
I've been using round bale haylage recently as the bales are smaller than the square ones I normally use over the winter and not needing as much yet. Square bales are much easier as the haylage just comes away in sections - similar to small bales although obviously bigger! Round bales are more complicated as have to unwind and makes more of a mess!
 
Much cheaper yes. I've actually moved now onto quadrant bales but prefer rounds really.
Just make sure they are pulled a bit out from the wall so you can "unroll"
 
My daughter and I order either two rounds or one big square. Hay man brings whats best at time for us. We store in purposely bought sinclair trailer. Works for us as we have 4 between us.
 
Sandstone1 said:
Thanks. Anyone know roughly how many small bales a 4 foot round is equivalent to?
Click to expand...

Between 10 and 11 conventional bales or 200 to 225 kg . However there are some real con artists making and selling hay these days .It tends to be obvious with conventional bales if the baler has been set to pack the bales very lightly or short in length. The bale should be 3ft long .Packed correctly such as bale (if it is 12 inches high ) should weigh in at about 20kg . The old class dominant balers had a deeper bale chamber and these bales would be about 25kg .
With round bales the problem is that it is very hard to check the weight of the bale .You cant just hang it from a spring balance. A lightly packed round bale will still keep its shape reasonably well even if it is half the weight of a correctly packed one .
With the big square bales there are a number of different sizes so it is important to know what size you have .These should be 2.5 metres long (lorry width). 80x70 profile should give 4 bales per tonne 80x90 ,3 bales per tonne
It astonishes me greatly that so few horse owners actually know how much they are paying for hay . Calculating the weight is the only accurate way.
 
I'd like to use big bales as would work out much cheaper. Trouble is handling them. Getting up on end and unravelling them.
Small bales are 4.50 a bale for me and big are 28 so if I could use would be a big saving. Just not sure I can cope with them.
Also hay seems to be in fairly short supply or so I'm told.
What are people paying this year?
 
Last edited:
angrybird1 said:
Trouble I have is getting it up on its end. Think it's cheaper by a long way but getting to grips with handling it could be difficult.
Click to expand...

Two people, get it rocking and then it will easily flip onto its end. Me and another small "pensioner" can do them just make sure there is plenty of rock before trying to upend.
 
I'm paying £30 for round hay & small bale is £3.50. Some round bales are easier than others to fill haynet from. As someone else said as long as there's space around it the hay can be peeled off. Our barn is open sided hence cover, keeps the dogs from peeing on the hay too
 
I haven't used small bale hay for years, it works out far too expensive. I've been using large square bales but recently changed to another supplier who supplies round bales. I changed because the quality is far better, cleaner & less dust. Handling round & square bales are about the same but I find filling haynets far easier & quicker from the round bales. The round bales are a little more expensive but a round bale lasts about 7 days & works out about £1.10p per horse per day so very reasonable.

Although the hay is really good I still steam my nets using a home build steamer. :)
 
far cheaper using big round bales and just as easy, if not easier to fill nets. The only difficulty is man handling them, especially if you wish to put a bale out in the field over winter and don’t have machinery.
 
I've always been put off using big bales but it does seem as if they are more economical.
Also seems as if a lot of people manage them ok.
Going to have a go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top