Hay Making

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HelsB

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Does anyone make their own Hay? Or get contractors in to do it?

I had about an acre cut last year just to tidy it up as the horses didn't manage to get round to it when the grass grew really fast, man who cut it eyc was very unreliable but the only one who would do such a small amout (ended up with about 30 bales as quite a thin covering)

This year I have just been offered a 3 acre paddock with MASSES of grass on, would probably make 100 bales plus but cannot get anyone to make it for me!! Even last year's Mr Unreliable is to busy!

Late cut wouldn't bother me as horse is a fatty type anyway, but would it cause any problems with baleing etc ??

Any advice with regards to Hay making would be great thanks, at this rate I will be sharpening my scythe!!
 
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Does anyone make their own Hay? Or get contractors in to do it?

I had about an acre cut last year just to tidy it up as the horses didn't manage to get round to it when the grass grew really fast, man who cut it eyc was very unreliable but the only one who would do such a small amout (ended up with about 30 bales as quite a thin covering)

This year I have just been offered a 3 acre paddock with MASSES of grass on, would probably make 100 bales plus but cannot get anyone to make it for me!! Even last year's Mr Unreliable is to busy!

Late cut wouldn't bother me as horse is a fatty type anyway, but would it cause any problems with baleing etc ??

Any advice with regards to Hay making would be great thanks, at this rate I will be sharpening my scythe!!

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You should get about 100 bales per acre (small bales) or ten large bales per acre.

The best time to make hay is July, because of the rubbish weather last year we didn't get our haylage in until August but it was fine and the horses still ate it! We also made some small baled hay as the big baler broke down and that was fab stuff, just not keen on stacking it as it's hard work doing 1000 bales
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Ask around in your area and see who everyone else uses for theirs. Lots of people don't have their own tractor/equipment and use a contractor or farmer to do it for them. But unless you live in the north east of England can't help you!!!
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Goodness didn't realise I would get that much!!

Have asked everyone, all want to do bigger parcels of land! Everyone I speak to gives me another number or 2 to try - still a couple that we've not got hold of yet.

I'm in east Suffolk if anyone know of someone to help!

I will feel a right idiot if I can't get this borrowed field cut!
 
I wouldn't have thought you would get that much per acre, we have just had 4 acres baled and got 250 bales. It very much depends on grass etc. If you can't get someone to do small bales what about getting big quadrants? Only trouble with these is that they are difficult to move.
 
I gave up splitting my land and making hay as I couldn't get anyone to do it, even the contractor passing the gate to do fields either side said he didn't have time.
 
we do a half and half version as my hubby is a farmer but they do not do hay so we fertilse/spray & cut it but have to get contrctors in to bale/wrap it then we cart it.

We've had our biggest crop ever this year
 
We've just made some of our own and had no intention of doing so! I asked neighbouring farmer to cut, bale and take it way as I thought there wasn't enough to make it worthwhile taking into account fuel, time etc.

Anyway he made a total of 4 visits to cut, turn twice and bale taking about 2 hours in all. He charged us £120 and we got 6 large round bales of very nice hay which will take me well into the Autumn, maybe longer. So not the cheapest way to get hay but I know what's in it and how it was made, works out at about £2 a bale I reckon.
 
Just found someone (after many calls!) to do it, he will charge me by the hour rather than the bale so it won't be the cheapest but should still work out under £2 a bale....phew!

He's going tp do it in 2-3 weeks time but doesn't mind if I find someone cheaper in the meantime so all good

;D
 
We make our own, its a pain in the butt! We have all the equipment, as you need a mower, tedder, baler and sledge and ideally a handler / front end loader with a flat 8 to move it around.

Contractors are all busy at the same time and even on our acreage we are second class compared to those with 300+ acres.

Haylage is very expensive to make and the small bales are around £4.50 to make and £8 for the large ones (all in price). So don't romantically think you'll save money

Trouble is whether its for 3 acres or 300 they still have to get all the kit their, so would probably want to charge you around £1.50 per small bale or more.
 
We gave up on making our own a long time ago as like you say the contractors were unreliable and it was always hit and miss with the weather. Now I just pay a bit extra for good haylage from a proper equine company who do nothing else but produce haylage. So now I stay stress free knowing the nags have a constant supply of top quality grub!!
 
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We gave up on making our own a long time ago as like you say the contractors were unreliable and it was always hit and miss with the weather. Now I just pay a bit extra for good haylage from a proper equine company who do nothing else but produce haylage. So now I stay stress free knowing the nags have a constant supply of top quality grub!!

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Think I will also do this in future, especially as i do have a regular supplier of lovely hay at a reasonable price - remind me next year!!!
 
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