Hay soaking methods

[NinjaPony]

I've been trying to come up with an efficient method of soaking 4 haynets every morning when I move to DIY in September without soaking myself/yard or killing my back! All 'ready made' solutions are very expensive so I thought I'd see what you all do! My own plan is to buy a decent sized water butt on a stand, fitted with some kind of gardening mesh at the bottom. Fill up butt with nets, turn tap to 'off', soak hay for an hour. Turn tap 'on', drain all water out. Remove nets, hang up. Any thoughts on whether this might work?!

 

[twiggy2]

I would imagine the tap will block up on a regular basic.
I always just used a dustbin, soak the hay in water and tip over to drain.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Would it not be really difficult to lift them out? I’m thinking of a deep kind of waterbut? I used to use and old bath but it was hidden away round the back of a shed. Not the prettiest thing!
I gave in and bought haycubes. Silly money but good!

 

[be positive]

I would imagine the tap will block up on a regular basic.
I always just used a dustbin, soak the hay in water and tip over to drain.

I also use a bin but no longer soak hay apart from a bit for a fatty in summer, mine all get haylage as soaking several nets every day all winter is a nightmare especially when it freezes, since they all moved onto big bale haylage life has been so much easier and nothing ever coughs whereas one or two did not do well on soaked hay. If it is possible to get big bales in it will save you so much hassle but it may not be an option for you.

 

[SEL]

I use the large trugs but there was a lady doing exactly what you are proposing. Once the tap had drained the butt she used to pull it on its side to get the nets out.

Just leave them draining somewhere for as long as possible before hanging otherwise they weigh a tonne and soak the stable. I usually soak overnight and pull them out of the trug when i first get to the yard.

 

[paddy555]

I soak about 3 bales of hay a day in winter and have found the easiest way is a human bath. I have put a lid on mine. I lift the bale or as many wads as you want in, close lid, turn on tap. The bath already has an overflow so if I forget the tap no problem, pull the plug to empty and let it drain..Then I have a couple of hooks next to the bath, hook haynet on and fill it. The haynet, although of soaked hay is then relatively light to lift. This method is quick and easy and has the minimal heavy lifting.
Baths are pretty easy to come by with taps attached as builders are frequently taking them out. I got most for free which avoided them going into skips.

 

[blitznbobs]

Water storage tank - like what is put in lofts - buy from wickes etc. Lower down and more stable than a dustbin so easier to
Lift the nets out ... or put it on a sack truck so you can tip it out when full .

 

[SEL]

I soak about 3 bales of hay a day in winter and have found the easiest way is a human bath. I have put a lid on mine. I lift the bale or as many wads as you want in, close lid, turn on tap. The bath already has an overflow so if I forget the tap no problem, pull the plug to empty and let it drain..Then I have a couple of hooks next to the bath, hook haynet on and fill it. The haynet, although of soaked hay is then relatively light to lift. This method is quick and easy and has the minimal heavy lifting.
Baths are pretty easy to come by with taps attached as builders are frequently taking them out. I got most for free which avoided them going into skips.

I like this idea. Engineer OH could earn his keep and design me a pulley system for getting the nets out too.

 

[paddy555]

I like this idea. Engineer OH could earn his keep and design me a pulley system for getting the nets out too.

yeah, mine earned his keep by making me a hinging lid. Always good to let them participate.

have you considered soaking loose? I tried nets but they were just so heavy and even winching them was cumbersome. Soaked and drained hay is so easy to deal with. Just like filling haynets with dry hay but it is not dusty and itchy.

 

[irishdraft]

I also soak a couple of bales a day in a bath .Fill bath then drain when required I have a wooden slatted bench next to the bath I then manoeuvre the whole bale out and onto bench and use as required. Soaking hay is a bit of a pain whatever way you do it x

I soak about 3 bales of hay a day in winter and have found the easiest way is a human bath. I have put a lid on mine. I lift the bale or as many wads as you want in, close lid, turn on tap. The bath already has an overflow so if I forget the tap no problem, pull the plug to empty and let it drain..Then I have a couple of hooks next to the bath, hook haynet on and fill it. The haynet, although of soaked hay is then relatively light to lift. This method is quick and easy and has the minimal heavy lifting.
Baths are pretty easy to come by with taps attached as builders are frequently taking them out. I got most for free which avoided them going into skips.

 

[Cat91]

I tip loose hay into an old oil drum of a morning, fill it with water then leave it to soak. When I get back to the yard later I just fill the nets with the soaked hay, rinse until the water runs clear then feed it. I don't like leaving the actual nets in to soak because it just ruins them!