Keeping a round hay "together"

[Joyous70]

Looking for some practical advice please, what is the best way to keep a round of hay together?

I have it stored under a lean to on a pallet with a tarpaulin loosely covering it in case of rain, but am looking for ideas on how I can stop it from falling apart and all over the floor.

Thanks in advance

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Bungees! We have a few that hook together and so can be adjusted as the bale gets smaller

 

[Joyous70]

Bungees! We have a few that hook together and so can be adjusted as the bale gets smaller

LOL - have you been following me around???? I did say this out loud the other day, but wasn't sure if it would work - thank you

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

LOL - have you been following me around???? I did say this out loud the other day, but wasn't sure if it would work - thank you

You need to follow us around, we've been doing it for years

 

[Joyous70]

You need to follow us around, we've been doing it for years

im off now to source some bungees

 

[holeymoley]

Definitely bungees… or bungees plus the string that’s wrapped around the hay when it arrives. That works if you’re short of bungees.

 

[Joyous70]

ive used a bit of baler twine for now that bridges the gap between the bits of netting that are holding the bale together, but there is not much baling twine around as we used pre packed bedding and the hay is in netting. I will nip off later or tomorrow to Screwfix and get a pack of bungees

 

[Carrottom]

I have used baler twice successfully, and keep a few empty chaff bags handy to stuff any spare in if a whole wind comes away and it's too much for that day.

 

[teddypops]

I use baler twine with a loop tied at one end. I then wrap the bale and put loose end through loop. That way it can be pulled really tight before tying.

 

[Joyous70]

I have used baler twice successfully, and keep a few empty chaff bags handy to stuff any spare in if a whole wind comes away and it's too much for that day.

I have builder bags for if i have excess that comes off - at least i know with twine and or bungees it is doable, and im not being daft.

I use baler twine with a loop tied at one end. I then wrap the bale and put loose end through loop. That way it can be pulled really tight before tying.

i use this method with the large rectangles of hay, works really well, just wish i had some baler twine that length at the moment it would save me popping off to Screwfix

 

[brighteyes]

I use baler twine with a loop tied at one end. I then wrap the bale and put loose end through loop. That way it can be pulled really tight before tying.

This but that blue polyprop rope. I have two - one isn't enough - and I slacken one off at a time. Once you have used a few layers, a builder's bag will sit nicely over the top.

 

[Joyous70]

This but that blue polyprop rope. I have two - one isn't enough - and I slacken one off at a time. Once you have used a few layers, a builder's bag will sit nicely over the top.

I might have to go rummaging through the garage and see what i can find

 

[Merrymoles]

I use baler twine with a loop tied at one end. I then wrap the bale and put loose end through loop. That way it can be pulled really tight before tying.

That's exactly what we do and it has always worked well for us. I do tend to make sure I have enough nets to fill with any that drops off when the string is untied to do nets and try to keep the layers in one piece.

 

[Zuzan]

I store mine on their sides.. I simply roll to release some hay, this way it doesn't fall apart.

 

[Bradsmum]

May I suggest you put a pallet or similar on the top of the bale between the tarpaulin and the hay. Helps keep the air circulating and no mouldy hay

 

[Sir barnaby]

I use lashing/ratchet/roof rack wrap straps I use three to start with and as bale reduces with take each one off. Keeps all hay together nicely and easy to loosen/tighten

 

[Britestar]

This but that blue polyprop rope. I have two - one isn't enough - and I slacken one off at a time. Once you have used a few layers, a builder's bag will sit nicely over the top.

A cover for an outdoor round table also works very well.

 

[Melody Grey]

We open them on their sides with a jump pole under to prevent rolling while they’re still big. Much less falls off this way.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I had a baletidy. Expensive but nothing wasted & as not totally weatherproof storage kept it dry

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I just use a long bit of blue rope. With wrapped hay that was outside I cut the bottom of the outer bale wrap wiggled it up took off the inner netting filled my hay nets then roped it and put a tyre on top and the bale wrap back over the lot of it. Kept it dry but stopped it sweating ??

 

[meleeka]

I used bungees with an electric fence polypost as the anchor. I just clipped both ends on the post to fasten.

 

[Callieann]

I always use it like a Swiss roll and unwind as I use it. I just use a piece of rope or baling string to tie around and then cover with a tarp

 

[ycbm]

I use a bright colour plastic big link chain so it's easy to see and light to throw around the bale, and a hook so it can be easily shortened it to whatever length is needed.

With my current supplier of big rectangular bales I have them stacked so the strings run across not down and use the second one down to stop the leaves flopping down.
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