Tips on Using Big Bale Straw

[Orangehorse]

Usually my OH bales small straw bales just for me, but this year it just isn't going to be possible, so he says I am going to have to use big bales - and they are big as the machine will make.

I had a big bale last summer to use and I absolutely hated it. Instead of walking into the stable with a small bale, dropping it to the ground, cutting the strings, kick around - job done it seemed to take ages and ages to scrabble armfuls of straw off the bale, and numerous trips backwards and forwards to get enough for the bed. It seemed to be A Lot of Hard Work and time consuming.

So, clever people, just how do you get the straw in a big bale into the stable without exhausting yourself?

 

[tatty_v]

We use big bales of barley straw on our yard - I find that they divide nicely into "slices". I add a slice a day by just breaking it off, popping it onto the wheelbarrow, wheeling it into the stable and shaking it about. Once the first few slices are off you can tie the ends of the baler twine together to keep the bale tidy. Never had small bales so can't compare, but I am both a neat freak and short on time (mucking out at 5am before going to work!) and it's never struck me as a pain

 

[Shoei]

I use big bales. Our barn is quite a distance from the stables so it is annoying when it falls to bits. I invested in a massive double wheeled wheel barrow which I only use for clean stray. I found a slab of our straw doesn't fir in a normal wheel barrow and breaks apart by the time I get to the stable, falling on the floor

 

[meleeka]

I had one of those huge builders bags, the sort that aggregate gets delivered in. I just dragged it to the stables as I made sure the bale wasn't too far away.

 

[JillA]

I had one and used a muck sheet to carry enough for each bed

 

[supsup]

Round or square? With large square bales, you can usually get slices off that you can put on top of a wheel barrow. If you put a tarpaulin or builders bag at the end of the bale before tipping down the slice, you can drag/lift them ok even if they are a bit loose and would otherwise fall apart. Round bales are a pain, no matter what. It helps to stand them on a firm surface and with space all around so you can unwrap them, rather than trying to dig out straw from one side. That way, you can usually get larger layers/sheets off without too much effort.

 

[Orangehorse]

No they are round and very solid, so I guess unwrapping them is the only way.

 

[OLDGREYMARE]

Unwrap them like a toilet roll and use a long rope around the bale to stop it collapsing. untidy business.

 

[supagran]

If it's a round bale I would recommend a 1tonne builders bag. Put on a wheelbarrow to move it around, or the bottom will rip in no time.

 

[cold_feet]

We use a giant wheelbarrow, unwrap the bale (as supsup says you need space all round) and squash it down as we fill the barrow, then one barrow load is enough for a stable.

 

[ponyparty]

Eugh I hate big round bales. We usually use them at the place I work - very time consuming especially when they've been crammed into the container so tight you can't actually unwrap them!
We use the big builders bags too, tie them to the side of the container with string - keeps the bag open so you can fill it easier - fill up about half way, then put on wheelbarrow. As it's already half full it keeps its shape so you can continue to fill up to however much you need, and wheel away.
But yeah I feel your pain. I so miss small bales of straw and hay

 

[AFB]

Round bales are horrible to deal with. I think builders bag & drag is the easiest way, but as said the bags will wear through so the closer you can have the bale the better.

 

[honetpot]

If you have a big enough stable put it a corner with a deep bed, which makes the roll smaller. Then you just pull it off or unroll it as you need it.
I just hate straw but I use barley for forage, what they waste makes their bed. I have just paid £10 for a round bale I can not complain.