Hay spear choice

[DonRybak]

In the next couple months I'll be starting to use baled hay for my horses as the pasture fizzles out. Trying to decide which type of hay spear would be the best to use with my RK37HC, a 3pt mounted or one for the FEL. I like the idea of having the bale out front for visibility but wondering about the 1000 lb or so weight of the round bale and the stability of the tractor. If I do go with the front mounted spike I think I'll go with the quick attach one over one that bolts to the bucket. Anybody have thoughts on that much weight out front without any ballast in the back other that the beet juice in the rear tires? Thanks.......Don

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Do you need to put the bale in a feeder? Are they stacked? I got dad both front and back for getting them from the field, but generally use the front to feed.

 

[DonRybak]

I keep them stored in a trailer and then I move them as I need them to the pasture. I have something called a hayhut that's like a fiberglass shed with large holes for the horses to feed through. I just lift that up, set a bale on the wooden pallets then set the hayhut back over it. It helps tremendously in keeping the hay dry. There's no real lifting of the bale other than a couple feet to et it off the ground as I'm moving it.

 

[Wagtail]

Well, I'd recommend a twin spike attachment for your FEL, with a comparable (weight-wise) ballast box or implement hanging off the 3PH.

You can spear the round bale and, keeping it low to the ground, transport it to where you're going to set up. In your case, where you've placed the pallet. I use my FEL to 'flip' the round onto its flat, then 'scoop' it up & place it on the pallet. Then remove the wrap.

I Googled "hay hut", so I know what you're referring to.