Using Round bales?

mathey · Jun 8, 2006

We've always used large square bales to feed our horses, but this year my FIL switched to the smaller round bales. So I now have 4 of them sitting in my barn (with 91 in storage!). My wife and daughter are having a tough time peeling hay off the round bales...they used to just give each horse a "flake" off the sqaure bale...

Is there some trick or method to using a round bale just a little at a time (as opposed to ploping the whole bale out in the field)? I've seen antique hay knives/saws, but nothing "new".

THX!

mathey · Jun 8, 2006

We've always used large square bales to feed our horses, but this year my FIL switched to the smaller round bales. So I now have 4 of them sitting in my barn (with 91 in storage!). My wife and daughter are having a tough time peeling hay off the round bales...they used to just give each horse a "flake" off the sqaure bale...

Is there some trick or method to using a round bale just a little at a time (as opposed to ploping the whole bale out in the field)? I've seen antique hay knives/saws, but nothing "new".

THX!

MikePA · Jun 8, 2006

The only way I've seen people use round bales to feed horses is by using a round bale feeder, like this.

MikePA · Jun 8, 2006

The only way I've seen people use round bales to feed horses is by using a round bale feeder, like this.

Bird · Jun 8, 2006

I've never known anyone who used one, but the bale unroller would work, but it's really only for feeding the whole bale at a time. I've "peeled" off enough from round bales to thoroughly understand your problem, but don't know of a good solution. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Jun 8, 2006

I've never known anyone who used one, but the bale unroller would work, but it's really only for feeding the whole bale at a time. I've "peeled" off enough from round bales to thoroughly understand your problem, but don't know of a good solution. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Unclebuck257 · Jun 8, 2006

mathey,

I feed horses and cows with round bales and here's what I've found. If your horses are used to having a brick or two off a square bale fed to them every day, at first they will eat more than normal off the round bale. Kind of like a kid with an unlimited supply of something they like. However, after a couple to 4 days, the horses realize that you are not going to remove that round bale and settle down. Basically then, they only eat what they need. You need to get a round bale ring though, in order to stop them from just spreading it all over and wasting a bunch.

Unclebuck257 · Jun 8, 2006

mathey,

I feed horses and cows with round bales and here's what I've found. If your horses are used to having a brick or two off a square bale fed to them every day, at first they will eat more than normal off the round bale. Kind of like a kid with an unlimited supply of something they like. However, after a couple to 4 days, the horses realize that you are not going to remove that round bale and settle down. Basically then, they only eat what they need. You need to get a round bale ring though, in order to stop them from just spreading it all over and wasting a bunch.

DaveNay · Jun 8, 2006

( You need to get a round bale ring though, in order to stop them from just spreading it all over and wasting a bunch. )

Expect a lot more waste even with the ring.

DaveNay · Jun 8, 2006

( You need to get a round bale ring though, in order to stop them from just spreading it all over and wasting a bunch. )

Expect a lot more waste even with the ring.