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There's a new buffet in town...; 1st time trying round bales.
Topic Started: Mar 16 2009, 05:25 AM (339 Views)
Trails by Day or Night...
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Schooling
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I had the opportunity to try some round bales for Satch & Mystery. This is new to us, also kind of an investment towards the future... as the new feeder was bought also. Though I do like the square bales, always will, hay at times gets to be in short supply this time of year. And these round bales were just so nice... The hay was great.
So, a new experience for all of us, and some fun also. A few of the photos from the first day of bringing in the hay to them.

Bringing in the hay, the new feeder on it's side. And Satch & Mystery "taste testing" as we try & drop off a bale.
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The bale in place. Let the buffet begin...
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Edited by Trails by Day or Night..., Mar 16 2009, 05:30 AM.
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headlesshorseman
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They will LOVE them...and will WEAN themselves is an few days....


Good luck with them...

HH :)
Edited by headlesshorseman, Mar 16 2009, 05:48 AM.
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FlashGordon
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Those boys look mighty happy with their new hay!!! :)
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Trails by Day or Night...
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Schooling
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I had fun just trying to lower the feeder around the bale. My two helpers were so intent on getting into the new bale... And yes, this is a solo operation here.
Those are yesterday's photos. This afternoon I will take a few more. They get plenty of hay, as they are on a 24 hr turn out, their run in shed is their option. So hay is always available to them. It's going to be interesting to see how many days this lasts though.
And so far, the bale is being contained, and has not been spread all over the place.

Now to get the York rake out there, and do some grading ( again ).
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zbar
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Good thing you got the ring! Mine spread it all around then poop and pee on it! They will love it and you will probably never go back to squares!
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headlesshorseman
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Hey, what kind of tractor is that????

I NEED one of them and HAVE NO idea what brand, type, HP,????? I DO know I need a front end loader...like yours to do the stalls...and a brush hog...

HH :)
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MissBri
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But, I don't care - it's 5:00 somewhere
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I'm surprised they came up for air long enough to pose for the photos!!!!!!

They certainly are enjoying the feast

signs of spring are showing!!!!!
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Trails by Day or Night...
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HH, the tractor is a small Cub Cadet diesel 4x4.
Funny thing is, I grew up with Ford tractors and John Deere's also. And for many years I was actually a Ford tractor mechanic. ( Before they were branded as New Holland ).

In looking for a tractor, they had this as a trade in at a local New Holland dealership. Was traded in for a much larger tractor, and had low hours on it. It was just my size and I got it for the actual trade in value. For they wanted the white & yellow off their lot... LOL They are a New Holland and Kubota dealer, and the Cub Cadet brand was their competition . And, after I got over my own shock of owning a Cub Cadet. I can honestly say I love that little tractor.

My only recommendation, is buy one of a brand, where you know you will be able to get parts or good service if you need too. And I say stick to the major brands, as New Holland / Ford, John Deere, Kubota, Cub Cadet, etc. For as they get older, you may have a hard time getting parts for some of the off name brands on the market.
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Edited by Trails by Day or Night..., Mar 16 2009, 06:20 AM.
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Witchy
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Those boys sure look like they are enjoying their visit to the buffet, and they sure don't look like they missed a meal before that anyway. I love me a beefy black horse. :cloud9:

I'm using round bales for the first time this year also. We grow our own hay, but trade a farmer 1/2 and he does the bailing. With the fuel prices this year, he wanted to make all rounds and I wasn't going to argue.

I don't free feed mine. I just unroll it with a hay fork and feed it in the stalls just like I would flakes of hay. It works really well. Hubby has a skid steer to move them, but the last one he just rolled out of the top of the barn and rolled it into the bottom by hand. I love it. I used to have to throw down hay every day, now I need him to put a bale down about every 40 days.
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OTF
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Alan, love your photos. The two big boys look quite content.

Depending on your temperatures, I'd bet that bale lasts close to two weeks. Let us know!!!
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OpticalIllusion
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They look thrilled.

We feed round bales. All of ours are fat and sassy. For the guys that cant finish a round bale before the chance of it getting gross, we keep it out of the field, on a pallet, covered, and just pull off as needed. We use an old king size bed sheet to bundle it up and disperse it to stalls.
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Trails by Day or Night...
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OTF... because you asked.

The boys finnished their first round bale last night. So, it lasted 8 days. None was wasted, all contained in the new feeder.

Now they are mad at me... lol.

For I fed them a regular square bale in the smaller feeder for breakfast. I got looks and facial expressions, to the likes I have never seen. Eventually they did go over and have been eating. But they sure did love that BIG bale... lol.
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jillincolorado
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I love your boys! THEY love their hay! :cloud9:
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Eleanor
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Wow they went throught that fast. it takes 6-7 days fr my 5 horses to go through one bale. My bales are about 1500-1700 lbs each. they would go through one in 5 days when it was -25C or colder. I have one bale outside the pen that I hand feed off between the free choice bales. I don't use a feeder and they clean the bales up
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