Hay removal dilemma

In the late '70s I fed out loose hay that was 5' deep & covered 1/3 of the hay mow - about 40x30'. Found a newspaper in it that said 1953. We had packed straw bales on top of it for 2 decades, so it should have been packed. Worked fine getting it out with a pitchfork, stab into the top, & get a bunch out.

So, how/why is your stuff intertwined? Was it loose hay or baled & the twine is rotted off? Long stems or short? Did it get wet - THAT could be a problem? Is it deep? Is just the top couple inches packed down from age, below it should be good yet if it stayed dry?

I'm just trying to understand the problem, as I've never seen a problem with hay intertwining while stacked, or a pile of hay that a pitchfork couldn't solve.....

--->Paul

I'd rather spend a few days figuring something out rather than man a pitchfork for any length of time. Life's too short anymore for that kind of manual labor. Unless you have your kids do it, that is.... But then better not let 'em see this post! ;>)

If you can get a layer (front face) of bales peeled off, after that a fork should work. You stick the fork into the side of about 1/3 of a bale, and it should lift out. The very top & very outside is difficult, the inside becomes easier. Also the twine becomes a hinderence, you wish none of it was left! :) Loose hay you would stab down from the top, but baled stuff with the twine rotted off you want to stab from the side.

It is slow, dirty, hard work. And maybe the problem is different than I imagine, but really the hay should be in 14x18" cuts already. If you've never worked with hay & a pitch fork, might want to set aside a few hours & practice with it, difficult to explain it, but a pitch fork can require some skills & technique to make it work right. You'll hit upon it if you keep trying.

If you are more experienced at this than I'm giving you credit, no insult meant. Just trying to cover the simple bases & help out if I can.

(I've watched my wife work with a pitch fork - she comes from small-town, & I never realized a fork was so difficult to learn how to use & apply properly! No insult to my wife, either, she's a smart cookie & I thank her every day for being willing to learn & work at it.... I grew up on a farm, & have never realized the tools I use every day I learned to use when I was 6, and it's not easy to just pick them up & go - needs time to figure out. She's teaching me a lot too.)

--->Paul

For what it is worth.

Roger

• bale cutting chain

I've found its best if you cut with the top of the chain bar, not the bottom. The saw will have less chance to plug up. Get the chain moving to speed before you put it in the bales and watch out for the baling twine.

Good Luck and be careful, Grant