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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Covering Big Round Bales

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Skybow

04-15-2004 06:19:28




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I'm looking for a better option for protecting my horse hay this year. In the past I have tried to cover my 20-30 round bales with a tarp. This is a pain. Can't afford a pole barn or hoop barn this year. Was wondering about bale sleeves. I twine my hay as I don't have anet wrap baler. Any suggestions would be apreciated.




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Rodney

04-21-2004 17:44:13




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
Get the bales up off the ground so the water dont wick up into the bale, air can circulate underneath and the top will shed water with minimal spoilage. It's just a fact of life that there will be some lose untill your ready to fork over the haybarm scratch. If I were feeding horses, I would unroll the amount they would eat in one day with a QuikRoll round bale unroller. It's more natural for them to eat from the ground than with their nose stuck inside a hollowed out (sometimes moldy) bale.

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Mac

04-18-2004 05:57:58




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
I'm in SE Wisconsin and use the following method to store about 100 bales a year for later sale. However many round bales you think you need to cover get the same number of wooden pallets. These can usually be found for free, they have to real nice or all the same size just use them to keep the bales off the ground. Line these up in a row and place your bales onn them butting the flat faces tight together. One row of 20-30 bales will be about 100 feet long depending on bale size. Most farm stores or home improvement stores sell 6 mil black plastic sheeting in 10' by 100' rolls get enough plastic to cover your row of bales and also some nylon rope. Pull the plastic over the row and then tie weights(old tires, bricks, posts, etc.)to 8' lengths of rope and drape the rope over the bales from side to side about every third bale. This method has worked well and the bales come out looking just like they went in except for a little weathering on the sides below the plastic(less than an inch thick of dark hay). Your only cost is for the plastic and rope, the pallets and weights should be found for free. Use at least 6 mil plastic any thinner doesn't have much life and the plastic should be reusable for a second year if stored properly. You could also tie the rope to the pallets but that makes more work to remove the bales from storage.
Mac

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txblu

04-16-2004 09:33:03




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
In N. Tx. we do as hayman said to protect the bottom. Then end butt together to seal the flats. The rolled hay is like a thatched roof and sheds water very well. On grass hay there is extremely low loss using this method; haygrazer sorghum has more loss due to it's stems. As you use the hay, removal of a bale leaves a fresh green flat on that bale and the one that is next.

Agree that covers are more problems than they are worth (to me anyway).

If you are concerned about loss, consider your loss if you used square bales and did have a barn to put them into. Around here 40 square bales = the wt of a round. Considering the price of each, you would be paying 4 times as much for squares. Seems a man can stand some loss for figures like that.

txblu

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Quebec Red

04-15-2004 14:47:24




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
Have covered 4X4 bales for many years. Currently use a CIH 5220 tractor, placing bales on the round side in a 5-4-3-2-1 pyramid. I put 24 bales long and cover with a 40 X 100 plastic tarp with the white side in and the black side out. A row of 15 inch tires is tied on each side of the stack tied about 2 feet above the ground. A three-eights rope is used to secure the tires. A second row of tires is then installed immediately above the first. The tires must touch horizontally. Bales protected like this are good for 2 years. It is the rope that weakens in the sun. And yes it is windy here.

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NTEX

04-16-2004 13:57:44




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 Re: Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Quebec Red, 04-15-2004 14:47:24  
AROUND THIS PART OF N.TEXAS DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COVERING IT IT NEVER RAINS!!!! BE THANKFUL YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COVERING IT OR YOU COULD SEND THE RAIN THIS WAY SO WE WILL HAVE SOME HAY!!!
GOOD LUCK/HAVE FUN



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kyhayman

04-15-2004 13:54:12




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
Believe it or not, if you have good tight rolls your greatest threat is on the bottom, not the top. First invest in a crushed stone pad to set the rolls on. Best to put geotextile fabric under it, then 4" of #2 rock.

You can cover in a variety of ways, tarps are good with proper anchors, personally I like a cheap building. 20-30 round bales wont need much cover 6 or 8 square posts, a few 2x6's or 2x8's and some roofing tin to cover, or typar. We made some quick typar buildings for tobacco ($400 per acre and lasted 4 years).

I'll see if I can find the link to the plans. Probably wont get it tonight, got to go work the local downlink of a video bull auction.

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Rusty Scupper

04-15-2004 10:55:39




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
Skybow - I'd be interested if you find a solution. I am in the same boat and can't afford a barn. I figure the outside 4" is waste and my horses will use it as bedding.



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Del

04-15-2004 06:58:25




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 Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Skybow, 04-15-2004 06:19:28  
I tried sleeves and wasn't pleased. Varmits poked holes in the plastic and this funneled the water in plus once water got in the sleeves it could not get out easily so we ended up with a hole rotted through the bale and rotten hay on the bottom. A well ventilated pole barn (even if you have to borrow the money) is the way to go.



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David Warren

05-04-2004 22:40:26




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 Re: Re: Covering Big Round Bales in reply to Del, 04-15-2004 06:58:25  
I am using a method of temp structure that works well here in MO.
To cover stacks of 5X5 bales stacked 3-2-1 I get salvage pallets to put the bottom layer on, and then use 20ft pieces of 1" PVC.
Use a 45 to connect the PVC togather at the top, and on alternating sides 1' from the 45 put a tee and connect the arches with a 5' piece of pipe, drive pieces of rerod into the ground to slide the pipe over to steady the arches.
15 of the arches with a 33'X 80' Tarp will cover 75 5X5 bales and you can still drive a 50hp tractor into the structure to remove the bales.
Questions email me.

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