[Jacob-list] round bale users

[Joy Thomas, SonRise Farm]

I use round bales. Not sure how much they weigh, but
they are about 6 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. They are
a mixture of timothy, bermuda grass and fescue
(endophyte free).  I use about 16 round bales a year
for my sheep (about 16 average, 1 horse, 3 angora
goats and our rabbits <will use less this year for
rabbits, switching them to complete feed>).

I put them up on pallets (gotten free from local
businesses) and cover with tarps and bungee cords.
When I move one into area where critters are, I have a
four-sided round bale holder -- two of the sides slide
to each other. This helps to keep the critters (except
small lambs) from climbing on the hay and fouling it.

I do have some VM in the neckwool of my critters, but
square bales are MUCH more expensive in this area. I
get a round bale for $45 delivered. Each one lasts
about 3 weeks. Square bales are $3.50 each (picked up
by me, $3.75 delivered) -- hay man estimates there are
about 40 square bales to one round, so that makes the
equivalent cost $140 TRIPLE roughly the price of one
round bale.

Before I had the metal feeder, I used to tie together
pallets with baleing twine. This kept the horse from
climbing on the round bale. They could "skootch" it
around a bit, but it worked until I get get a "real"
round bale holder.

Hope this helps!
Joy T.
--- Ralene Mitschler <rmitschler at gmail.com> wrote:


> Howdy Listers

> 

> I know I have seen this issue discussed before but

> don't remember the

> answers.  Given the dry weather in my area (PA)

> looks like there won't

> be a second  hay cutting.  SO I am researching

> whether to feed round

> bales rather than the small square bales I have been

> using.  I know of

> at least one person who does that; I think they just

> have the bale

> outside on the ground.  It seems like I remember the

> sheep get messier

> but I am not sure that is an important criterion

> versus having to hay

> feed from now through next year (worst case scenario

> of course)...

> 

> any info would be welcome re what kind of storage

> options and feeders

> options there are for horned sheep.

> 

> I have a big barn and outbuildings to store in but

> probably single

> layer if I can put a little forklift on my old John

> Deere tractor.  I

> understand too that orchard grass weights lots less

> than alfalfa

> (something like 650-700 lbs vs 1100 lbs).  Does that

> sound about

> right?

> 

> thanks for any info y'all can send

> Ralene

> 

> -- 

> Ralene Mitschler

> Chicory Lane Farm Jacob sheep

> www.blueflowerflock.com

> 687 Oxford Ave

> Hanover PA  17331

> rmitschler at gmail.com

> 717.630.2988

> 717.817.3794 cell

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