Moving round bales

[tangledweb]

It sounds like you got some good suggestions. As long as your place is flat and the bales are not too huge there are lots of things that are reasonably easy, but if ever you needed an excuse to buy a tractor this is it. It’s always nice to have the right tool for the job, and round bales on hills can be dangerous.

I’m not sure I get why it’s odd to drive a pickup truck in a pasture. The internet has taught me there is all sorts of weird in the world, and that’s probably the least weird thing possible.

[cowboymom]

We aren’t supposed to drive in pastures except along designated routes, on the edge along the fence. Old rule, like leaving gates as you find them. If you drive on grass here it leaves a scar that lasts for a year or more.

A winch, come along strap, or ratchet strap is huge help when dealing with round bales.

[moving_to_dc]

[QUOTE=besttwtbever;8191288]
Could someone post a link to one or both of these?[/QUOTE]

This is not the model we had, as this one replaces the entire truck bumper:
https://app-hayspear-com.app-hosted.com/product/BRAMCOBUMPERSPEAR/

This is more like what we had:
http://northernhydraulics.net/catalog/hay-bale-spike/-pierce-hydraulic-double-spear-hay-bale-spike-1395.html

A variety of single bale dollies:
http://wn.com/bale_dolly

Photos of bale dollies (I have seen LOTS of home-made ones in Oklahoma & Kansas using jet-ski or small boat trailers, too!):
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrBT9arFYBVQTAAZFZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw–?p=Round+Bale+Dolly&fr=yfp-t-exclusiveBkt-s

[Chestnut_Run]

We use two 4x4 sheets of heavy duty plywood and 4 4ft lengths of heavy duty pvc pipe under each piece of plywood. Put the pvc evenly spaced under the piece of plywood, and your bale on top of the plywood. I can easily roll 1000lb round bales off my truck completely alone. If they don’t land exactly right I usually use a teacher strap hooked to the truck to tip them over or move them slightly.

[buck22]

I feed round bales, my horses are pigs and overweight even in lean months, so I store my rounds in my hay shed and peel and serve. I unload and move around my 5x4s by hand.

Changing direction by hand is done best with a hay hook and the round on its round side, not the flat side. Standing in front of the bale, sink your hay hook into the side edge. Put your free hand on the opposite edge. Pull the hook side and push the free hand side at the same time. The bale will pivot in place.

Test the grip your hay hook has by giving a couple good yanks before putting muscle into the effort, else the hook can rip free and you can land on your arse. I have much practice at that.

If the path I have to roll the bale will change directions a few times, or is particularly long, I will lay down cheap blue tarps as a path. The bales roll and pivot SO much easier when on slick plastic as opposed to grass or dirt which causes friction.

[Jumper_girl221]

I have always fed my rounds on their sides…seems to shed rain better. Like an earlier poster just cut the string close to the ground, peel, then roll it.

We have a bale spear now (thank the Lord!). Before that we would roll them off carefully to store, then when it was time to feed would roll up onto a little 4x8 utility trailer (with a ramp…) and would carry it out with an ATV, truck or tractor. Park beside where it needs to go then shove it down the ramp, done. A few times I’d rope a friend (when the DH was off hunting or doing other manly things) and we’d push it out together. Once you get the knack its not the end of the world, especially if they are baled nice and tight without flat sides.

As far as dead animals…I’ve fed rounds for years and never had an issue. Have found birds and snakes in my square bales in the past before…and I’m talking $12/50 lb bale squares!

[tabula_rashah]

I often do unload and move round bales by myself sans tractor. I can squeeze two in the back of the truck and I wiggle them from side to side until they fall out (yeah it takes a bit but it’s not horrible). If I’m feeling lazy, I’ll back up to a tree, tie a rope around it and loop it over the bale, then drive forward. To move them around, I just use a lot of good old heave-ho- much better than going to the gym

[Field_of_Dreams_Mini]

We finally splurged and bought a dolly. Best invention EVER for rounders. Only paid about $200 off of CL.

It used to be me and the FO pushing the stupid things or having the destructo neighbor come over with his tractor. He NEVER failed to destroy SOMETHING when he came over. Gates, fence, once we had brand new fencing boards along the drive, out of the way. Yup. He ran them over and broke some. I think HE was the main reason FO bought the dolly.