This is an old thread, but can I ask if you’ve used a bale spear through your Texas hay net? I bought one and am not having good luck with it. The bale is set on end with the net tied at the top (because I couldn’t figure out a better way to do it), and the horses keep getting it shifted and eating the middle of the bale down. I think it would work better if I could spear the bale through the net to flip it over, but I’m afraid the bale spear will rip it lol.
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I will confirm with Mr. Trub, but I think the way he does it is put the bale spear into the bale, puts the net on so it closes around the spear and then tightens it up once he removes the spear.
So in my case the closure is at one end. And yes, sometimes they wiggle that into an opening big enough to eat out of.
We spear it and slip the net over, pulling it tight. Then it’s placed in the hay cradle and the spear/tractor backed out. Then we pull the remaining net SUPER tight to close the hole as far as humanly possible. Then I’ll tie it off, wrapping the rest of the rope tightly around on itself, like a giant hair bun. 99% of the time, it stays closed.
If you zoom in, you can see it tied off:
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Thank you for the pic! The bales I have are wider i think, because the hole after cinching up the net is maybe 18" round when the bale is fresh? I think next time I’m going to set the bale on it’s side and then throw the net over and cinch it as best I can at the bottom, or maybe peel some off the outside of the bale before I net it. I’ve only done it twice, so it’s a work in progress.
