How do I make a round bale feeder?

Should you feed round or square bales to your horses?

When baled and stored properly, round bales are no more prone to growing bacteria or mold than square bales. If you decide to feed round bales to your horses, be sure to purchase them from a reputable dealer who has cut and stored the hay properly. Click here to download a print version of this infographic. Lower cost and more convenient.

How do you store round bales of hay?

Elevate round bales on a gravel surface or wood pallet to allow moisture to drain underneath both where they are fed and stored. Purchase a feeder designed for horses.

How to feed a horse on a pallet?

Elevate round bales on a gravel surface or wood pallet to allow moisture to drain underneath both where they are fed and stored. Purchase a feeder designed for horses. Look for tightly rolled bales. Tight bales keep their shape longer, are less susceptible to moisture damage, and have less surface area in contact with the ground.

Can you feed round bales to horses?

There is often a stigma attached to feeding round bales to horses, but managed well they can be a safe and economical option. When baled and stored properly, round bales are no more prone to growing bacteria or mold than square bales.

What is the difference between Square and round hay bales?

Square hay bales are small enough to put in the back of a car whereas round bales need larger equipment. Whichever you decide, be sure to inspect the quality of the hay before purchasing, remembering that hay takes up the majority of your horse’s diet.

How do you store hay in a horse barn?

1 Store Hay Away from Your Barn. It’s been a longstanding tradition to store hay in the hayloft above horse barns. … 2 Store Hay On Pallets. Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground. … 3 Alternate Hay Orientation. … 4 Stack Hay Safely. … 5 Get Rid of Moldy Bales. … 6 Keep Hay Protected. … 7 Store Old Hay Up Front.

Can you store hay on a pallet?

Store Hay On Pallets Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground. Doing this restricts air from circulating beneath the hay. Moisture will seep up from the damp ground and ruin the entire bale.

How many bales of hay to feed 4 horses?

Answer: 4 x 2 = 8. You would need 8 bales of hay to feed 4 horses for 10 days. 5. Write this as a ratio. 6. Compare the ratios you found.

What is the best way to pack hay bales for storage?

Stack the first layer so that the long ends of the bales face up. Leave a few inches of space between each bale to prevent them from packing too tightly. When you stack the next layer on top, make sure the string side faces up. Continue alternating how you stack each layer so that air can better circulate throughout the pile.

How do you feed a horse that lives in a stall?

Horses who spend much of their time in stalls aren’t doing much grazing, but their natural feeding patterns can be replicated by keeping hay in front of them for most of the day. They can nibble at it for a while, take a break and snooze for a while, and then come back to it, keeping some roughage constantly moving through their systems.

How to plan your horse’s diet?

Plan feedings around your horse’s scheduled activity. If your horse will be doing something extra strenuous, schedule her feeding for three hours before the activity. Make gradual changes to your horse’s diet. If you need to change your horse’s feed, do not just switch to the new feed.

Are round hay bales bad for horses?

Remember, it’s a myth that round hay bales that have been cut, stored, and fed properly are dangerous for horses. Rather, round bales can be a less expensive, simpler way to achieve the ideal, continuous forage feeding model. Photo by Kevin Dooley licensed via CC2.0.

How to store hay for horses?

Hay must be stored inside or covered tightly to protect against the elements. Feed in a round feeder designed for horses (not cattle) to keep it off the ground and prevent spoilage from mud and waste. Monitor round bales carefully to check for mold throughout their use.

Are round bales good for horses?

Here we’ll look at round bales. Hay for horses comes in many forms, but the two most common are round bales and small square bales. Both have significant advantages as well as challenges and can be a source of quality forage for horses when managed correctly.

What is the best size hay baler for a horse?

If someone has a horse and needs hay, small square bales are a more acceptable size for use. But for people that feed large amounts of hay, round bales are the norm. Even though round balers may cost twice as much as a square baler, the labor savings during hay baling and feeding more than make up for the extra expense of the machine.

What are the different types of hay for horses?

In this two-part series, we’ll explore the two bale types and how to best utilize each. Here we’ll look at round bales. Hay for horses comes in many forms, but the two most common are round bales and small square bales.

How do you get rid of hay in a horse barn?

Raise hay off bare ground using wood pallets or tires, or by building a pad of rocks or gravel. Take weather-ruined or moldy hay and put it off to the side. Offer it to a local cattle farmer who will pick it up so you don’t have to dispose of it. Make sure to store hay away from your horse barn and any fire source.

Can you store hay in a barn?

It’s far safer to store your hay in a separate building away from your barn. The building shouldn’t leak and should have decent ventilation. To make your life easier, you can bring a few bales into the barn every couple of days as needed. This way you protect your barn, your horses, and your hay supply.

What should I look for when building a horse barn?

The building shouldn’t leak and should have decent ventilation. To make your life easier, you can bring a few bales into the barn every couple of days as needed. This way you protect your barn, your horses, and your hay supply. Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground.

How do you cover a haystack with pallets?

Then cover the wooden pallets with a basic blue poly tarp that extends at least 3 feet beyond the perimeter of your hay stack, on every side (you’ll need this extra length in Step 3). The ground tarp prevents moisture from coming up from the ground and into your hay.

Why is proper storage of hay so important?

Proper storage can also help ensure that hay retains the most possible nutrition content, and that dry hay stays dry for ongoing fire protection. Recall for a moment the myth that horses should not be fed round bales.

What kind of hay do you feed a horse?

Horse Hay: Guide to Feeding A Horse. 1 There are Only 3 Types of Horse Hay. Legume (leafy) Hay. Alfalfa. Clover. Grass Hay. 2 Quality Hay for Horses is King.

How many bales of hay per month for a horse?

Q: How many bales of hay does a horse eat per month? A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month). Always remember to take into consideration the quality of your hay.

How much Hay does a 500 kg horse eat per day?

A 500 kg horse eats about 5 kg (12 lbs) of hay each day. If 1 bale of hay weighs 60 lbs, how many days worth of hay will you get from one bale for one horse? Answer: 60 ÷ 12 = 5.

Can you stack round bales of hay?

Be aware that stacking round bales generally traps moisture and limits drying, increasing storage losses and the likelihood of fire. Square bales should be stored inside in a place that is not susceptible to roof leaks or storm runoff (that’s why it’s usually stored off the ground in a lofted area).