I put a pallet on the under the bale. It lifts the bale up abit, so the sheep can eat it down further. Going to try what others recommended above if turning the ring feeder upside down. See if it stops sheep from climbing into the feeder.
Sheep ring feeders
- Thread starter FrazzledMummyFarmer
- Start date
Valtra Man
Member
We don’t chop our silage but I have no doubt whatsoever it would work fine. I also use it to straw sheep sheds where I have used chopped straw bales which worked far better than unrolling by hand as you can place exactly where you want and however much you want. Also use it for feeding roots. Probably one of the handiest things I’ve bought.
As for either side unrolling it unrolls smoother the one side continuously whereas if it’s a real tight bale it’s kind of slower out the opposite side as it only unrolls one layer at a time and then turns a bit before it starts the next layer. However this can be advantageous on the mountain as you have gaps between the line of fodder so the sheep are spread out more and don’t have to trample the line as much. It’s also handy when dispensing into racks as there’s only so much you want in each. One bale will do about 5 rings but you can stop it with however much you want in each either way anyway.
As for either side unrolling it unrolls smoother the one side continuously whereas if it’s a real tight bale it’s kind of slower out the opposite side as it only unrolls one layer at a time and then turns a bit before it starts the next layer. However this can be advantageous on the mountain as you have gaps between the line of fodder so the sheep are spread out more and don’t have to trample the line as much. It’s also handy when dispensing into racks as there’s only so much you want in each. One bale will do about 5 rings but you can stop it with however much you want in each either way anyway.
Valtra Man
Member
I had a cover for a ring feeder made years ago, worked a treat for smaller numbers. The cover had a ratchet strap sewn into it so it completely covered the top of the rack and prevented any sheep climbing and soiling the top.
With the one I have it certainly makes a difference. It will only unroll effectively in the correct direction. To be fair it is pretty easy to learn from the lay of the net wrap which is the right way round and it soon becomes second nature to place it on in the correct orientation. Bales made with my fixed chamber baler are nowhere near as nice to unroll as the ones from my contractors belt baler.
Another trick I used to do before the unroller. If you use 3 segments of a ring feeder and make a cloverleaf shape and place a 56 gallon oil drum in the centre. I then balanced a bale on end on top of the barrel and after removing the net it would fall down into the feeder leaving the middle up on top. When the feeders were almost empty I went round with a fork and pulled a bit more down until the bale was gone. Worked well enough in the sheds.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I use 3 halves a lot of the time, then just take one of the halves out when there's just a bit left in the middle, so they can reach it. Simple & cheap.
I did think about having some 5' ring feeders made, but then they wouldn't reach the middle, and I feed so few bales it wouldn't be worth it.
Valtra Man
Member
Best way to feed whole bales in racks I found was to use two feed barriers and half a ring feeder either side. Wet silage spike above centre so half ‘ish’ falls off and then slightly move to drop the rest by the side. Don’t seem to climb as much if the bale isn’t high. I’m feeding mountain sheep though.
Edit to add: still use the barriers and 2 half rings to feed roots now. Keeps everything clean
Edit to add: still use the barriers and 2 half rings to feed roots now. Keeps everything clean
primmiemoo
Member
- Location
- Devon
What make of bale unroller would folk recommend for use with a MF35, please?
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
then they can drag it all out on the floor , lol
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
It’s a fact, you can’t win?
- Location
- Yorkshire
I have a hustler sl360x mounted on front of a JCB robot so should be ok on back of that
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
do they do a cradle one with a tray underneath ? have taken to unrolling with above tool and putting in hayracks on occasions
No idea
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Intakes are increased from chopping, compared to bales of long material, which is surely the aim unless you are trying to limit intakes for some reason?
- Location
- Mendips Somerset
yes quite agree but trying to point out be better behind a barrier rather than fed in a ring
This is a picture I took a while back, the joys of ring feeders
You are lucky.......its still alive
She's not anymore. She was back doing the same thing the following day, so in the end she got a bus ticket to the factory. Always one !!!
That's a normal occurrence with Mule ewe lambs that are more colour than confirmation.
- Tags
- roots round bales