Heston Bales question.

[Alchad]

Not a farmer, got 30 odd acres of pastureland which our local contractor turns into hay, deal is a 50/50 basis but in actual fact he takes it all and gives us a cheque for our half of the hay. We’re very pleased with the arrangement, happy to have the fields tidied up, also part of the arrangement is that we get 100 or so small bales for the other half’s horses.

Normally the contractor gets a friend to do the small bales, but this year he used someone else and Sod’s Law his baler broke down and because they were worried the weather they made all the hay into Hestons.

So, question - theoretically we could remake some of the Hestons into small bales once the small baler is fixed but wondered whether this would affect the quality.

Other option would be to use the Hestons ”as is” to feed the horses. Looking at the Hestons they appear to be just like supersized small bales, so theoretically once you cut the string you could just take a sheath and use it to feed the horses. Or does it not work like that??

Thanks

 

[yellowbelly]

If you can get the Hestons to the stables, just crack on.

It's possible to rebale them (and it won't affect the quality), but why make work if you don't have to?

 

[Skintagain]

Not a farmer, got 30 odd acres of pastureland which our local contractor turns into hay, deal is a 50/50 basis but in actual fact he takes it all and gives us a cheque for our half of the hay. We’re very pleased with the arrangement, happy to have the fields tidied up, also part of the arrangement is that we get 100 or so small bales for the other half’s horses.

Normally the contractor gets a friend to do the small bales, but this year he used someone else and Sod’s Law his baler broke down and because they were worried the weather they made all the hay into Hestons.

So, question - theoretically we could remake some of the Hestons into small bales once the small baler is fixed but wondered whether this would affect the quality.

Other option would be to use the Hestons ”as is” to feed the horses. Looking at the Hestons they appear to be just like supersized small bales, so theoretically once you cut the string you could just take a sheath and use it to feed the horses. Or does it not work like that??

Thanks

Just use it in slices they are very handy

 

[Alchad]

Thanks both, will give it a go (well other half will)

 

[Punch]

Wife stables and liveries all use 120 x 70 hay & straw.
I couldn’t get them to where she used to use them from so made a cheap lean to where I can stack. Take 2 of each at a time down.
My shanty lean to now been replaced by a 16ft mobile field shelter.
In summer we drag it out to paddocks and back in winter.
We stand them on edge now and re-tie the top string to keep tidy. Untie it, loop over as many wads as you want and tie back up.
Simple!

 

[topground]

You dont wear the holes in your jeans that comes with stacking small bales when moving Hestons.

 

[Nearly]

3ft x 3ft, 4ft x 3ft or big 4ft x 4ft?

Widen a door to get a 3ft bale in. I made a trolly to take a sheet of plywood to make it easier to pick a slab up and keep floor tidier.
If you had been buying little bales then hesstons are half the money per kg.
But it has to be bone dry to go into big bales, like this year.

 

[Skintagain]

You dont wear the holes in your jeans that comes with stacking small bales when moving Hestons.

I use one pair a year and they have foot long holes by end. Just got done and thrown the jeans

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Round bales

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Not a farmer, got 30 odd acres of pastureland which our local contractor turns into hay, deal is a 50/50 basis but in actual fact he takes it all and gives us a cheque for our half of the hay. We’re very pleased with the arrangement, happy to have the fields tidied up, also part of the arrangement is that we get 100 or so small bales for the other half’s horses.

Normally the contractor gets a friend to do the small bales, but this year he used someone else and Sod’s Law his baler broke down and because they were worried the weather they made all the hay into Hestons.

So, question - theoretically we could remake some of the Hestons into small bales once the small baler is fixed but wondered whether this would affect the quality.

Other option would be to use the Hestons ”as is” to feed the horses. Looking at the Hestons they appear to be just like supersized small bales, so theoretically once you cut the string you could just take a sheath and use it to feed the horses. Or does it not work like that??

Thanks

I wouldn't bother re-baling them. Stack them on pallets ,take a wad off as you need it ........you might find that you then want to sell your little baler !!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I sold my little baler to stop me having stupid thoughts about rebaling