[Blinkers]

It they're plastic bags, I just take hold of the longest bit of string and PULL UP hard and the whole top bit with the string in it will just rip off leaving a nice clean edge.....takes 2 seconds 

[OhLaLa]

How to open a bag of feed:

Take hold of said string.
Wrap string around hand until circulation in hand stops and hand starts to turn white (it matters not from which end of bag - neither end will be long enough).
Pull with all your might.
As bag is still not opening really get your back into it and use all your weight to pull on aforementioned string.
Rejoice as you fall backwards onto your a*** holding sting and newly ripped top of bag.
Rub a*** whilst keeping one hand on spine.
Limp about distributing feed.

[suziequeue]

3 - because a complete bag is worth more at the car boot

Car boot? ?? You mean there are people who actually pay money for the things?
I mean - yes - the bags are very useful but paying for them? ......blimey!!!

[bigchicken]

A wee tip for those who are not so strong you could use a bit of wood and rap the string round it a few times and then yank away.

[Foobar]

I wouldn't bother yanking, life is too short.  If the string won't unravel then out comes the pocket knife, that always leaves a nice neat finish, and helps vent any anger or frustration caused by the string


I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers from bag opening hell.  Thank you lou13 for posting this .

[Marlboro]

I take the easy route, keep a pair of scissors next to the feed, cut the top off and put in empty bag waiting for rubbish. With my eyesight I can hardly tell single stitch from double.

[hexhammeasure]

Yep £1 for 10 and I always sell out, mind they are complete and clean

[Penninehillbilly]

I suppose the poor sods souls in towns etc don't have the delights of having to open feed sacks, maybe they buy them for the challenge of opening the other end? 

[SallyintNorth]

Well blow me down, llr, your way does actually work with the heretofore unopenable Carrs Sow Rolls!  Thank you!

[Rosemary]

Marriages used to have string sealed bags with a red strip. I used to find them easy to open and the rrrriiiippp was very satisfying.

They have now changed to rolling the top of the paper sack then sealing it with the outer paper layer. I find this much more difficult to open.

However, the bottom of the bag is stitched and if you touch it every so lightly THE ARSE FALLS OUT THE BOTTOM spreading your feed all over the floor. Bring back the rippy strip.

[landroverroy]

Well blow me down, llr, your way does actually work with the heretofore unopenable Carrs Sow Rolls!  Thank you!

Thanks for the feed back Sally.   Glad you could understand my explanation!

[darkbrowneggs]

Same here, when the huge dog bed arrived for Phoebe it was stitched in,  Used your method and it unzipped a treat   

[smee2012]

I can't actually pull the strings on the feed sacks at all (not that I've tried that hard). It's the kind of motion that my arthritic hands just can't cope with anymore. We keep a mini swiss army knife next to the hay and feed bags and just neatly slice along the stitch line.

[JulieWall]

Have a good close look at the chain and you will see immediately which way the loops are going to pull out. If you snip the string at one of the first few stitches on the single stitch side rather than by the edge of the bag and then pull it through you should have two free ends to pull simultaneously. Brands differ but if you always buy the same make then you can memorise which end to start from.

[jaykay]

I just grab the string and yank 9 times out of 10 it rips the bag along the string line and the bag is ready for re use.

Yep, my standard method too. Back up knife for other 1 time out of 10.