Author Topic: what to do with old round bales? (Read 11506 times)

Old Shep · « **on:** March 20, 2013, 11:13:58 pm »

Hi - not sure where to post this! We have five old wrapped round bales, (hay made in 2010 which got rained on so we wrapped it). The sheep didn't much like it the first year so we didn't feed it again as we had plenty of small bale "proper" hay. Now we need to get rid of it and don't know what to do with it! Any ideas? We don't have anywhere where we could unwrap it and dump it to rot (well nowhere easily accessible in these wet conditions.) OH has offered to build a new goat shed where these bales are so I'm anxious for a solution :-)

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2013, 11:42:15 pm »

I would use them as a windbreak for our sheep

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2013, 11:52:58 pm »

the windbreak idea. They don't really rot, and if they do, they wreck the soil structure for years to come

. They don't burn.... There's a farm near Allendale has made a 'silageman' at their entrance, always makes me smile

Mel Rice · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2013, 08:40:47 am »

Use as bedding instead of straw....at least when its full of poo it will rot

hughesy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2013, 04:26:57 pm »

The people we used to let some of our land to left half a big bale of hay behing about three years ago. It's taken until now to mostly rot away.

colliewoman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:22:48 pm »

Are they wet through?
If so stick a couple of marrow seeds in the top of each one and water them with nettle/poo tea.
I have seen marrows grown inside old soggy yellow pages, surely they would do ok on moist bales?

Greenerlife · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:28:33 pm »

Genius colliewoman! I hadn't thought of that, but it reminded me - can't you wee on them and then after a season of weeing, break them open and it will all be rotted? Seem to remember seeing this done on straw - must be the same?

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:35:49 pm »

First climb your bale then balance :-DD

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2013, 08:27:12 pm »

Quote from: Mel Rice on March 21, 2013, 08:40:47 am

Use as bedding instead of straw....at least when its full of poo it will rot

Sorry but I don't think this is a good idea. Old silage can be full of toxins, so if they nibble at their bedding you could give them listeriosis... When feeding silage in passages to cattle, one is always warned to be sure to scrape out the leftover old stuff before putting in a new bale, as the old stuff can become toxic.

colliewoman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2013, 10:05:47 pm »

Quote from: Greenerlife on March 21, 2013, 06:28:33 pm

can't you wee on them and then after a season of weeing, break them open and it will all be rotted?

Well I know I learned to pee standing up but still I reckon you are a bit far for me to manage that.

Oh, you meant pee on them yourself didn't you?

Hay doesn't break down the same as straw, and I don't think pee would do the same job personally. But you would have a spectacularly grim mess to clear up if it doesn't work

Old Shep · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2013, 01:06:34 pm »

thank you for all your barking suggestions!! In order to move them we would have to spike them - so that would mean they would start to rot with the the listeria problem. I wonder if the local tip would take them if we could get them there.

suziequeue · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2013, 01:20:58 pm »

I composted mine but I only had one large square bale. It took ages to get it all on the heap - I just layered a bit each time I had some brown and now you'd never know I'd ever put it on there it's broken down so fast

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2013, 10:20:57 am »

Actually, breaking the plastic once the bales have fermented won't cause listeria. If you spike the bales within the first few months then yes, you would expect problems, but bales broken into after that time are usually ok. If you are worried you can always stick a 'JAFpatch' over the hole once you've moved them with the spike.

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2013, 12:29:43 pm »

Is there anywhere where you would like to plant some trees or hedging. If so open up the bales and lay it out at least a foot thick on the ground to smother the grass/weeds. Keep topping up and then next year you have the perfect spot for planting. By then a lot of it will have rotted and it is actually very good for the soil.