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05/21/08, 10:42 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 432
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Hay baling by hand!
Ok! So this past year, I've paid almost $500 for hay for my goats. This year, i have more goats, and less money. So! i need a new way of getting my hay. Earlier this year, i planted 3 acres to a mix of clover and timothy (I'm hoping that I can get at least one cutting from it this year). I will also be getting myself a scythe as that time approaches. What I don't have however is a baler.
I do not have the room to store loose hay, and I refuse to pay someone to bale it for me (I'm trying to be a homesteader afterall aren't I?). So after a few searches on the internet I came across this contraption. It looks easy to build and it looks like it just might do the job. What do you guys think?
http://texaspinestraw.tamu.edu/harvest.html
http://oak-hill-homestead.blogspot.c...ay-baling.html
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05/21/08, 10:53 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ontario-Home Sweet Home!
Posts: 3,031
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I've always been fascinated by the old type balers, have even seen a horse operated one that made big heavy bales. I think it's a good idea, or you can make haystacks in the open and tarp them down too. That way you uncover them as you need them, seen a few homesteaders do this when they have a good hay season!
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05/21/08, 11:04 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MO
Posts: 10,705
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I think it is a great idea. I am not sure about 100 bales a day...at least not at first. In the past, when I had some alfalfa to put up (it was in an un-mowable spot) I cut it w/ a hand-sickle, dried it, then got a big rubbermaid tub. I put the strings across the bottom and loaded the fodder in. I had cut a board that would slip inside of it. I just stood on top of it and kept packing it in. It worked fine-plus I thought it up by myself. I wouldn't want to do 3 acres that way though.
I have also crammed dry hay into gunny sacks, instead of baling it. It was in prerfect serving-sizes for the dairy goats.
I say go for it!... and let us all know how much work it turns out to be.
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05/21/08, 11:10 AM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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You may wish to do searches for "hay press" as that is what the first balers were called.
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05/21/08, 11:53 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 566
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Build a baling box - take a rubber tote of an appropriate size, put a few slices in the edge to run the string out through, pack with hay & tie off. Here's a picture of one used for baling recyclables in another country:
Hope that helps!
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05/21/08, 11:56 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 432
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hhmm... Intesting, Certainly easier to build than the other contraption... Thanks for the ideas!
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05/21/08, 12:06 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 450
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The old Mother Earth News carried plans for a human-powered baling machine or hay press.
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05/21/08, 12:07 PM
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Just howling at the moon
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 5,530
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I guess if your not in real good shape you will be after cutting and baling 3 acres.
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05/21/08, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 432
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haha, Its true! I can't deny that the work would be hard... but heck, its only 3 acres, how hard could it really be? 1 full day to cut, take take a 2 day break to let the hay dry, flip with rake, take one more day break, and then two days to bale. 1 cutting, 3-4 days work total... doable, definitely doable. Espcially if I can find someone to help! 
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05/21/08, 12:43 PM
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de oppresso liber
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatguy
Ok! So this past year, I've paid almost $500 for hay for my goats. This year, i have more goats, and less money. So! i need a new way of getting my hay. Earlier this year, i planted 3 acres to a mix of clover and timothy (I'm hoping that I can get at least one cutting from it this year). I will also be getting myself a scythe as that time approaches. What I don't have however is a baler.
I do not have the room to store loose hay, and I refuse to pay someone to bale it for me (I'm trying to be a homesteader afterall aren't I?). So after a few searches on the internet I came across this contraption. It looks easy to build and it looks like it just might do the job. What do you guys think?
http://texaspinestraw.tamu.edu/harvest.html
http://oak-hill-homestead.blogspot.c...ay-baling.html |
A while back I saw a stationary horse power baler. You tossed the hay in and a horse walking around and around provide power to bale it. Do a google search on is and see if you could down scale it and use a brace of goats to power it. Make those critters earn their keep!
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Last edited by watcher; 05/21/08 at 12:47 PM.
Reason: added the word stationary
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05/21/08, 12:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alaskan bush
Posts: 599
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I have used one very similar to those for several years I usually only put up about 200 bails a year though, they are very work intensive though.
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05/21/08, 01:31 PM
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Just howling at the moon
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 5,530
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatguy
haha, Its true! I can't deny that the work would be hard... but heck, its only 3 acres, how hard could it really be? 1 full day to cut, take take a 2 day break to let the hay dry, flip with rake, take one more day break, and then two days to bale. 1 cutting, 3-4 days work total... doable, definitely doable. Espcially if I can find someone to help! |
Noticed in the blog link that they used a brush mower and a fan rack that are pulled by that little yard tracter. Basing on my younger days I'd say you'd be lucky to be able to get 1 acre a day and be able to turn around and do it again with a scythe. Have to figure that baling hay is done during the hottest part of summer. Real hard to spend all day outside doing physical labor.
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If the grass looks greener it is probably over the septic tank. - troy n sarah tx
Our existance here is soley for the expoitation of CMG
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05/21/08, 01:40 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: scott county, virginia
Posts: 845
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sell the goats and run far far away.
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05/21/08, 01:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 432
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf
Noticed in the blog link that they used a brush mower and a fan rack that are pulled by that little yard tracter. Basing on my younger days I'd say you'd be lucky to be able to get 1 acre a day and be able to turn around and do it again with a scythe. Have to figure that baling hay is done during the hottest part of summer. Real hard to spend all day outside doing physical labor.
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I like to be optimistic
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05/21/08, 02:31 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 2,400
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatguy
haha, Its true! I can't deny that the work would be hard... but heck, its only 3 acres, how hard could it really be? 1 full day to cut, take take a 2 day break to let the hay dry, flip with rake, take one more day break, and then two days to bale. 1 cutting, 3-4 days work total... doable, definitely doable. Espcially if I can find someone to help! |
Practice on your yard with the scythe now....see how long you can go before you are to tired and sore to do it again the next day.
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05/21/08, 02:48 PM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zone 7
Posts: 10,560
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Goatguy
I have 2 of the "contraptions" for baling pines needles. I have never baled anything but pine needles with them but they do work great for that. I can bale a bale of pine needles every 3 minutes. I know for certain because I timed myself and that included raking! I loan these balers to people wanting to make some spare money or for fund raising. I have shown a number of people how to use them. If time permitted I could try to bale hay but I only have brush hogged grass to try. I see no reason it would not bale hay.
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Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!
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05/21/08, 03:32 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 432
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Interesting! Are they as simple as they look to build and run? Is there a learning curve to it? Or is it just as simple as "put hay in, pull lever, repeat" ?
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05/21/08, 03:57 PM
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Just howling at the moon
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 5,530
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatguy
I like to be optimistic |
I thought I was!
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If the grass looks greener it is probably over the septic tank. - troy n sarah tx
Our existance here is soley for the expoitation of CMG
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05/21/08, 04:34 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Just South of Dallas
Posts: 123
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I had the same thought a year or two back. But then I found out that with a day job, animals, a wife and two kids that there is not enough time for me to get it all cut and harvested. So now I use the scythe on the thicker weed patches (the goats love these) and I pick them up and store them in a pile under a tarp. I use my Crafstman lawn tractor to cut the better stuff, and I've got a mini-hay rake to pull behind it, then I pick it up and store it in a separate pile. I loved the idea of a scythe and baling by hand, but it was way too time consuming -- baling it also took more time than mowing it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goatguy
Ok! So! i need a new way of getting my hay. Earlier this year, i planted 3 acres to a mix of clover and timothy (I'm hoping that I can get at least one cutting from it this year). I will also be getting myself a scythe as that time approaches. What I don't have however is a baler.
I do not have the room to store loose hay, and I refuse to pay someone to bale it for me (I'm trying to be a homesteader afterall aren't I?). So after a few searches on the internet I came across this contraption. It looks easy to build and it looks like it just might do the job. What do you guys think?
http://texaspinestraw.tamu.edu/harvest.html
http://oak-hill-homestead.blogspot.c...ay-baling.html |
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05/21/08, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zone 7
Posts: 10,560
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Goatguy
The pine straw baler is super simple to operate. The baler does take some effort and time to make. Like most things worthwhile there is some involvement. The unit is mostly bolted together since it is subject to some pressure and rough use. Nails would work loose. As designed there is almost no maintenance however.
The only expense is the twine which is minimal. This is essentially the balers I have. There is a good video here of the baler being used.
http://texaspinestraw.tamu.edu/baling.html
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Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!
Last edited by agmantoo; 05/21/08 at 09:45 PM.
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