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SW Ohio | Looking for ideas of shop built round bale feeders. Looking to hold 5-6 4x5 bales. I know most will say go to a wagon but that really isn't in the budget at the moment. I've got some steel laying around that can be made to work, and after nearly 4" of rain from Helene, I have a few days to work on it.
Some of my obstacles include:
Lack of MFWD tractor or tracked skid steer for winter feeding. Using 2wd tractor and nothing else in budget
Lack of concrete, until the free stuff shows up in Dec/Jan/Feb
Bit of a slope up into the winter feeding area from the fence, but I'm willing to move the fence or add some to it so I can make a permanent feeding area. I know the manure and wasted hay will build up next to a feeder, but I can haul it out in August when it dries out
Wife runs her horses in with the cattle. I don't complain real loud because it makes them easier to keep and they make her happy.
At this time, we feed 9 pairs and the bull, along with the 5 horses. So my thoughts, given the obstacles currently at play, are something that is 5.5ft wide on the inside and load it from the end, pushing the bale(s) in front to the end of the feeder until full. Probably put some lumber in as a false floor for the bales to slide on. Ideally I'd like to place it where I can load it from outside the fence, from the gravel drive, since the 2wd tractor doesn't care much for the mud.
Ideas and pictures appreciated!! I'm sure I'm not the first guy to have this problem! | |
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