![]() ![]() Then I cut 4 x 1.6m lengths of 2″ poly pipe to make the sides and 2 x 2.6m lengths of 1″ poly pipe to make the roof arches.Ĥ short 30cm lengths of 2″ pipe made up the ‘legs’ that go down over the steel posts to hold the whole structure up. The materials used for the frame were 4 metal cross-sections that were from an old tent marquee. The corner sections from a metal tent/marquee frame were used to screw the poly pipe to provide the frame for the cover. I set my round bale up on a wooden pallet then put the dome up around it as it’s easier to roll the bale into place without the posts in the way. So I designed a dome cover that was easy to make from readily found materials (all were on hand at our place) easy to erect, light to move and so far hasn’t blown away (a dome shape is the strongest against the wind)! The only downside I can see is that if it rains, the bale needs to have a cover although some horses will eat wet hay so long as it doesn’t go moldy. The round bales cost me $40 including transport. Normally they would consume 14 small square bales (in slowfeeder nets) in a week which at $3.50 a bale (cost price) = $49. With the round bale Slowfeeder net there was minimal waste (I peeled off the wet moldy section where it had been sitting on the ground = to 1 chaff bag full) and it lasted exactly seven days with four horses relying on it as their main food source (minimal pasture). The cover in place and horses using their own section to eat peacefully. Of course, there’s also the usual manure removal but in a concentrated area – its faster to pick up. Even in a bale feeder they toss it out and trample some. The downside to large rounds is the wastage as horses can really make a mess of a bale that is not contained. I can see why some people prefer to use round bales as they are cheaper than the equivalent in small squares, and it means less hay handling on a daily basis. ![]() ![]() This round bale has the frame for a shelter tarp and panels to keep horses in their ‘own space’ to ensure no-one ‘hogs’ the bale. ![]()
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