how many flakes of hay in a square balehow many flakes of hay in a square bale

Based on the 1.5-2% rule, a 1,000 pound average horse needs to eat 15 - 20 pounds of hay a day. Poor Quality Hay: Dry, discolored, coarse-stemmed, and lacking in flavor and texture. Continue with Recommended Cookies. It is a cut, dried, and stored grass used as animal fodder. And how much is a flake of hay? Flakes of hay vary widely in weight, depending on forage type, size and tightness of bales; therefore, measuring hay by this method can result in misrepresentation of forage amount. Thirty-four pounds per bale equals 1,800 pounds per ton divided by 54 bales. Now, let's do the math. Your 2nd and 3rd cutting will yield higher percentages of alfalfa and clover. How often do you have to buy it? Stop once youve reached the desired amount of flakes for your horses feeding needs. The answer is resolute and resounding no, its different for each flake and hay bale. Bales came apart left and right during stacking. Timothy Hay, Small square bales of hay dont have to be the only option on your small farm or homestead! Round Bales: 5 Key Differences Hay is for horses, as the old adage goes! Mixture of dried legumes and grass, approximately 5 pounds. With a little creativity and networking, theres a good chance youll find an option that works. A two-string bale of Hay has 16 flakes on average. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I began to research horses eating habits as I moved forward. Horses should be fed good quality hay, an indication of which is bright green color, leafy and fine texture, and a fresh and pleasant aroma. Copyright 2023 Quick-Advices | All rights reserved. If so, increase your quantity. A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. First is by simply finding the end of it, pulling the netting around the bale, and unwrapping the bale fully. Posted on Cut them into a rectangular shape : The hay in these string bales is easy to handle and good quality. Each bale weighs in at around 5 lbs. Small square bales typically weigh between 40-60 lbs. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is a high-quality hay that is rich in nutrients and is easy to digest, making it a popular choice for livestock. In the baling chamber, pressure is applied on the hay cut on one end. Instead of separating flakes like on a square bale, round bales need to be unrolled. Orienting the row. A mix of dried legumes and grass from the row weighing about 5 pounds. RIP Tiger kitty 2-10-2015 Left paw prints on our hearts. Understanding how many flakes are in a bale of hay is important for determining how much to feed your horse. If you are feeding 100% hay and your hay contains 90% DM (or 10% . Or, if temperatures are going to heat up, you might want to try and get hay delivered before the ground thaws and turns into a muddy mess. It's Time to Bring in the Hay! - Horse Lover's Math As the hay continues to dry after baling, the bale will lose weight andin my experiencephysically shrink at least a little. Enjoy banner ad-free browsing with The Horse Forum Plus. It is Risky, Meadow Hay for Horses: with Nutritional Value, 9 Best Christmas Gifts For Horse Lovers in 2021. Getting a horse is overwhelming as it is so I decided to make it easier for you by providing all the information about hay flakes in this post. The hay quality is determined by both the field quality from which it is harvest from, the cutting (1st, 2nd, 3rd, sometimes 4th cutting) and, again, if it is alfalfa, how old the crop is. Just continue reading. A medium hue, a clean, medium stem, not too coarse, a decent stem-to-leaf ratio, and great palatability are all characteristics of good quality hay sold as suitable for horses, sheep, and more. When it comes to feeding horses, one of the most common questions is how many flakes of hay are in a bale? By baling hay, farmers can control the amount of hay that they feed to their livestock. During a rainy season, humidity can reduce the nutritional value and speed up deterioration. We are all about simple homesteading on a budget. If you are feeding 100% hay and your hay contains 90% DM (or 10% moisture), your 1000 lb horse should be fed 20 lb of hay (18 lb DM/0.9) straight from the bale each day. T. And the stack itself was unstable since loose bales make poor building blocks. A horse that weighs 1000 lbs would eat 20 lbs of hay. Counting flakes is important to keep balers as . Here's my start with questimates: a small bale weighs about 40 lbs. Protein: Alfalfa and other legume hays are valuable sources of protein that are easy to add to the diet. First, baling hay allows farmers to store it for long periods of time without it spoiling. Custom A-Frame Chicken Tractor For (Almost) Free, 25 Homesteading Quotes To Empower And Inspire, https://fromscratchfarmstead.com/diy-drawing-salve/, Easy Farmhouse Cheddar Hard Cheese Recipe, Predator Proof Chicken Coop Essentials You Need To Know, How To Make Quick and Natural Mozzarella Cheese with Vinegar, Large Square Bales 2 x 2 x 8 or 3 x 3 x 8. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. 2. a small piece or particle: a flake of snow. Flakes are formed through the compression/release phenomenon that happens in the bailing process. Since a "flake" is the amount of forage compressed in one ramming cycle of the baler, this is completely variable depending on the quality and kind of hay, the size of bale produced by the. The most common hay mixtures include grasses, clover, and alfalfa. Hay that was cut in the rain is not of great grade! The Process of Harvesting Hay Types of Hay Storing and Feeding Hay Frequently Asked Questions However, after trying it for a full winter and assessing the pros and cons, Im not missing small square bales as much as I thought I wouldmaybe not at all! Spontaneous Combustion: Hay stored wet will decay, and when stacking, it needs less than 22% moisture to avoid spontaneous combustion. What method do you use to monitor your horse's daily intake? On the subject, if your vet is on the expensive side for fecals, check out. A Comprehensive Guide, Signs a Horse is Dying: What to Look Out For. However, lets consider the typical pleasure horse that works 1 3 hours a week. The size of a bale of hay can also affect the number of flakes it contains. Different flake layers are put together to form a hay bale. If youve only ever used small square bales before, you might be surprised how many options of round bales are available if you search nearby. Generally speaking, a bale of hay contains around 12 to 16 flakes, with each flake weighing around 4 to 5 pounds. Could a hay feeder be helpful? Note that the outside roles of hay may be loose and come unraveled when you first unwrap a round bale. A hay field is cut down, dried out, and then baled up. Now, the size of a hay bale might not appear to matter to the layperson. The flakes are the easily divided sections that are formed when a square bale is picked up by the baler. A tight bale will contain more hay and therefore be of higher value. How to Calculate How Much Hay to Feed Your Horse - The Spruce Pets It depends on the size, a large bale weighs more than the smaller bay, no surprises there. As with hay flakes, hay cubes can also vary in terms of weight. Generally speaking, a bale of hay contains around 12 to 16 flakes, with each flake weighing around 4 to 5 pounds. Too much moisture in hay can cause mold or spontaneous combustion. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Add that up over an entire winter and thats a lot of savings. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Here are tips for calculating your baling twine needs. How Many Flakes Are in a Bale of Hay? Understanding Hay Bale Flake Sizes Your hay analysis should show the DM content of your forage. Charcoal ? A regular 40-pound square bale of hay lasts roughly 3.5 days for one horse. Cool, dry storage prolongs the life of hay bales, and you need to maintain airflow around the hay bales. We have a passionate team who love to research and write about Equine Health, food, competitions and unbiased gear reviews. High quality, tightly packed round hay bales cost $80-$100. If you figure 50 lb. The type of hay used to make a bale can affect the number of flakes it contains. How Much Hay Should A Horse Eat: A Definitive Guide Estimating the number of flakes in a bale can be tricky since there are so many factors that can affect the amount of flakes. The hay is put into a baling chamber, compressed, and released as a flake. The ideal hay for your needs, Like early-made and never-rained-on orchard or Timothy grass, sheep makes an excellent first cutting. How many flakes horses should eat in a day? I sought out information from farmers and vendors about the flake of hay as well as how many flakes are in each bale. It is impossible to expect all hay bales or flakes to be created equally. The exterior of the bale can be bleached to remove high-quality hay, and the bale will be bright when opened. Consider or even say horse hay if you are having trouble getting the hay you require. But do you know how many flakes of hay are in a bale? New to the equine world, I had little knowledge about the flakes of hay. After conducting our research, we found that the number of flakes in a bale of hay can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of grass, the size and shape of the bale, and the moisture content. A large bale weighs about 600 lbs. Counting flakes in a bale of hay can be a bit tricky, but its an essential skill for any horse owner. Weights of hay vary depending on how dry and compact a single bale will be. Remember to feed in as many small portions as possible. There are usually about 12. Microbial breakdown of fibrous particles continues in the large colon where water is also absorbed and fecal balls are formed and passed through the rectum. Reducing Losses When Feeding Hay to Beef Cattle | MU Extension Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Research has shown as much as 60% of hay can be wasted using this method. You can get a better view from visiting Chewy shop here, where the actual prices of different types of horse hay are listed. In some cases, hay bales can weigh between 40 and 140 pounds. Loosely packed bales will also likely lead to more waste. round bale would be equivalent to 30 square bales at 50 lbs. I learned a lot from this research about horses and their lifestyles. The three standard sizes of hay bales and their common dimensions are: Small square bales are light and compact enough to be moved by hand. They are typically 3 feet wide, 3 feet high, and 8-10 feet long. From the hay market, square bales, on average, will cost you between $3 and $10 per bale, but some farmers prefer selling their hay per pound, in which case such a bale will be around 50 pounds. There are usually about 12. With the right equipment and proximity, exchanging round bales between seller and buyer will save a lot of time. Flakes of hay are the almost equally sized slices of hay in a bale of hay. Your best bet is to do like some of the others have mentioned, give her enough to eat in a slow net feeder, but soak the hay first to leach out the sugars since the sugars are what is dangerous for a laminitic horse. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It is also important to check the weight and number of flakes per bale before making a purchase to make sure the horse gets a sufficient amount of hay. and a large bale as high as 1,600 lbs. Each hay bales weight will differ across suppliers. The size and weight of a bale of hay can vary depending on the type of hay, the equipment used to bale it, and the preferences of the farmer. Using a small hole haynet would slow her down quite a bit though. Make the letter C with your hand. Depending on the type of hay and the type of bale, the size and shape of the bale can vary. If moved by trucks, it can also show the trailer didnt face harsh weather while transporting its load. To determine how much to feed your flock, you only need to give the weight of each bale. What is a Flake of Hay: How Many Flakes of Hay in a Bale? For example, theres the art of adjusting the baler so the bales it creates are suitable in terms of size, weight and twine tension. You would need to gather 40 small bales of hay to get close to a ton of hay because a ton is equal to 2,000 pounds. Turns out, it was not as simple as I thought it would be but with little difficulty, I wrapped my head around all the information I acquired regarding flakes of hay. What To Know About Rotational Grazing On A Small Scale, Why a 5 Acre Homestead is the Perfect Size for a Beginner, Beginners Guide to Self Sufficient Homesteading, How To Create A Quarter Acre Self Sufficient Homestead Garden. Bales are made in the field with about 10 13 clumps of hay, it is safe to say that flake is a slice of a bale of hay. A tightly compressed bale will contain fewer flakes than a loosely compressed bale. The other and more common shape of a bale is round. Baling is mostly done with the help of machines called hay balers though it can also be done manually. Therefore, horses should be fed according to their body weight and not with a fixed number of flakes. Price Factors. So, in order to maximize digestive efficiency and prevent digestive upset a horse should be fed several small meals throughout the day. Weighing hay is the most effective way to measure the correct amount. For example, a three-string bale of hay usually contains 17 flakes, each weighing about 8 pounds. One more thing worth noting is that a fair amount of hay can fall to the ground while unrolling the bale. I have no idea what type or where to purchase the clay and plantain you have mentioned. By understanding these factors, you can get a general estimate of the number of flakes in a bale and ensure that you have enough hay for your operation. Maybe you have seen hay bales in the field. Hay is compressed with a baler to form flakes. There are fifteen small bales of hay in a 3x3x8 square bale. I use a plastic garden cart for this and unravel several rolls of hay at a time to fill the cart with. OK, so my horse is recovering from laminitis and the vet recommended I feed her one flake of grass hay in the morning, one at night. Storing bales end to end very tightly minimizes the exposure of the open bale face to the elements. I decided to see vendors and farmers obtain more information about what is a flake of hay and how many flakes of hay in a bale. You are not feeding by size, but by weight, so prescribing one flake is a little bit generic. Because hydrochloric acid is produced continuously in the horse stomach, it can accumulate in an empty stomach, irritate the stomach lining, and eventually cause ulcers. 5 How many bales of hay does a horse eat in a week? First-cut hay that is well-made is excellent. While the animals you're feeding help dictate the type of forage to raise to some degree, your climate plays a larger role. Im also an active member of the equine community, often volunteering my time to help preserve and promote the culture of horsemanship. They are typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter and 4 to 6 feet tall. Hay that is not thoroughly dry after cutting the pasture will be heavier than a cut and thoroughly dried pasture of alfalfa. Stacking or pyramiding bales will allow more bales to go under a smaller amount of tarp, making the process more economical. Farmers typically cut hay three times a season. Look for fine-stemmed grasses and plants and avoid hay that appears fibrous and overgrown. Before purchasing hay, it is important to verify the weight and quantity of flakes in each bale to ensure that the horse receives enough. The answer varies from flake to flake and bale to bale. For instance, a three-stringed, 136 pounds bale contains about 17 flakes. A small bale contains about 5 flakes of hay weighing 8 lb each. The answer to how many flakes of hay are in a bale is determined by several factors, including the type of hay, the size and shape of the bale, and the moisture content. Its less awkward to keep it in rolled form and work with it that way. Turns out, horse owners buy flakes of hay to feed them. A three-string bale weighs 100 lbs. When grass or legumes are cut, dried, and stored for animal feed, especially for grazing animals like cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, it is called hay. In the field, it is cut, dried, and then baled for storage. It is a vital source of nutrition for animals that do not have access to pasture or other sources of fresh forage. Best Horse Hay Steamer - Reviews & Guide 2021, Why are Hay Bales Left in Fields? A large square bale flake would be much more than a small square flake. Flake is often confused with a unit for weight measurement. You can also find cheaper hay by visiting local pastures because most of the people split hay bales with neighbors either for free or they charge very little. horse five flakes every day. It would vary from one bale to the next. (1) Hoffman, C.J., L.R. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The weight and size of a bale can also vary, but typically range between 35 and 65 pounds. For information on ordering Alfalfa Hay, Timothy Hay or Straw Products, please contact us today. It wasnt as easy as I expected, but I was able to absorb all of the information about flakes of hay. It is a high-quality hay that is rich in nutrients and is easy to digest, making it a popular choice for livestock. Ideally, this amount should be fed in small meals at frequent intervals throughout the day. Generally, square bales are sold in two and three-string sizes. 4. This research has helped me learn a lot about horses and their habits. Unless the horse is extremely obese, that would not be enough to avoid causing ulcers. Grass hay is a type of hay made from grasses such as timothy, fescue, orchardgrass, and brome. Nevertheless, the average cost of a bale can be estimated at $15. J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, farmer, blogger and videographer with a passion for pruning trees. In addition to energy and nutrient rich grasses, alfalfa and clover are high in protein and offer different vitamins and minerals. It is best to weigh the flake first, and to feed hay approximately 1% to 22% of the horses body weight. Based on reports, a flake of hay can weigh as heavy as 2 pounds. Maybe you can get a few bales delivered and see about borrowing equipment from a neighbor to move them as needed. Hay is an essential part of many farming operations, as it provides nutrition for livestock and can even be used as bedding. 3. a thin layer or stratum. Such small square bales of hay are best disposed of. Youll find each of these bales weighs 33 pounds, then divide the total weight by the number of bales. Manage Settings However, determining how much hay to feed them can be a challenge. However, more than 85% of horse owners who completed a survey published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (1) reportedly measured the amount of hay fed by flakes. The compression/release phenomenon during bailing causes flakes to form. (Learn How Many Square Bales Are In A Round Bale). Another benefit of baling hay is that it allows farmers to manage their hay more efficiently. 3. 6 How long does it take a horse to finish a flake of hay? Making Square Hay Bales? Careful They're Not Too Loose Overall, the number of flakes in a bale of hay can vary depending on several factors, including the type of hay, size of bale, and compression level. Square hay bales are, as the name suggests, square in shape. Now is the time for a quick side note. Therefore, later cuttings of hay are typically more desirable. Usually, this resolves as you go since the role gets tighter toward the center of the bale. This is the most convenient way to feed round bales, but also the least efficient. How Many Flakes Of Hay Are In A Bale? - Own The Horse Compress: The hay goes through compression, then you cut one side of the row and release the pressure. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. (Learn How To Get Rid Of Pine Needles). The plastic mesh netting that wraps a round bale can be dangerous if consumed or an animal gets caught in it. How Many Bales Of Hay Do Sheep Need? - Family Farm Livestock Generally speaking, a hay bale will contain an average of 12 flakes. The dimensions and weights of various hay bales are described to show the number of hay bales per ton. As long as the weight is present, a healthy flake should weigh around 8 lbs. And how about that neighbor with a tractor or skid steer? We have a small pole barn with an opening large enough for a tractor to back a round bale into (approximately 8). But fret not, a flake of hay is not rocket science at all it will take you no more than five minutes to know and comprehend all about flake of hay. However, unlike cattle, horses have stomachs that function similarly to human stomachs, where feed particles are mixed with pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, and hydrochloric acid, which breaks down solid particles. Step 2 The row of hay is then compressed, cut on one end, and pressure is released. In both cases, always remove the plastic wrap first. Pound for pound, youre buying in bulk and theres savings to be had there. During the drying period, the cuttings are cured much like a potato is cured when dug up from the garden and goes on to last for months. This can be especially dangerous if you have chickens or other small animals that can get trapped by a hay avalanche! This helps to minimize hay waste. We are Jim and Joelle. Most of the square bales I have bought and fed have between 10-12 flakes/bale. Although this food will be inexpensive, it offers very little nourishment. Hay bales range in weight from 40 to 2,000 pounds and come in various shapes and sizes. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A coffee can or a scoop of grain is an arbitrary amount. Cured hay maintains its freshness and nutritional profile when properly stored for at least a year. Flake is easy to flake off component of any rectangular (or square) hay bale a large bundle of hay compactly packed for shipping or storage. Note that intake needs can change based on variables like temperatures. Hi there! Whats a flake of hay? Exploring the great outdoors and taking in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite pastimes. If you only need a small quantity of hay at a time, you can likely just unroll some hay by hand and bring it directly to your animals or hay feeder. Note According to a recent study, Horses generally need pasture or hay about 1.5% to 2% of the body weight, therefore, horses should not be fed with a specific number of flakes but according to the percentage of body weight. The average bale of meadow hay contains 12-16 flakes of hay. Horse owners often buy hay flakes to feed their horses. The number of flakes in a hay bale is also relative to the size and weight of the bale. Like in the case of the number of flakes per bale, the thickness of a bale also depends on the amount of hay used and the compression force applied during the baling process. The whole process is divided into the following steps: No. End to end. But here are some other things to look for, or to avoid, when purchasing round hay bales. Passage rate through the small intestine to the large intestine is quite rapid and if a large amount of grain, which contains high levels of soluble sugars, is ingested, the capacity of the small intestine is quickly overwhelmed. They could have more or less. The monitor includes a Stroke/Flake Counter that can help you keep a consistent bale length and weight by counting the number of strokes or flakes in your bale. How long does it last? Then try decreasing a bit. How much hay should you feed a 1000 lb horse? These easy to separate layers are dubbed as flakes. I cannot comment on the laminitis, as I really do not have any experience with it. But, again, it varies depending upon the amount of hay used. In summary, in order to maximize feed utilization efficiency and avoid digestive upsets, a horse should be fed an accurately weighed amount of feed based on its size, physiological status and work load. How Many Square Bales are in a 45 Round Bale? If you are new to hay and dont yet have a barometer for high quality hay versus poor quality hay, Id encourage you to befriend a long-time farmer (preferably one that cuts their own hay) and learn as much from them as you can. 5 Things Beginners Should Know About Cut Flower Farming, Pick Purple Clover For Its Many Health Benefits, Chicken Trackers May Show If Your Flock Logs More Steps Than You, Naturally Reared Queens (Excerpt, Raising Resilient Bees), Making Square Hay Bales? Knowing the answer to this question can help you determine how much hay you need for your operation and how much it will cost. Calculate number of bales needed If you have 10 ewes in your flock, you'll need to feed a 45.5 pound bale everyday. But getting them correct is important for making good bales. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Race Horse Hay, 29:719-726.