Small Scale Hay Production

I have a small scale 10-acre sheep farm and this is how I make hay as a backup food supply for the sheep.  

What is hay?  Hay is essentially just dried grass that farmers can store up and feed animals in winter or during a drought when no grass is growing.  

First you cut the grass using a special sickle bar mower that works with a scissor action, cutting off plant material at the base. Since it does not shred the cut material into small pieces, but leaves it whole, it can be easily raked and baled for hay.  Once cut, the grass must dry out for a couple days. After drying, it needs to be raked into a windrow to make it easy for the baler to pick it up.  


Theres a video of the mini hay baler in operation here: https://sheepdogfarm.com/f/making-our-own-hay

I grew up making hay, using full size farm equipment. It's pretty cool to see these miniature versions.

Adding the sit-down sulkies to these machines is a stroke of genius.
I have no animals as of yet (grazing or otherwise), but this gave me some great ideas for when I do.

Hello, Where did you bought  BCS Mowing Sulky (trailer seat )for sickle bar mover. Thanks

Jimbo Shepherd wrote:I have a small scale 10-acre sheep farm and this is how I make hay as a backup food supply for the sheep.  

What is hay?  Hay is essentially just dried grass that farmers can store up and feed animals in winter or during a drought when no grass is growing.  

First you cut the grass using a special sickle bar mower that works with a scissor action, cutting off plant material at the base. Since it does not shred the cut material into small pieces, but leaves it whole, it can be easily raked and baled for hay.  Once cut, the grass must dry out for a couple days. After drying, it needs to be raked into a windrow to make it easy for the baler to pick it up.  


Theres a video of the mini hay baler in operation here: https://sheepdogfarm.com/f/making-our-own-hay

Hi Sandor,

Welcome to Permies.


partstree.com Carrie’s the sulky for the BCS.

Nice rig and some fine looking hay.  Mind if I ask how much you have invested in it?

I got the earth tools sulkie from the Earth Tools website.  
Earth tools

Sandor Sebestyen wrote:Hello, Where did you bought  BCS Mowing Sulky (trailer seat )for sickle bar mover. Thanks

Jimbo Shepherd wrote:I have a small scale 10-acre sheep farm and this is how I make hay as a backup food supply for the sheep.  

What is hay?  Hay is essentially just dried grass that farmers can store up and feed animals in winter or during a drought when no grass is growing.  

First you cut the grass using a special sickle bar mower that works with a scissor action, cutting off plant material at the base. Since it does not shred the cut material into small pieces, but leaves it whole, it can be easily raked and baled for hay.  Once cut, the grass must dry out for a couple days. After drying, it needs to be raked into a windrow to make it easy for the baler to pick it up.  


Theres a video of the mini hay baler in operation here: https://sheepdogfarm.com/f/making-our-own-hay

Brand new the BCS tractor and all implements I got would be over $30K.  I got everything used for less than what just the baler alone costs.  New Baler alone costs around $10k.

Gray Henon wrote:Nice rig and some fine looking hay.  Mind if I ask how much you have invested in it?

Do you leave standing forage in certain fields for the winter as well? When do you end up using your hay the most? (Time of year, circumstances--say, January during a freeze, or cold February weather during lambing, etc...)

I stop mowing mid August and let the grass grow high.  Its called "Winter Stockpile" and thats all they eat all winter.  I keep some hay as a back up plan just in case there is a lot of snow and they can't get to the stockpile.  In the last 2-years we've had mild hardly any snow winters and I haven't used any hay yet. I would never lamb in Feb as the risk of freezing dead lambs would be high.  I introduce a ram the first week of December for 6 weeks (2 female cycles) that means that lambing will occur in May after the spring flush of amazing grass has come in and the moms feed on that spring grass for weeks prior to giving birth. I think this is the best way to limit lambing problems.

R West wrote:Do you leave standing forage in certain fields for the winter as well? When do you end up using your hay the most? (Time of year, circumstances--say, January during a freeze, or cold February weather during lambing, etc...)