Hay Saver Feeders

[luv2show21]

Since it's hay-feeding time of year, I was wondering if you guys could give me some suggestions on your favorite round bale saver feeders.  I know there are quite a few out there, so wanted to know your favorites and features you like.  I haven't looked into them much, but they seem to be pricey, so which ones are the best for the money?  Thanks!

PS - if you can provide links or the company name so I can find them on the internet, that would be great also! Thank you!

 

[Okie Boy]

Have not tried them yet but www.gobobpipe.com has some that THEY say save lots of hay. Anyone else?  More info would help me too.

 

[MLH]

I have a go bob hay feeder.  It seems to do a good job saving hay.  A lot better than the old ones we got around but I've always been intriuged by the round feeders with the chains to hold the bale.  Anyone like those?

 

[Hollywood27]

HW flex bale feeders are the best in the business.  They collapse as the bale is eatin and waste little hay.  Depending on round bales our large squares you purchase the necessary number of panels.
Thanks

 

[Torch]

I love my Franklin Cyclone (Super 10/CY-8 Unit) bale feeders. I have one that is close to 8 years old and in great shape. They are made heavy to last. I have figured they save me one bale for every 5 I fed in the regular bale rings. I have 6 of them and use nothing else.
http://www.franklinwaterers.com/bale.html

JMHO

 

[KTM-Ranch]

J & L Haysavers without a doubt.  They make them for round bales and square bales they are a bit pricey but are practically indestructible.  The large round bale feeder weights about 900lbs, I pick mine up with my loader flip it over to clean it out, has skids on the bottom so you can move it around even when loaded.  My cows do not waste a lick of hay.  I suggest getting it with the floor then no hay hits the ground, if your hay is good (no mold) and you make them clean it up before you reload you waste nothing.  If you load over and over again before its empty rain and snow will cause you to waste some on the floor. 

Word of caution though I bought a calf size one for the show calves, was a waste of money. Had to cut holes in the cone once the calves got big so they could get enough w/o working at it all day and because it's not comfortable for them to leave their heads in it they pull the hay out and waste some on the ground around it.  I wish I would have stuck with the full size one.

They also hold their value, have tried to buy some at auctions and they bring nearly as much as a brand new freshly painted one.  I would buy nothing else.

http://www.haroldsequipment.com/other/jl.html

 

[Hoosier]

I have to agree with the J&L Haysavers.  We have several round bale feeders in our feedlot and pastures and the J&Ls blow everything out of the water as far as material savings per bale. They are virtually indestructable and even feedlot cattle will not waste hay if you use these feeders. The only problem we have encountered with J&L feeders is that if your bales are made tight (i.e. if the cores are dense) you have to shake them down every day or couple of days, but i will gladly trade an extra trip into a pen or pasture to loosen a bale in the feeder to save hay. I won't buy another brand, regardless of what any other companies claim about hay savings or price.

 

[inthebarnagain]

Have not tried them yet but www.gobobpipe.com has some that THEY say save lots of hay. Anyone else?  More info would help me too.

We have two of these and are getting ready to purchase a third.  They are by far the best hay feeders ever made.  Have a 5 year guarantee and also guarantee a 30% savings in hay.  We feed 26 cows 2 bales of hay every 3-4 days and they clean it up all the way to the ground. 

 

[Titangurl]

Does anyone know what the j& l will run u?

 

[KTM-Ranch]

I think it was around $900 with the floor.

 

[Titangurl]

Thanks

 

[ai er]

Steinway makes a nice one.

http://www.steinwayequipment.com/bale_feeders.html

 

[luv2show21]

Do you know how much the Steinway feeders cost? Thanks!

 

[Kimberly]

I would like to say thank goodness I did not buy a Bale Boss from Steinway Equipment in Manns Choice, PA. I first contacted Steinway Equipment in Apple Creek, Ohio August 2010 they put me in touch with their salesman Joe Speicher in Manns Choice, PA. I sent many emails to Joe with no response finally I called Steinway Equipment again in Ohio and finally got an email response back from Joe Speicher. My problem was I have cows & horses and could not decide what was the proper bale boss to purchase since they are made differently for cows and horses. I really needed a reliable opinion from Joe Speicher on the bale boss's since they are his specialty and he is a salesman for Steinway Equipment. I really thought he could be quite helpful in making my decision easier. I left my phone# in the emails many different times hoping to get a phone call from him which never happened. Joe Speicher finally called me on October 18, 2010 and said he would like to deliver a bale boss to my farm, I told him about the emails and asked why he never made verbal contact since I was having a hard time making a decision on the bale boss's, his response was you should have called me. Well I was not very happy with his response and told him I decided to purchase a JL Haysaver he hung the phone up on me, I couldn't believe it WOW terrible customer service. I did purchase a JL Haysaver they were wonderful to deal with and helped me tremendously with a tuff decision.

My cows & horses absolutely love the JL Haysaver and I do too it was money well spent. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about JL Haysavers Contact: Kimberly Email:[email protected] Website:http://www.yourequinesource.com  <party>

 

[ploughshare]

I really think the Haymizer is the best out there, but was $1500 the last time I checked and calves can not eat out of the large and cows have difficulty with the small.  I do believe that it would more than pay for itself over its lifetime.  http://www.haymizer.com/

I ended up buying a Bextra and it works pretty well for 1/3 the cost of the Haymizer. http://www.lmp-lcc.com/content/bextra-bale-feeder

 

[cowsrcuddly]

I love my Franklin Cyclone (Super 10/CY-8 Unit) bale feeders. I had the first one they made, and it is feeding our yearling bulls right now.  For the price, they are the best value.  I bought 4 more in the last couple of years.
I also have a couple of Weldy (spelling may be wrong) feeders.  They are double the money, but are almost indestructible.  One fault is that yearling calves can't get to the middle as well, and most of the time you have to shift the bale around if the bales are big or tight as they get "stuck" and won't feed down.  Not that big of a deal tho.

 

[drl]

Has anyone used Sioux Steel hay saver feeders? I saw they have a round and square one and I know sioux makes some good heavy gates so I would think these would be durable.

 

[LazyGLowlines]

Has anyone used Sioux Steel hay saver feeders? I saw they have a round and square one and I know Sioux makes some good heavy gates so I would think these would be durable.

I purchased 3 of their cone feeders several years ago and am not happy at all with them. They don't have any vertical support on the bottom round feeder and they have slowly collapsed to the point that the bottom feeder has disintergrated. If they haven't changed this design I suggest you weld some sort of vertical support before you start to use them or they will turn into trash!

 

[ColdWthr]

Wow I can't believe people actually pay $1500 or even $900 for a hay feeder.  I know they save hay, but that's a huge investment when you'd need 12-15 of them.

 

[SEA]

Have not tried them yet but www.gobobpipe.com has some that THEY say save lots of hay. Anyone else?  More info would help me too.

We have two of these and are getting ready to purchase a third.  They are by far the best hay feeders ever made.  Have a 5 year guarantee and also guarantee a 30% savings in hay.  We feed 26 cows 2 bales of hay every 3-4 days and they clean it up all the way to the ground. 

Could you please give me the price of a new Go Bob hay saving cattle feeder?  Also, are there any dealers in the Midwest?  Illinois, Indiana,  or Ohio.  Thank you,