We only have 5 acres of what is left of the family homestead. A couple of years ago, as a bit of an experiment, I decided to try take hay off of a couple of newly cleared areas. Total, that might be 2 1/2 acreas. I had done the research to understand what an average yield was off an acre and thought at the very least, it would help offset feed costs. If, that is, I could do it on the cheap. I already had the tractor and trailers, but I scrounged up a $50 JD #5 mower like yours and a $250 M-H #11 hay rake. Mower needed some work, but the rake I paid a premium on as the guy delivered it. lol We pick it up with pitch forks. Now, a baler sounds good, but it really only means a more convenient package in the end, and the goats have no issues with loose hay. I am not sure we are going to do this long term, but very rewarding to put up our own hay and it has been worth the little bit of an investment and the time. Now, if I could only get some rain so we can get a second cutting... Take care!
It's extremely rewarding to be able to put up your own hay for sure. Our setup is years in the making. I bought two of the JD sickles for $100 and had to rebuild one with parts from the other and make some parts from scratch to get it working great. I was able to find that baler about 10 years ago and I think we paid $800 for it. Although it did work, it was a challenge. Over the years I've repaired and rebuilt little bits here and there and now it's working great in my opinion. So for $1000 or so and some mechanical repairs we can put up our own hay. It's all paid for itself many times over considering the cost of hay. Working with this old equipment can certainly test your patience for sure, but when it all comes together it's that much sweeter.
We only have 5 acres of what is left of the family homestead. A couple of years ago, as a bit of an experiment, I decided to try take hay off of a couple of newly cleared areas. Total, that might be 2 1/2 acreas. I had done the research to understand what an average yield was off an acre and thought at the very least, it would help offset feed costs. If, that is, I could do it on the cheap. I already had the tractor and trailers, but I scrounged up a $50 JD #5 mower like yours and a $250 M-H #11 hay rake. Mower needed some work, but the rake I paid a premium on as the guy delivered it. lol We pick it up with pitch forks. Now, a baler sounds good, but it really only means a more convenient package in the end, and the goats have no issues with loose hay. I am not sure we are going to do this long term, but very rewarding to put up our own hay and it has been worth the little bit of an investment and the time. Now, if I could only get some rain so we can get a second cutting... Take care!
It's extremely rewarding to be able to put up your own hay for sure. Our setup is years in the making. I bought two of the JD sickles for $100 and had to rebuild one with parts from the other and make some parts from scratch to get it working great. I was able to find that baler about 10 years ago and I think we paid $800 for it. Although it did work, it was a challenge. Over the years I've repaired and rebuilt little bits here and there and now it's working great in my opinion. So for $1000 or so and some mechanical repairs we can put up our own hay. It's all paid for itself many times over considering the cost of hay. Working with this old equipment can certainly test your patience for sure, but when it all comes together it's that much sweeter.
And yes, we could definitely use the rain. The fields aren't doing much since that first cutting!