Round Bale damage

AgriAir

Round Bale damage
We've recently been fortunate with getting the silage done in the form of Round Bales. However as per usual
no matter how speedy we are getting the bales into storage from the field, there have been some casualties,
with crows leaving their marks or claws more like it.
With this in mind, I'm just curious to hear others advice on how to minimize damage to bales from crows.
I do remember seeing a post a few years ago on this forum so if anyone can dig that out I'd appreciate it,
otherwise I'd appreciate any advice.

AgriAir.

20silkcut

Make it look like they are covered in bird**** with white paint in a blob on top and running down the side.

ellewood

AgriAir wrote: »

Round Bale damage
We've recently been fortunate with getting the silage done in the form of Round Bales. However as per usual
no matter how speedy we are getting the bales into storage from the field, there have been some casualties,
with crows leaving their marks or claws more like it.
With this in mind, I'm just curious to hear others advice on how to minimize damage to bales from crows.
I do remember seeing a post a few years ago on this forum so if anyone can dig that out I'd appreciate it,
otherwise I'd appreciate any advice.

AgriAir.

If ya cant stack them straight away I find putting a few blobs of grease on top of them prevents crows landing on them to hole them - how it stops them I dont know but it does seem to

C0N0R

It's weird we haven't problem what so ever with crows or any sort of birds on round bales, we would bale and draw all in the same day. No idea how we happen to be fortunate!

yellow50HX

Do you wrap them in the field? Can you wrap them in the yard instead?

pakalasa

If heard that the crows pick the worms from the ground and then land on the plastic to eat the worm. Picking at the worm holes the plastic. How that helps you, I'm not sure.:D

Bizzum

We would draw them in straight away. This couple of years they are wrapped in the field, wrapper behind the baler.
I would always draw the furthest bales first, that way you're driving back through the remaining bales and keeping the crows away. They tend to gather in the cleared areas.
We splatter white paint on them when stacked. Even on green and white bales
:-)

TEAT SQUEEZER

never mind the crows the seagulls were bananas on ours last summer for some reason ...they must have shear grabs for beaks ....

AgriAir

ellewood wrote: »

If ya cant stack them straight away I find putting a few blobs of grease on top of them prevents crows landing on them to hole them - how it stops them I dont know but it does seem to

We did stack them, but unfortunately we weren't quick enough getting the bales from the field to the pit where we were stacking them. Thanks for the grease tip, have plenty of that so will make use of it for the next set of bales we've to do.:D

C0N0R wrote: »

It's weird we haven't problem what so ever with crows or any sort of birds on round bales, we would bale and draw all in the same day. No idea how we happen to be fortunate!

yellow50HX wrote: »

Do you wrap them in the field? Can you wrap them in the yard instead?

We tend to wrap them in the field & I've been thinking of drawing them to the yard unwrapped & having the one process of stacking allright, I'll try that with the next lot & let ye know how I get on.

pakalasa wrote: »

If heard that the crows pick the worms from the ground and then land on the plastic to eat the worm. Picking at the worm holes the plastic. How that helps you, I'm not sure.:D

Yup, dont forget the bale tape to fix them when you spot the holes.....:eek:

Bizzum wrote: »

We would draw them in straight away. This couple of years they are wrapped in the field, wrapper behind the baler.
I would always draw the furthest bales first, that way you're driving back through the remaining bales and keeping the crows away. They tend to gather in the cleared areas.
We splatter white paint on them when stacked. Even on green and white bales
:-)

That is good thinking, with the furthest away bales. We arranged the bales first & then put them on bale trailer & unloaded & stacked into the house...Normally do pit & second cut with bales but contractor was busy so had to do bales, happy with outcome apart from the repairs, but ye get over that once bales are in...

20silkcut wrote: »

Make it look like they are covered in bird**** with white paint in a blob on top and running down the side.

Might have to resort to that approach, we tended to paint the first few years we started with the bales....time to go back to the old ways....:D

TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »

never mind the crows the seagulls were bananas on ours last summer for some reason ...they must have shear grabs for beaks ....

We get the seagulls too but tis mainly the crows do the damage on the bales...


Lads, Thanks for the replies, appreciate all your advice...Will let you know how I get on with the next set of bales....

pakalasa

Bizzum wrote: »

..I would always draw the furthest bales first, that way you're driving back through the remaining bales and keeping the crows away..

Ya, we do that aswell.

yellow50HX

we wrap and stack in the yard like most people round here. less handling of the wrapped bales and less like to get crow damage. did one single paddock in teh field a few years back and it was a like a sence from a hitchcock movie. i wsa amazed how quickly they desended on the bales. i was supposed to go play a hurlign match but spend the evening/night bringing in the bales. the dog was exhausted from chasing the crows off the bales. amazinly we dont have anywhere near as much bother once they are in the yard

simx

From experience paint is just a waste of paint, grease is the only job

Muckit

Do you just dip a stick in a tin of grease and make an X on bale???? Never seen that done before

Conor556

Muckit wrote: »

Do you just dip a stick in a tin of grease and make an X on bale???? Never seen that done before

No, just squirt out a few lines here and there on the bales, I think the crows think the grease is slugs or something and get the message when they taste the grease and leave the bales alone! Thats just my theory!

tabby aspreme

Bales that are left in the field , quickly get covered in spiders and other field insects , this attracts the crows and worse again seagulls

49801

Seen some bales with old fert bags put on top and weighed down with a tyre.