Hay hooks

[JayinNY]

How many guys use them when handeling hay? I almost never use one, but for tight packed hay in the maow I use one to pull out the bales. Sometimes I cant get my fingers under the twine so a hook helps. J

 

[JerryBowers]

I use hooks most of the time. The contractor who bales the hay on the airport in my front yard uses twine. Trying to lift a 100+# bale by the twine frequently causes it to pull off or sometimes break. Hooks are almost a necessity, especially for loading and stacking.

 

[John A.]

J, Though I do not handle anywhere near as much sm bale hay as I use to. I still prefer to use a 18in long,T-handle hay hook.when handling any amt of sm bales. The hook is more of a slightly bent back L design than a J version. You can pop the hook end out faster, and with less effort that a true J design. Also alows you to lift up the baleing wire to get you fingers under it easier!
Some haulers left one like I just described at out place in the early 60s. We started copying it shortly there after!
Later,
John A.

 

[showcrop]

I never have. Some guys that I used to hire always brought their own. They were SERIOUS bale throwers. But what I noticed, and the reason I never got accustomed to them, is that every now and then one will not come out, so you have to kind of make a lunge after it to get it unhooked. I don't wear gloves either, the skin heals. I almost always wear shorts when baling too LOL. I usually stack about 25 bales per load so my shins take a beating. But I do wear long jeans when delivering.

 

[ILLEFTY]

I'll use one when baling small one straight on the wagon to pull bale from baler to wagon. I have found when handling those small round from an AC baler that 2 hooks works best for me,other wise I avoid the hooks. I'm not comfortable with them.

 

[evilboweivel]

always did loading the wagon behind the baler
never did when stacking in the mow

Ron

 

[Jim in Ma.]

I use them unloading and stacking.
My neighbor, who sells thousands of bails uses them along with leather chaps.

 

[Dusty MI]

Not handled hay sense the mid 60's. Back then I only used one. If I remember right I used it in my right hand.

Dusty

 

[dixon boy]

used them all time till i went to grapple accumulator system and took all hand handling out of the picture. Its for sale now thou if anyone would be interested. change in operation

 

[sammydwm]

have always used one anytime I handle small squares

 

[hd6gtom]

Use them all the time when handing small bales. Still have the ones I used when I was 8.

 

[paul]

Always use hooks, got the same 2 pair dad used, been in the barn and handled many many bales. We both prefered the shorter hooks over the longer pair.

So easy to hook the bales, toss it up with your knee, so not much lifting.

Don't know how one can handle a few 100 bales or more a day by the strings, my hands and back and arms do not work that way! Too many busted bales too.

--->Paul

 

[Paul from MI]

Always used one when loading the wagon behind the baler. Never used one in the mow or unloading the wagons.

 

[RayP(MI)]

Same here. We prefer the ones that are about a foot long for reaching down and picking bale off baler chute.

 

[Don-Wi]

Only use them to pull them from the balers pan, and when dragging them around in the barn for feeding.

Never use them when unloading from the wagon or stacking in the mow. Do wear those yellow work gloves though.

Donovan from Wisconsin