How to Move Round Bales by Hand

Using round bales to feed livestock can be significantly cheaper than feeding with small, square bales, but they are not always convenient if you do not have the right equipment. Moving round bales is best done with a tractor equipped with a bucket and grapples, but in a pinch, with no equipment available, a pair or strong individuals may be able to move them a short distance by hand.

Things You'll Need

  • Blocking
  • Rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Flip the round bale so that it is lying on the convex edge, rather than the flat ends. Tie a length of rope to three or four pieces of the bale's twine. Insert the rope under the twine about one-third of the way from the top of the bale and knot it, leaving 10 to 15 feet of rope free. Pull the bale until it tips onto its side. If the bale is too heavy and this cannot be done by a person or people, consider hooking it to a tow hitch on a vehicle and using the vehicle to pull over the bale.

    • 2

      Stand behind the round bale and roll it a half turn. Block the round bale with a piece of lumber so that it cannot move and cause injury, and then unhook the rope. Remove the block.

    • 3

      Decide what direction to roll the bale. Stand behind the bale and push it in that direction until it is positioned in the desired location. Multiple people may be required to push the round bale, depending on its size.