How to Get Hay Into the Loft

It's important to store hay in a dry ventilated area, which in most cases is the loft of your barn. However, it can be difficult to lift bales of hay up into such a high place. Some barns have ladders, but this isn't always the most effective way to get bales of hay into the loft. Here are a few simple methods to get your hay stored securely until it can be sold or fed to farm animals.

Instructions

    • 1

      Pull the flatbed truck or other vehicle you have loaded with bales of hay into the barn. Stack a large crate or other structure on the back of the truck that you can stand on. This will enable you to toss the hay into the loft without difficulty.

    • 2

      Hire a few young farmhands or interns to lift the hay into the loft. If lifting hay is too difficult for you personally, it's usually not difficult to find a few young individuals who can assist in getting bales of hay into the loft.

    • 3

      Install a pulley system with a base large enough to set a bale or two of hay in. Position one person at the base to load the bales, and another up in the loft to unload the hay. With a rope attached to a pulley it should be fairly easy to manuver the hay into the loft.

    • 4

      Purchase a hay elevator for your barn. A hay elevator is a rolling system with a conveyor chain installed that lifts the hay into the barn loft. You can purchase a hay elevator from a local farm equipment retailer.