FAQs

The Bale Blanket can easily be placed over small or large square bales (2- and 3-string) as well as both small and large round bales.

There is one size right now: 5'x5'x5' which can fit up to a 5'x6' round bale provided the 6' is in the vertical length (the extra foot would just have the Bale Blanket a little off the ground). The Bale Blankets actually have slightly longer than 5' sides (closer to 5'4") so that it is very easy to slip on and off even a full 5'x5' bale.

We are also looking at launching an small (4'x4') and large (6'x6') sizes for the future!

If your bales are small or don't fill out the whole cover, there will just be a little bit of extra material bunched at the ground, which will not affect the effectiveness of the Bale Blanket.

The Bale Blanket is made from heavy-duty white, reinforced PVC double-coated tarp (over reinforced polyester), just under 15oz/sq yard in weight, that is waterproof, mold and mildew resistant, and blocks out wind and most to all UV rays. It is UV-resistant itself and is a good insulator so can help regulate the temperature underneath it. The PVC material is ultra heavy duty to withstand years of elements while protecting your hay investment. Some people report their PVC tarps lasting well over 10 years!

PVC vs. PE tarps

PVC-coated tarp is different than the lighter weight PE (polyethylene) tarps you often find at hardware stores, such as the common light blue tarps. Those tarps have a distinct "grid-like" pattern." Those are cheaper but break down quickly, fray, snag, and can let UV light through also.

PVC tarps are much closer in strength and longevity to vinyl tarps than PE tarps are.

While PE may have been slightly cheaper to use, we wanted a bale cover that was as tough as possible to last as long as possible through multiple seasons, which made PVC a better option.

If you want to read a bit more on the differences between PE and PVC tarps, click here.

PVC vs Vinyl Tarps

We looked at making Bale Blankets out of vinyl, which is the heaviest-duty type of tarp generally used for situations that need very high tear resistance (such as boat canopies, semi-truck load covers, etc.). However, this would have made the Bale Blanket not only far more expensive, but much heavier and more difficult to ship as well as for one person to put on and take off the bales. We have tried to keep our Bale Blankets to around 15 pounds each for ease of use, as it can be awkward throwing it over a round bale!

We also did not need full tear-resistance on the Bale Blankets, since there would not be tension on the material.

A PVC tarp shares much of the same strength and longevity of a vinyl tarp with far less cost and less weight also, making it the ideal material for us.

PVC vs Canvas Tarps

While waterproof/water resistant breathable coated canvas was also an option for Bale Blankets, it shared some disadvantages of vinyl -- heavy and expensive, with some quotes bringing the cost of Bale Blankets up by 5-10x -- and there were some concerns about the waterproofing elements breaking down over time.

Tarp Weight

For comparison of weight, the light blue tarps you can find at hardware stores are generally only around 3-5 oz per square yard (compared to our tarps which are nearly 15oz per yard).

We asked this same question! That's why we designed the Bale Blankets with the option of added mesh to assist in the evaporation of trapped moisture or bales "sweating" (for very wet bales, you still may wish to wait a few days to let them dry out before covering).

Vented/Mesh Bale Blankets

Our vented Bale Blankets have 12" of thick weave mesh around the top third of the cover. It allows excellent airflow and even a breeze to go around the bales inside the cover (one reason we made the Bale Blankets slightly larger than the bale, to allow that breeze of airflow).

We have used it on wet and rained on bales, in very high humidity, and high dew/condensation, and it allowed our bales to completely dry. We have even taken humidity measurements both inside and outside the mesh covers and we found no increase in humidity inside the cover even in very hot and humid conditions.

Please note, however, if you use a Bale Blanket with mesh, while it lets moisture out, it can also let moisture in, so some rain may get through in heavy storms (even though the hay will still be far more protected than with no cover at all!).

Non-Mesh/Vented Bale Blankets

While these covers provide full waterproofing for the bale, that also means that they can trap moisture in. They work well in dry climates and with dry hay or for people who only need coverage for a short period of time or even just a week or two of very wet weather.

We measured humidity inside these covers during hot and wet conditions with wet bales, and we did find the humidity inside these covers, understandably, was higher than the ambient humidity outside of the bale and there could be condensation inside the covers.

That's why we have created two types of Bale Blankets, so you can choose what is best for you and your situation!

Some people who don't have pallets may like to cover the bales with a non-mesh Bale Blanket, and flip or roll the round bale so that the blanket is actually fully on the ground and the opening is to the side or top. You can then pull the drawstring tight on the side (or top) of the bale, protecting it from the ground.

You are welcome to try this! It will cause more wear on the Bale Blanket and may trap some water in the blanket (if it pools at the bottom), but protecting it from the ground with no tractor or extra equipment needed is a huge plus, as bales absorb tremendous amounts of water from the ground.

We understand -- in your case, you probably have a tractor or skidsteer and maybe some extra hands, and using thin plastic bale sleeves that slide on when the bale is lifted would be your most affordable option.

Bale Blankets were designed for small farm and ranch owners who have only around 1-10 bales at a time to feed a few animals, and who don't have special equipment like bale spears to use or a way to lift bales off the ground. They were also designed for full coverage of all exposed sides of a bale for bales that are not tightly stacked against each other (so need more than just a tarp over the top).

These small ranch owners needed a cover that could slide right over the top of the bale easily by one person, cover the entire bale fully, and be reused many times over the years, which is what the Bale Blanket was designed for.

No hay preservation system is 100% perfect. We can't guarantee there won't be any mold or spoilage at all on your bales, but the Bale Blankets should help tremendously. They have saved us hundreds of dollars of wastage on our own hay and we believe they will do the same for you!

Remember however to not cover your bales when they are extremely wet, try to keep the bales off the ground, and do what you can to keep water from entering the Bale Blankets. If you have very damp hay you may consider purchasing the Bale Blankets with the mesh inserts that allow for some breathability.

That's right, we went there. We want to be 100% up front so you can make a great decision on your purchase.

The Bale Blankets, while only around 15 pounds, are a little awkward as round bales are tall. It is not difficult to put on, but if you have health or shoulder issues, they may be a bit heavy or difficult to put on and take off.

If you have Bale Blankets on your hay 24/7/365, and live in an extreme climate, especially with severely high or low temperatures and sun, it will break the Bale Blankets down faster than if they're only used sporadically. We can't guarantee a length of time (such as 5 or 10 years) that they will or won't last, but if they break down faster than you think they should, please reach out so we can make it right.

When not on the bales, the Bale Blankets can be awkward to store. While you can certainly just pile them up outside, that will cause exposure to the elements. You can throw them in a shed, but we understand not everyone has extra space like that.

They are not going to be cost-effective if you have dozens of bales to cover. While we'd never stop you from purchasing a hundred Bale Blankets, you may be more cost effective putting that into a different hay storage option.

Shipping is a little expensive. We actually absorb part of the cost of shipping and have spent hours finding the cheapest option to ship these to you in bulk. But unfortunately due to OSHA requirements on package sizes, etc., there is a lot of complication (and therefore, some expense) in both shipping and storage of Bale Blankets, which are considered an oversize/bulky item.

We adore our Bale Blankets, but we also want to make sure you make the right decision for you!

Absolutely! We love to work with both large and small feed, tack, or other stores who want to sell Bale Blankets. We can offer you wholesale discounts and other incentives. Please reach out to us for more information!

Give us a chance to make your experience great! Send us an email at hello@baleblanket.com or go to our Contact Us page and we will be happy to help.