Hay Tedder waste of money?

[Hamloc]

Looking at my hay and the weather forecast and thinking of buying a hay tedder. I have neighbor who used one this year for the first time and was quite happy with the results. It appears that every so often we can squeak out 4 days without rain. Historically I find it takes 5-6 days for my hay to dry. I cut with a self propelled Massey with disc head with double criimpers, only 13 feet wide, need to shorten the drying interval will a tedder help or is it a waste of time and money?

[burnt]

I had a tedder and traded it for a crimper. Neighbours used the tedder too while I had it.

My neighbors now have a tedder and while purely subjective, I think their system beats mine in the drying process.

Their tedder makes a much fluffier windrow than mine = more air flow = more drying. I would guess that their tedder can gain them at least a couple less points of moisture over my crimper.

And I don't think you can plug a tedder, but ask me about plugging a crimper... grrr.

And I hear you about the tiny drying window - that was our experience for the past number of years.

This year was the opposite. We had an incredible 2 week-plus stretch of weather for making good, dry hay.

It was a bit early, but when the forecast opened up with nothing but suns in the picture, guys went all out and cut almost everything at least one week early. Sacrificing quantity for quality is seldom a bad decision.

A tedder is almost a must anymore, IMHO.

[15444]

Open your windrow shields up and buy a V-rake. Tedders are for guys in the south with over 80% humidity every day and rain every 3rd day.

[Sheepwheat]

Open your windrow shields up and buy a V-rake. Tedders are for guys in the south with over 80% humidity every day and rain every 3rd day.

Tedder it is then! Except for the rain every three days. Up here it is two days between rains.

[WiltonRanch]

I lay my windrow as wide as it can go then v rake it. My biggest problem is the rake isn’t heavy enough to pull it up if it’s laid long and the grass grows through it. I should buy a heavier rake. I like the look of those 20 wheel bridgeviews. Not a high yield hay area so could pull 4 of my 13’ swaths together

[Ab7]

Just lay the swath really wide for more drying surface area.
I would way rather spend the money on a rotary rake than a Tedder.
Imo v rakes are junk

[WiltonRanch]

Just lay the swath really wide for more drying surface area.
I would way rather spend the money on a rotary rake than a Tedder.
Imo v rakes are junk

I agree. Rotary rake is superior to a wheel rake. Price point probably keeps people away. There is purgatory and then there is changing rake teeth. How about those bar rakes like Vermeer?

[blackpowder]

Back in the day, I hired a good, new crimper, and rented their tedder at same time. And then their v take ahead of baler. Not cheap. But wrapped in a couple days.

[Leduc cowboy]

Wgi in spruce groove is suppose to be getting the big 30 ft Pottinger rotary rake in this week... I’m going to drive there just to see it live that will be a sweet unit

[GDR]

Looking at my hay and the weather forecast and thinking of buying a hay tedder. I have neighbor who used one this year for the first time and was quite happy with the results. It appears that every so often we can squeak out 4 days without rain. Historically I find it takes 5-6 days for my hay to dry. I cut with a self propelled Massey with disc head with double criimpers, only 13 feet wide, need to shorten the drying interval will a tedder help or is it a waste of time and money?

I've never used a tedder but its gotta be pretty hard on alfalfa leaves. The guys with double crimpers seem to take at least a day off the drying, most seem to lay it about 8ft wide and then rake up. I have a pull type so leave it as wide as I can without driving on it and depending on conditions v rake 2 togeather or rotary rake individually.

I'm sure you know more about your machine than I do but have you adjusted/checked the roller clearance? 5 to 6 days seems excessive drying time for your machine unless its 100% alfalfa. It also helps drying time to cut a bit higher.