when to use Tedder

indianabuckman · Jun 12, 2022

I bought a JD 752 Tedder today and I was wondering when do you Tedder mix grass hay, 3 or 4 hours after you cut it or do you wait until the next day? I have never use one before.

Thanks,

300jk · Jun 12, 2022

We ted right after cutting. If someone else is cutting and Im tedding ( which doesnt happen often) I let them get a head start and ted right behind them. Cut and fluff. All in the same day.

SHALER · Jun 12, 2022

Many in my area of ohio will mow in the afternoon and then ted after the dew burns off the next morning.

DeltaRed · Jun 12, 2022

I chase the swather with the tedder.

mudcreek183 · Jun 12, 2022

Right after I cut I will run over it .

JayinNY · Jun 12, 2022

X2

Moonlite37 · Jun 12, 2022

I tried to start while the dew was on in the morning. The purpose was to shake the dew off the leaves. I have seen some people tad just ahead of the baler. I consider this a waste of time. It seems like as the hay is cut with a mower conditioner the hay is in a drying condition and does not need to be disturbed. I did not always ted if conditions looked right

MJMJ · Jun 12, 2022

Theres no one answer. It depends on the crop and environment. Like mentioned, here in Ohio with mixed grass its the next day.

Destroked 450 · Jun 12, 2022

For me it depends on the mower, if it windrows the hay I like to scatter it out as soon as possible, my 9 ft Kuhn leaves a 7 ft swath so I let the hay wilt down over night and ted the next morning
Farther tedding depends on weather conditions and hay thickness, either way farther tedding is done at low rpm to just stir and fluff the hay fore better drying and minimum leaf loose

tom upton · Jun 12, 2022

Personaly I believe the best hay is baled without touching it with a tedder or rake,but the weather sometimes doesnt cooperate. I ted if it gets rained on,or when its just not drying on the bottom side after a couple days. I would think the method of cutting would be a huge factor as well. I cut with an old 479 NH that makes a nice relatively fluffy windrow even in heavy hay,as long as you dont drive too fast and have rolls/deflectors set right. I baled the attached windrows on the third day drying in really good weather a couple years ago without touching it.

This being said everyone has there own way of doing things and at the end of the day whos to say which way is right or wrong?

JayinNY · Jun 12, 2022

I Agree, here in the northeast if were lucky to string together three good days thats a blessing, my hay all goes from Mulch now, so I dont care how much I ted it, or if the weather is dry long enough, I dont even Ted it just rake it and bale it, things were different when I had the horses.

caterpillar guy · Jun 13, 2022

I lay it out flat in a swath then in good conditions rake the next day and bale it. I've never had a tedder to use. I think one might be a good thing for late season hay where you don't get the sun and heat till late in the morning and cools off early in the day . I think one would benefit from use then. during the heat of the summer June July I don't see much advantage of one then. There are some around here that use one. If chopping hay you will pick up small stones if raked or other disturbance of the hay. We raked some one time and the knives were all chipped a wee bit from that. We never raked hay for chopping again. I say small stones I mean with the knives ticking the ledger it would not take much of a stone to chip them. Just a wee pebble.

showcrop · Jun 13, 2022

It depends a lot on your ground. Here in the northeast we almost always mow into a narrow swath, so that the ground can get some sun on it and dry out. It is hard to dry hay on wet ground. We usually ted the swaths out after 3-6 hours of good drying time, when the top is well wilted. It is not possible to shake moisture off from leaves. All you will do is move it to other leaves. The moisture in the ground is a huge factor and it varies a huge amount from one part of the country to another.

Traditional Farmer · Jun 13, 2022

I've been making hay over 60 years never used a tedder.

macec3 · Jun 13, 2022

If the hay is thick, I tedder it the next day.

showcrop · Jun 13, 2022

(quoted from post at 05:06:59 06/13/22) If the hay is thick, I tedder it the next day.

I mow with my mower, then ted with my tedder, then bale with my baler.

Texasmark · Jun 13, 2022

I tedd immediately following cutting. Have proven to myself time and time again, that is the fastest drying you can get and on really wet hay and short drying window, will do it as many times as it takes, twice a day at least. I just bought a new tedder this year to replace the one I wore out. I got a Tar River drag type, dual basket, 10', and really like it. Has a hand crank for setting the depth. 7 turns down to ted, and 7 back up to transport. Moves around/connects easily by hand.

Bill VA · Jun 13, 2022

Typically I mow one evening, let it lay a full day, ted the next evening, let it lay a full day, ted the next day, rake and bale. Dry hay, good color. Also cut with a 4-5 inch stubble to assist drying and grass recovery. No legumes here, only grass hay.

Good luck!
Bill

MARK ROBKE · Jun 13, 2022

I live in northern KY, and most around here will ted the next day after mowing. Most of our mowing is done by disc mower. The top side of the hay will be dry and the bottom still green/wet. The tedder will basically 'flip' the hay and now the green will be on top. Our hay usually is too thick to dry well without tedding. Rake and bale the next day or 2 after that. Maybe tedding again if needed, but not usually. Mark.

Destroked 450 · Jun 13, 2022

(quoted from post at 10:36:34 06/13/22) I tedd immediately following cutting. Have proven to myself time and time again, that is the fastest drying you can get and on really wet hay and short drying window, will do it as many times as it takes, twice a day at least. I just bought a new tedder this year to replace the one I wore out. I got a Tar River drag type, dual basket, 10', and really like it. Has a hand crank for setting the depth. 7 turns down to ted, and 7 back up to transport. Moves around/connects easily by hand.

If you ever get a folding 4 basket tedder you'll love it, ted 2 mower swaths at a time and get done in half the time, with less running over the ground and less fuel.

Purchased this 4 basket Sitrex in the 90's, next one will have hydraulic fold plus hydraulic tilt

MARK ROBKE · Jun 13, 2022

A tedder is a machine that pays for itself, in the quality of your hay. Mark.

495man · Jun 14, 2022

Ted right after it's cut, breaks the swath up an lifts it.

Will ted a second time if poor drying conditions, 2nd or 3rd time if it gets wet.

when to use Tedder

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