Hay tedder question

Nancy Howell · Jul 15, 2008

What does a tedder do? I want something that will turn the hay so what's on the underside will cure. Is that what a tedder does? Also, what would be a reasonable price for one in good condition?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2008

Nancy,

A tedder is sometimes called a "fluffer". That's just what it does. It picks the hay up off the ground, flings it through the air, and lets it land back on the ground. In effect, the hay has been "fluffed-up".

I bought a used Tonutti, two basket tedder a couple of years ago for $750.00. It works very well. It helps shorten the drying time of mown hay and it is especially helpful to fluff it up if it has been rained on.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

RobMD · Jul 15, 2008

yep, a tedder scatters densely packed hay. You can adjust a tedder for the throw and the agitation as well as turnover frequency. The faster the pto runs, the more scattered it gets.

Then you would let it dry a few days or so, and then rake and immediately bale it.

TJH72 · Jul 15, 2008

I was always told the tedder spreads out the hay and also helps scrap some of the "wax" off the stems to help aid in drying. I held out of a couple of years and did not get one. When I finally did buy one the dealership told me it would be the best piece of hay making equipment that I would own. They were right.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2008

Oh man, you don't know what a tedder is!

Check out this video. I got one two years ago and don't know how I lived with out it. On average, it's reduced drying time by about a day. Basically it gets the hay off the ground so air can move through it.
Tedder

Mike in Ohio · Jul 15, 2008

That sounds like what we used to do with a side rake in reverse. Grandpa always called that "kicking it up".

Mike in Ohio · Jul 15, 2008

That sounds like what we used to do with a side rake in reverse. Grandpa always called that "kicking it up".

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2008

If you mow hay with a mower-conditioner, make sure the windrower shields are set all the way wide so it lays the hay out thinly instead of bunched up. I'm pretty sure you use a sickle mower, so never mind . : )

Allan in NE · Jul 16, 2008

Thought you already had a hay rake?

Allan

patiolant · Jul 16, 2008

I have never seen a tedder used in our area, and dealers don't have them on their lots. Can you use a tedder on alafalfa? It looks like it would beat the heck out of it and knock all the leaves off of any that had started to dry.

Jim H. SW-PA · Jul 16, 2008

The tedders I recollect was a machine that was either pulled by horses and converted to be pulled by a tractor.

They had, I think 6 legs on the back that resembled knees that a ground driven gearbox made them kick backwards like a horse kicking, These legs had like a two pronged fork on each leg.
These were not used much after the roller style hay conditioner was introduced.

Thanks Nancy for the memory.

I hope someone can post a pic of one of these machines. Would be even nicer if it was in action so you could see the mechanics involved, and the technology they had back then.

Leroy · Jul 16, 2008

Tedders do not turn the hay over, just lift and fluff it. They were first made in the late 1800's out of wood and in various configurations up untill the implement makers decided they were not needed any more. John Deere quit making the hay kicker (early tedder) in the 30's and untill the hay fluffer of the 60's did not make a tedder, IHC quit in about 1948 and New Idea quit in about 1955 till some short line finnally decided that there was a market for them again as all the old ones were getting wore out. We bought always had a rake-tedder combination when we made hay. Around 1950 Grandpa traded in a heavy wore New Idea 3 bar rake-tedder on a new 594 John Deere rake only, couple of years later hay got rained on and could not get it to dry by rolling only, Dealer had a New Idea No. 4 rake-tedder on the lot and traded on it and finally got the hay up. had that New Idea as long as we made hay.

Pair-a-dice farms · Jul 16, 2008

They work real well with grass hay, like bermuda or fecue. On leafy hay they tend to knock off the leaves. I bought one a few years ago and it does make baleing about a day quicker. The last 3 years it's been so dry that I haven't needed it.

Nancy Howell · Jul 16, 2008

We have a JD 640 rake that is basically new after James completely refurbished it including a new gear box. I'm not looking for something to rake it into a row, I want something that will turn or fluff it so the hay underneath cures before the hay on top gets over cured.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2008

I think what you are looking for is a "windrow inverter" ,New Holland makes one or two different models. They take a windrow and turn it exactly upside down and will let the bottom side dry with out too much leaf lose.I have borrowed a neighbors and it works well if the hay is already windrowed and it gets rained on .The down side is they are kinda pricey and its difficult to find a used one that isn't junk.

Ken 46 · Jul 16, 2008

Nancy- I am so glad you asked that question.
I thought I knew a lot about putting up alfalfa as my brother and I had a custom hay operation for about 8 years.
We had swather, 2 self propelled NH balers, a stack wagon and a stack retreiver. Our customers were the feedyards in SW Kansas
Once in a while we would rent or borrow a rake. But NEVER used a tedder!!! Did not know what a tedder was, or what it looked like.
I felt kind of silly with everyone talking about a tedder and I did not have a clue.

thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hotflashjr · Jul 16, 2008

Here in New England not many people do hay without a tedder anymore. Ya know what they say, if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes. Helps a lot of people after rain and to lessen dry down time. About a day shorter time sounds right to me. Even with this 90 degree all sun weather this week I still see the tedders out.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2008

Saw this the other day, pretty typical from what I've seen in New England.

Tedding begins 1:20 into the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v YHCJiyIdDYw

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2008

We tedded....by flipping the windrow over with the end of the bar rake. Way cheaper that buying an expensive machine and Dad wouldda complained about a tedder knocking all the good stuff off the stems. With a little practice you can get a really stiff neck.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 16, 2008

I have to admit that the skill of the guy running that tedder left a lot to be desired. I run mine at a lower rpm with a faster ground speed. Typically, I ted about 24 hours after I cut so the stems are still able to take the abuse without loosing leaves.

Loren in MN · Jul 16, 2008

The horse drawn tedders have 6 or 8 two pronged forks and operate off a crankshaft turned by a chain from the axle. I had 13 of these at one time -before I started selling my collection of horse machinery. I still have 5 tedders, just sold 3 last month. They went to Austin, MN.
There is a picture posted at the left in the Implement Photos. Do a search for "tedder" or "Loren" and you should find pictures of some of my collection or photos I've posted.

Loren in MN · Jul 16, 2008

I still use a New Idea #4? (on rubber) to rake and as a tedder. Wouldn't be without it. I also have several older side delivery rakes that will reverse to use as a tedder.

Leroy · Jul 16, 2008

If it is 15 or 16" rubber it is not a No. 4. The No. 4 would have 4 x 36" rubber

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