Wanting to build 2 old style hay rack for feeding baled alfalfa for axles, planning on putting 1/2 plastic drum on bottom to catch hay and bars on 4" on center to keep from pulling it all out at a time.
Has any one tried this? They will be in pens 40 x 40 or larger with spinner feeder.

Get two wooden pallets and set a 3'x4'x8' or a 4''x4'x8' bale on top of them. Don't cut al the strings. The axis will find it. Problem solved. That barrel method is fine if you just want one or two axis around. Whitetail will eat the alfalfa as well. The pallets will kee the hay out of the mud if your worried about rain but you don't really even need them if you have rocky terrain.

Thanks Curtis, only problem is don't have access to handle that large a bale. Sounds good though

What county?
Maybe try contacting some whitetail or exotics ranches in your area you can work something out. A lot of ranches order alfalfa by the truck-load and you can probably get one from them. Local feed stores can get you the bales you need. If you want to use standard hay bales just set them on pallets.