Combined hay carrier and feeder

Apparatus for loading and transporting a large mass of hay and for feeding animals from said hay mass, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame open at the bottom and having a greater size than said hay mass;
• a ground engaging wheel assembly supporting said frame above the ground;
• means adapted to couple said frame to a vehicle for towing thereby;
• a plurality of panels supported on said frame, said panels including a plurality of bars spaced apart to permit the heads of animals to fit therebetween;
• a gate supported on said frame and cooperating with said panels to define an enclosure for confining said hay mass, said gate being selectively movable to present an opening in said enclosure of a size to receive said hay mass;
• a lift supported for pivotal movement on said frame and located within said enclosure at a position to supportively receive said hay mass, said lift being pivotal upwardly to raise said hay mass from the ground and support said hay mass above the ground for transport, one of said panels being connected to said lift and supported for pivotal movement therewith to assist in supporting said hay mass above the ground;
• and
• power means for moving said lift to raise said hay mass from the ground to an elevated position and to lower same to the ground from the elevated position.