Hay made in June, getting a bit warm. WWYD.

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pennyturner

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I had to buy some hay in a hurry recently. It's this year's, baled in June - goodness only knows how he managed it in between the torrential downpours.

It's not as dry as it should be, and is getting warm in between the bales - about 40 degrees after a week. My plan is to turn the bales over, and stack with some pallets or 3x3's between to give an air space between each bale.

Should this be enough? I really, really don't want a barn fire!!
 
"It's this year's, baled in June - goodness only knows how he managed it in between the torrential downpours."

That's probably why it's getting warm at the moment. All you can do is separate the bales & let air get round them to cool off. Also open a bale you intend to use well before you intend to use it so it will cool off. Really as it was bailed in June it should rest for at least 6 weeks before using it.
 
How many bales and are they small conventional bales?

As above, get as much ventilation into them as possible. Your biggest problem is likely to be mould and in that case the damage has already been done. Mould is partiularly harmful to horses. Try and get a sample from inside the bales or open a bale up. The smell will give you an indication.

Hay in the USA is not much different to hay in the UK so this site may help:

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq9923
 
Our hay at work last year was a bit hot in the stack shortly after being baled and put in the barn so I called my cousin who baled it, he borrow a thermometer with a large rod like probe which you can actually push into the centre of an individual bale to test the temp in the middle of each one, they were warm but not hot enough to be a risk no idea at what temperature the risk starts, if they had been too hot he would have removed them from the barn and opened, respread and turned again as the weather had turned dry.
 
It's only 20 small bales. I have been opening a bale and netting up several nets which then last him a few days, so it's cool by the time that he gets it... not that he would mind, the little piggy.

My husband has offered the use of his meat thermometer, so I can read an exact temperature inside a bale if necessary. Hopefully if I separate the stack that should be enough.
No idea what temperature constitutes 'dangerous' - will be keeping a close eye on it.
 
its only a few bales. separate , place outside on pallets, cover with tarp if its going to rain.
 
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