Hay shortages going into winter

Thank goodness for that lol. I've spent a fair amount of time and money this year stocking up for a lean winter. I know this doesn't help the supply/demand issue but assume most people are doing the same x
 
I feel for you @Bobthecob15. I've been in a similar position of restricted storage on one yard. I persuaded a friend to lend me space in her barn and I put 300 or so small bales in there that winter. It was a faff driving to and from her yard to mine, but I was very grateful to have my hay sorted and stashed somewhere secure. Do you have any storage space at home? A dry garage?
 
Surbie said:
I feel for you @Bobthecob15. I've been in a similar position of restricted storage on one yard. I persuaded a friend to lend me space in her barn and I put 300 or so small bales in there that winter. It was a faff driving to and from her yard to mine, but I was very grateful to have my hay sorted and stashed somewhere secure. Do you have any storage space at home? A dry garage?
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Hi, well we have a couple of sheds but very little space, my husband is making space for the haylage bales as they are smaller and less messy! It's going to be a costly winter sadly...but never mind. I think everyone will be struggling in one way or another!
 
My usual supplier had none over summer for is and I think he now has some but a couple years ago he had to buy in = raise the price as he took on more customers. When I first started using him it was previous years hay until end of winter whereas now it is this years hay already.

I plan to keep using him but only get a couple a month but the majority of my hay will come from another local farmer as he has a reasonable supply of hay and he supplied me over summer- he's still using last year's hay.
 
suestowford said:
I was just now in Mole Valley and had a look on the noticeboards by the exit door. Two ads for small bale hay, one at £4 per bale and the other at £3.50. So if you're in North Devon and you want some hay, there is still some about and not too dear either.
There was also an ad for baby guinea pigs...
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And were the piglets more expensive than the hay they’ll be needing? Free bale of hay with each pigling?!
 
Time for Tea said:
Glad you are all sorted. I’m paying £6.35 a bale in the NF, and supplier says will be ok to supply for the winter they think, as they have arranged to source from various places. They are not taking on any new customers though, and are refusing to deliver extra hay to stop stockpiling. We have been able to stop feeding in the field with the autumn growth, so we will see where that gets us. Ponies not fat at all, which of course is good.
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That’s not a bad price! And good to hear they should have enough to last through the winter and that they’re preventing stockpiling. My supplier in the New Forest would only deliver a max of 30 bales, so had to get another 40 so we have our winter supply. Both suppliers said the same about not delivering to new customers. It’s understandable when you want to be able to supply your longstanding/loyal customers, otherwise you risk losing them to other suppliers.
 
Lucky Snowball said:
I’m south Dartmoor and there’s plenty available. Small 4 to 5 pounds collected and large rounds 45 delivered locally.
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yes we are very lucky down here. We also didn't have the double whammy in the summer of no grass so had to feed hay. We only fed hay if we chose to for EMS and the like.

suestowford said:
There was also an ad for baby guinea pigs...
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bit lost here :D are the little piggies an alternative food source or should we be getting rid of our expensive to feed horses and moving onto guinea pigs? How much easier and cheaper life would be :D:D:D
 
Oxford end of the cotswolds and I've seen a ton of huge lorries coming from Wales loaded up with hay and straw. No idea if its usual as its the first year I've been here, but theres an awful lot of fodder heading this way.
 
paddy555 said:
yes we are very lucky down here. We also didn't have the double whammy in the summer of no grass so had to feed hay. We only fed hay if we chose to for EMS and the like.


bit lost here :D are the little piggies an alternative food source or should we be getting rid of our expensive to feed horses and moving onto guinea pigs? How much easier and cheaper life would be :D:D:D
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Maybe not, guinea pigs are very susceptible to all sorts, hence trialling stuff on fragile creatures was originally referred to as ‘Guinea pigging’.
My adult niece is still devoted to hers, but they can rack up a small fortune at the vets!
There’s not much meat on them, either….
 
I do have guinea pigs already but they are very old now. I have kept them for years and they can be very expensive - for their size they eat a lot, and if something goes wrong they're as dear to treat as a dog or a cat. The two I have now have been OK so far but we're on borrowed time with both, so when I see ads like that I take note, in case I need new pigs soon.
Also someone I know is after a puppy, so the noticeboard is a frequent stop (and temptation) for me!
 
Exasperated said:
Maybe not, guinea pigs are very susceptible to all sorts, hence trialling stuff on fragile creatures was originally referred to as ‘Guinea pigging’.
My adult niece is still devoted to hers, but they can rack up a small fortune at the vets!
There’s not much meat on them, either….
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Strangely enough I think pet guinea pigs are excellent preparation for horses, so an older child who wants a pony should get a guinea pig first. They're so similar in their ability to turn forage into insane amounts of poo, really quite labour intensive to keep (and they're equally pretty!). If said child gets fed up with cleaning out the guinea pigs then a pony is a huge no no!
 
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