Hay

[HiPo'sHuman]

Jesus, local feed store is charging £50 for a 5ft round bale

I'm so stressed about hay this winter, I don't have anywhere to store...it's not even the price so much as the availability! Think I'm going to get a few bales of haylage in for emergency usage.

Has anyone tried a hay bale cover, are they much use? Read a few reviews about them not being water tight.

 

[DirectorFury]

I've used this type https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Round-ba...760053?hash=item23a6d3e575:g:ueEAAOSwC7Ba54YQ and it was perfectly water tight.
If you put the bale on a tarp on a pallet then bungee the tarp around the bale as far up as it will go, then put the cover over, it'll stay dry .
So it goes
-> Bale cover
-> Tarp + bungees around bale from bottom to middleish
-> Bale
-> Bottom of tarp
-> Pallet

 

[HiPo'sHuman]

I've used this type https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Round-ba...760053?hash=item23a6d3e575:g:ueEAAOSwC7Ba54YQ and it was perfectly water tight.
If you put the bale on a tarp on a pallet then bungee the tarp around the bale as far up as it will go, then put the cover over, it'll stay dry .
So it goes
-> Bale cover
-> Tarp + bungees around bale from bottom to middleish
-> Bale
-> Bottom of tarp
-> Pallet

Ah fab, thanks for the link! I'll place an order. Really need to source a different supplier, it's been a while since I've bought round bales myself but £50?!?! It's only going to keep on increasing as stock dwindles

 

[Northern]

If it makes you feel better, hay here has just gone up to 228 pounds for a big square bale

Seems to be a shortage all around this year. I second the tarp and pallet idea, will keep it nice and dry

 

[DirectorFury]

I think large rounds are just over £50 with us now, gawd knows what price they'll be by the end of winter . I'm on full livery and YO makes their own which is a blessing! I think they've just about got enough for this winter but I'm getting ready for a price increase if they run out.

 

[gingerfan]

We used to buy years supply of hay and straw off field in summer and stored outside with a pallet base and strong tarp cover.

 

[Gift Horse]

If it makes you feel better, hay here has just gone up to 228 pounds for a big square bale
Seems to be a shortage all around this year. I second the tarp and pallet idea, will keep it nice and dry

Crikey. Where are you based Northern?

 

[tankgirl1]

I have used a pallet, a big tarp and bungee ropes before now to keep an unwrapped 6ft hay round outside, It worked great

 

[Northern]

Crikey. Where are you based Northern?

Australia, the drought is now so widespread hay is being shipped in from over 1000km and several states away. Makes you feel sorry for the stations with 50k+ sheep to feed
I understand Europe has had a dry summer as well, hopefully not a sign of things to come!

 

[Gift Horse]

Australia, the drought is now so widespread hay is being shipped in from over 1000km and several states away. Makes you feel sorry for the stations with 50k+ sheep to feed
I understand Europe has had a dry summer as well, hopefully not a sign of things to come!

I really hope you get rain soon and the situation improves.

 

[angrybird1]

I must be lucky as big round bales are 25 at mo here.

 

[meleeka]

It’s usually more expensive here but ours has just gone up to £35 which isn’t too bad. I’m confident my supplier will be able to supply all winter even if they have to buy it in towards the end.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I am being charged £50 a large round at my yard...and the farmers here have had second cuts for haylage so I might have to swop to that for the winter.

 

[Northern]

I really hope you get rain soon and the situation improves.

Thank you! Hoping against hope the rains come but the outlook is pretty dire, nothing is growing. They're resorting to feeding stock potatoes and "imperfect" fruit and vegetable waste that would otherwise be thrown out.

I really hope your stocks improve before winter, snow and no hay sounds just as terrifying