If hay in short supply, whats everyone feeding?

Horses are being funny about eating the hay at my livery yard, even my greedy Welsh. It’s worrying for me because he’s ems, Cushings and can’t go out on grass at all so we are very reliant on the hay. All the same supplier, all decent quality but some bales they eat and some they don’t. He’s only got the forage so I’ve ended up buying bagged Timothy haylage, as dry and low calorie as I can find, and mixing it into his soaked hay so he will actually eat it. Expensive business and he’s only 11hh so I feel for everyone with bigger horses!
 
I keep seeing hay for sale on Facebook marketplace, kind of expensive but not hugely, and on preloved, if people are struggling to source and not sure where to look. Weirdly our local builders merchants also sells it. So if anyone is worried sometimes it's worth looking in some odd places before resorting to importing

I'm surprised how much I'm seeing advertised actually but I wonder if people stockpiled then haven't needed it because it's been so mild. But except when it goes below 4°c we soak year round so always keep an eye on what's available and I think the algorithm has figured that out! We are giving a lot of straw though overnight but also using the grass, which is a bit bum-clenchy with Divas history but not sure how to avoid it. Will get more ertuglifozin(sp) if needed
 
Mine have shelters bedded down with lovely straw and they are tucking into that when the hay runs low. They haven’t been over to the gate looking hungry at all so I’m happy in the knowledge they my friendly farmer has plenty straw as back up should hay become more scarce. Lot cheaper too!
 
Price rise has just happened here. Small bales £7 from £5.50, large rounds £55 from £45. Plus warnings that there's availability issues so don't order online.

I ordered enough in before Christmas to do me until end Feb, I wonder if I'll be able to buy at all by then.

My yard has huge supply of haylage which is more like wrapped hay so no one will starve but its a bit rich for my cobs.
 
Jambarissa said:
Price rise has just happened here. Small bales £7 from £5.50, large rounds £55 from £45. Plus warnings that there's availability issues so don't order online.

I ordered enough in before Christmas to do me until end Feb, I wonder if I'll be able to buy at all by then.

My yard has huge supply of haylage which is more like wrapped hay so no one will starve but its a bit rich for my cobs.
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It's £10 for small bales round here now and £90 for rounds. Biggest issue is almost nobody is prepared to deliver big bales as the big yards are collecting large loads with tractor & trailer, so nobody is prepared to drop a small load anymore as it's not worth their time.
 
I'm hoping the mild winter so far has kept the grass growing enough for everyone to mean that there isn't a massive shortage. We've only just started haying and after losing a horse we now have plenty, although it will quickly disappear if we still have to hay all through summer again.
 
poiuytrewq said:
What area are you in roughly? Maybe someone can help/advise with hay for sale near you perhaps? It's expensive but findable here.
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That's my experience in drought (and we are no strangers to drought): expensive but findable. ETA: available rather than findable. We don't have to search, just go to the feed merchants.
 
Lois Lame said:
That's my experience in drought (and we are no strangers to drought): expensive but findable. ETA: available rather than findable. We don't have to search, just go to the feed merchants.
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It’s not available by us if you don’t have a regular supplier and as I understand they are limiting who they sell too, some saying no new customers.
We are getting loads of calls and we only really make enough for me and a friends yard (if that)
Mr P sells straw to wales though and those dealers are bringing bits of hay up to us on the empty load so he has been able to source for some people
who have been stuck.
He makes a bit on it (so he claims) but has to unload, store and deliver bit by bit so probably not really worth doing.
 
I bought a pallet of haylage in November so my lad is on one net of hay which is in my livery, one of haylage which has lasted much longer then I thought. I adjusted his feeds as well so he’s on a grass chaff, Alfa an oil (half a scoop each) and mash. And he gets a full treat ball of fibre nuggets. He had colic surgery in August, so I’ve kept my options open so should we run out of hay he’s already used to the hay replacer options we have available! To be honest I thought I’d be nearly ready to order more haylage by the end of Jan but we aren’t even half way through. I think we have been lucky. It’s been mild till now so the grass is still pretty good as well.
 
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