new hay

[mischa]

Ive just brought in 200 bales of hay that was cut and baled last week it smells lovely the only prob is that is still heating inside the bales does anybody know how long this lasts i wont be feeding it until the winter i don t usually buy in bulk but everyone was saying you must this year as its going to be in short supply wot do you think

 

[dozzie]

I posted the same a few weeks ago and some people feed straight away but others leave 6 to 8 weeks. But no-one seemed to know why at the time! Other than the possible richness which is apparently lessened with later cut hay. I tried feeding mine to my mare but she had an allergic reaction (uticaria/protein bumps) which I have since found out can be caused by new hay so left it a few more weeks and now she's fine. I think if you can leave it a bit, its probably best.

Whenever you introduce it though do it slowly.

 

[Tia]

It really shouldn't be still heating if it was baled last week. Sounds like it might have been baled too soon.

Hay, for most horses (not Dozzie's - darned allergic animal LOL!!), can be fed as soon as it has been baled, providing it has been cut, baled and stored with care. The nutritional values are very high with good quality new hay though so you need to bear that in mind and when you make the changeover you need to do it gradually and mix it with your old hay.

I don't feed new hay until it has rested in my barns for about 4 weeks - personal choice.

 

[dozzie]

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not Dozzie's - darned allergic animal LOL!

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Tia!!!!!How dare you call her "darned". Anyone would think you were from Canada or something! LOL!

I like to think of her as "mummy's sensitive little poppet"!!!

OP- Tia's right, my horse is bloody "allergic" to everything!!! Even stainless steel bit rings!

By allergic I mean she comes up in bumps and goes bald! She doesnt have anaphylactic attacks! Yet!!!!