BayLove
Well-Known Member
Stupid question but I really can't work it out. Where do you store hay for winter use when you have no storage?
Puzzled - hay storage
- Thread starter BayLove
- Start date
mrussell
Well-Known Member
erm... we built a barn but failing that, and if you cant find a friendly farmer who will store it for you... you need to start looking at buying wrapped hay !!
Meandtheboys
Well-Known Member
Mine are out 24/7 so I electric tape an area off, pallets on the ground, tarpaulin from DIY store and some tyres to weight down the tarpaulin - stops the hay getting ruined ( just make sure you do not stack to closely together so bales can breathe )
Otherwise used wrapped haylage and have it delivered when required.......
Otherwise used wrapped haylage and have it delivered when required.......
Silmarillion
Well-Known Member
We fill our shed, then once that is full we stick some pallets down between the shed and the shelter (gap fits about two or three small bales lengthways), stack them up and cover them in tarpaulin.
When we took hay off our fields back at the place we had a few years ago, we did the same - filled the feed room then stuck LOADS of pallets down round the back of one of the "arms" of the small L-shaped stable block and stacked them all up along the back of the wall. Lots of tarpaulin and rope, and a few hefty old tyres!
It's do-able, but we always find it awkward - we tend to take the stuff from the shed first, then when that runs out we'll move six or so bales from under the tarpaulin in one go, into the shed, then we don't have to deal with it until the next weekend when that lot runs out.
Or, don't feed hay - mine now chokes violently at the merest hint of long stalks, so will be fed soaked hard food this winter... TBH I'd prefer the hay hassle
When we took hay off our fields back at the place we had a few years ago, we did the same - filled the feed room then stuck LOADS of pallets down round the back of one of the "arms" of the small L-shaped stable block and stacked them all up along the back of the wall. Lots of tarpaulin and rope, and a few hefty old tyres!
It's do-able, but we always find it awkward - we tend to take the stuff from the shed first, then when that runs out we'll move six or so bales from under the tarpaulin in one go, into the shed, then we don't have to deal with it until the next weekend when that lot runs out.
Or, don't feed hay - mine now chokes violently at the merest hint of long stalks, so will be fed soaked hard food this winter... TBH I'd prefer the hay hassle
BayLove
Well-Known Member
Ooh looks like I might have to get creative! Thanks guys.
Mike007
Well-Known Member
Under no circumstances put a tarp directly over new hay. The water lost by the hay condenses on the tarp and drips back down causing the hay to rot producing more water that drips back down.............. A sacreaficial layer of straw is of great use. Always stack the bottom layer on "edge" and on pallets . remember ,air needs to circulate.