Question for those on DIY who buy in their own hay

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Jingleballs

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Do you bulk buy your hay before winter or just buy it in as you need it.

I am a bit of a worry wart when it comes to hay/bedding and I always worry I'll run out - the stories of possible hay shortages this year are making me even more nervous although I don't think the situation is as bad up North and both our suppliers have hay but I've not had a chance to ask them how things are looking for this winter.

Last year I just bought nets off the Y/O but I'm allowed my own bale now although due to the storage barn roof collapsing under the snow we're limited interms of storage space so can really only have one at a time.

Ideally, I'd like to start buying in a store for winter but I have nowhere to keep it - will most farmers let you reserve bales from them? I'd really like to even have 3 or 4 bales put aside just in case.

How many of you do this vs. just buying them in as you need them?
 
We're really limited in our storage space too, last year wasn't a problem but this year I'm worried about shortages too :(

I think I'm going to speak to our farmer, see if we can pay upfront for a few big bales of hay to 'secure' them (they're £25 each), and he can then drop them off as and when we run out
 
I secure 150 bales and store them on pallets and tapaulin if YO has no room, I dread running out so much ....
 
I have 1 pallet storage space and own 2 so it's not really enough - it's storage space per livery not horse. I either buy about 20 small bales at a time or a large square bale. Farmer's great, he checks with us how long what we order lasts and then calculates how much he needs to keep for us. He supplies 90% of the yard.
 
Thanks all - one of our main suppliers is just a mile down the road and really good at telling you how long he think's his hay will last - going to phone him towards the end of the month and get a couple of big bales put aside if I can.
 
i would call the supplier and ask him to set aside some for you?
ive got a fair bit of storage- i can take about 12 big bales in the barn.......
i normally have at least 4 in at any one time....my 3 horses are on hay all year round due to crappy grazing
 
Last year I was able to pay upfront for 100 bales and pick them up in batches of 20-30 at a time when needed. However, as they are expecting hay to be scarce this winter due to the very dry spell, he can't do that for me again. :( I've bought 50 bales already and have them stacked, going to need to attempt to squeeze another 50 into my storage area when he gets his 2nd cut in Sept. Should just about manage it, but will need to buy more tarpaulin I think!

Sounds like your farmer may be able to work out an arrangement with you, good luck! (I am the same, would majorly panic if I got half way through winter and thought I wouldn't be able to get enough in!)
 
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