How Do You Store Horse Hay Outside?

If hay must be stored outside, prepare a pad of gravel several inches thick and raised slightly above ground level. Cover the bales loosely, but allow for some air circulation. Stacking the bottom layer of bales, and then every second layer, with the cut ends up and the twine or wire on the sides will encourage drying.

Can hay be left outside?

If hay is to be stored outside, it is desirable to locate the storage site close to the feeding area because bales become more difficult to handle as they weather. It is easier to move them a greater distance when they are new and tightly wrapped. Well-drained upland storage sites are best.

What is the best place to store hay safely?

The best storage for hay–especially the small round and square bales produced on a small-farm operation–is in a barn or shed. The barn should be free of leaks and well ventilated. Air circulation is important since, oftentimes, freshly baled hay contains moisture which will still need to escape after stacking.

How long does hay last outside?

Hay stored undercover can maintain its quality for more than 12 months, but hay stored outdoors without cover will show significant reductions in quality, dry matter and nutrients over time. Hay can typically be stored outdoors and uncovered for up to three months, with a maximum of six months.

Where is the best place to store hay?

Storing hay
Your hay does best in the dark, where sun can’t damage it. It also does best in dry places, with lots of ventilation. That means basements are not a good place to store hay – they are dark, but typically the air flow is next to nothing. And dampness is usually a problem down there in the cellar.

Is hay ruined if it gets rained on?

Rainfall reduces dry matter yield
Wisconsin researchers found that: 1 inch of rain on alfalfa after 1 day of drying caused 22 percent dry matter loss. Similar hay dried without rain damage lost only 6.3 percent of the starting yield. 1.6 inches of rain on alfalfa over a few days caused 44 percent dry matter loss.

Can hay be stored under a tarp?

Bales can be protected even further by covering them with a plastic tarp. This choice is more economical when bales can be stacked several layers high. Uncovered bales should not be stacked, however, as this prevents water from running away from them and keeps them from drying out.

How do you store hay if you don’t have a barn?

If you don’t have a barn, store hay on wooden pallets and cover them with a tarp. Keep hay covered – Storing your hay in a covered place protects your hay supply from rain. Keep feed hay dry outside during feeding – Don’t just plan to keep hay dry while in the hay storage area, but during feeding too.

How do you store loose hay without a barn?

Without a barn, you can adapt a large storage shed or cargo container. If you have to store hay outdoors, protect stacked hay with secured tarps or a plastic covering. Raise hay off bare ground using wood pallets or tires, or by building a pad of rocks or gravel.

Should hay be stored off the ground?

It’s also important to keep bales directly off the ground, so they don’t wick moisture, and selecting an open area away from trees for stacking bales; this will help drying following wet periods. Arrange bales in a single layer with 3-4 ft. of space between rows to help improve air circulation around the bales.

Is hay any good if it gets rained on?

Hay that has been cut and then rained on can lose quality in four ways. These include: 1) leaching of soluble carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, 2) increased and prolonged plant respiration, 3) leaf shattering, and 4) microbial breakdown of plant tissue.

Can rained on hay be saved?

So, what do you do if your cut hay is rained on? First you need to determine if the crop is salvageable. If the rain event was short-lived and occurred early in the drying process, it may be. If so, tedding it or at least using a rake to flip it for better drying is the first step to take.

How do you store hay so it doesn’t mold?

Use Plastic Hay Crates
You can stack the crates to keep them organized and to prevent your hay from getting wet. If you decide to use these crates, you should continue to cover the hay with a plastic covering or canvas tarp to have the added protection against moisture and mold.

Can you keep hay outside in the winter?

Being that indoor storage is usually not an option for most, top covers rate well for promoting high-quality winter hay storage. Many farmers choose to keep their round bales outside and open to the elements. The main issue with this is that exposure to the elements can reduce the hay’s digestibility.

How do you store hay or straw outside?

Keep Hay Protected
This can be done by using appropriate cover and also making sure the hay is sufficiently protected from ground moisture. This can be done by placing the hay on a bed of gravel, using old tyres or using pallets. It is important that a waterproof layer is used when storing outside.

How do you store hay without a shed?

If you’re only going to be storing a small amount of hay for a short period of time then a tarp will suffice in keeping your hay protected from the elements. Tarps are generally cheaper than hay sheds too so can be more cost-effective for farmers that only require a short-term storage solution.

What do you do with hay after it rains?

If the hay was almost dry when it rained, he says to use a hay preservative and bale it a little on the wet side. However, if hay bales are too wet, mold can grow and give off heat, creating a fire hazard. You can reduce this risk by not stacking the bales.

At what temperature does hay mold?

“Hay bale temperatures of 120°F to 130°F will likely result in mold growth and will make the protein in the hay less available to animals,” Hartschuh says. While these temperatures will not cause fires, continued mold growth can raise temperatures to dangerous levels.

Does hay get moldy when wet?

Rain and poor drying weather has caused some hay to be baled wetter than desired. With high humidity, normal drying in storage may not occur and hay can retain elevated levels of moisture allowing mold growth. Mold and bacteria will grow on hay (without preservative added) at moisture levels above 14% to 15%.

How do you keep hay from rotting?

Use plastic wrap, net wrap or plastic twine. Research shows that net-wrapped bales reduce grass hay dry matter losses by 32 percent compared to twine bales when stored outside. Use a good plastic covering (i.e., a tarp) when storing outdoors, which can cut storage losses in half.

Why do farmers cover hay with plastic?

Increased Leaf Retention
Potentially because enwrapping hay bales maintains more of the original structure, using plastic wrap can retain the leaves in your bale. The greater the number of leaves, the more nutrients the hay contains and the more easily digestible it is.