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Row blocks horse7/31/2023 You always want to feed the old hay first so it doesn't go bad. It's more work, but it will save you money. When you get a new hay shipment in, make sure that you stack it so that you can still easily access the old hay. Be sure to check on your hay frequently to make sure wind or animals don't disturb the tarp. A carport will work, or you can use plastic sheeting or tarps to protect against sun and moisture. If you have no choice but to store your hay outside, find a way to keep it covered. Even a little bit of water can be disastrous for hay storage. Before you bring it in, check the ground for dark areas that suggest new roof leaks. Both of these factors can damage hay and leave it unusable. Keep Hay ProtectedĪlways try to store hay in a building where it will be protected from both sun and moisture. If you find mold, evaluate the conditions to try and prevent it from happening again. Proper hay storage will help prevent mold, but it still happens. Always be on the lookout for mold in your hay. It can cause colic and other complications due to toxins called mycotoxins. Moldy hay can be composted or used in gardening, but it shouldn’t stay in your barn.Īccidentally feeding a horse moldy hay can have serious consequences. It's important to get rid of them entirely. If you find moldy bales, don’t just set them aside. If you come across bales which are unusually heavy, they may be moldy in the center. This allows you to safely climb the stack if you need to, and there's less risk of the stack collapsing. With each level, you should stack fewer bales and arrange them so no bale is hanging over the edge.Įssentially, you want to create a pyramid-type figure so that the stack is stable. When stacking, the bottom layers should always be wider than the top. In order to keep yourself and others safe when working with stacked hay, it's important to follow a simple rule. It's easy for bales to fall or for the entire stack to tumble. Hay stacks become dangerous when they're too tall and poorly arranged. If you need multiple lines, keep each row at least three feet apart. If you're stacking large round bales, the best practice is to line them up end to end as close as possible. This pattern ties the entire stack together while keeping things neat and allowing for ventilation. Continue alternating how you stack each layer so that air can better circulate throughout the pile. When you stack the next layer on top, make sure the string side faces up. Leave a few inches of space between each bale to prevent them from packing too tightly. Stack the first layer so that the long ends of the bales face up. When you stack hay, alternate the orientation of the bales. It's always best to use pallets regardless of the season or the type of flooring. Concrete flooring sweats during the spring and fall, and that moisture will end up in your bales. By using pallets, you allow ventilation beneath the hay and prevent excess moisture.ĭon't be fooled into thinking you can store hay safely as long as it's on a concrete floor. Moisture will seep up from the damp ground and ruin the entire bale. Doing this restricts air from circulating beneath the hay. Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground. This way you protect your barn, your horses, and your hay supply. To make your life easier, you can bring a few bales into the barn every couple of days as needed. The building shouldn't leak and should have decent ventilation. It’s far safer to store your hay in a separate building away from your barn. When that happens, fire will spread from the hayloft to the rest of the barn. Hay is highly flammable, and if a bale of hay molds internally, it can build up enough heat to self combust. The truth is, however, haylofts are a dangerous practice. It’s been a longstanding tradition to store hay in the hayloft above horse barns. The way that you store your hay can also affect its nutritional value, safety for your horse, and the overall safety for your barn.Īre you storing your hay properly? Check out these seven rules for proper hay storage to find out. But if we care about our hay so much, why does it often go to waste? It's all too common for horse owners to lose entire bales due to hay storage mistakes. We research the best suppliers and panic when our stockpile runs too low. As the diet of choice for most horses, hay is a valuable commodity among horse owners.
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