Table of Contents
- 1 What is the best way to store bales of hay?
- 2 How long can hay bales be stored?
- 3 How do you store straw bales?
- 4 How do you store hay and rabbit food?
- 5 Is it safe to store hay in a garage?
- 6 Can you store hay outside?
- 7 Why is it important to separate cuttings from hay bales?
- 8 Why do farmers cover Hay?
What is the best way to store bales of hay?
Square bales should be stored inside in a place that is not susceptible to roof leaks or storm runoff (that’s why it’s usually stored off the ground in a lofted area). Never stack bales all the way up to the ceiling, as they could make contact with a light, and will block circulation.
How long can hay bales be stored?
Storing Hay You can store hay indefinitely if the stack is managed correctly; although, in humid climates, using hay within three years of harvest is ideal. Hay growers need to bale it at correct moisture levels because if it’s baled too damp the hay will generate heat, which leads to molding.
Is it safe to store hay in a barn?
Indoor Storage Hay is highly flammable, so you don’t want it overhead if your main barn catches fire. It’s also a potential source of fire, putting your barn in jeopardy should it ignite. If you can’t store hay in a separate building, keep only small amounts in the barn at one time.
Where is the best place to store hay?
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.
How do you store straw bales?
If you are unable to cover the bales, arrange the bales so that air can circulate between them to promote drying. Bales can be protected from ground moisture by storing them on a bed of gravel or lifting them off the ground on used tires, poles, or pallets.
How do you store hay and rabbit food?
Store Hay in a dry place Storing hay in a dry place will prevent it from locking in moisture and growing mold on your rabbit food. It will also save your hay from getting wasted. You should store the rabbit hay in a plastic bin or place like a closet that will protect it from moisture and wetness.
Do hay bales go bad?
With too little moisture, hay becomes brittle, loses nutritional value, and is unpalatable for livestock. With too much moisture, hay can spoil while baled hay can experience thermal expansion—causing it to combust and creating a severe hazard.
How long can hay be stored outside?
Bales Stored Outside and Unprotected
| Period | ||
|---|---|---|
| Storage Method | Storage Period Up to 9 months* | 12-18 months |
| Exposed | Storage Period | |
| Ground | Storage Period 5-20 | 15-50 |
| Elevated | Storage Period 3-15 | 12-35 |
Is it safe to store hay in a garage?
Whole hay bales are easy to stack in the corner of a garage, shed, or coop, but once you open it up a hay bale or straw bale, it will be everywhere unless you have a plan. We fortunately have an attached garage that has worked fabulously as a wood shed, rabbit barn, and hay bale storage area.
Can you store hay outside?
Can you store hay bales on the ground?
“Uncovered hay bales stored outside on the ground can result in high hay dry matter (DM) losses that could range from 5-20\%,” Hernandez says. “In most cases, it is recommended to elevate bales using gravel, which can reduce DM losses to 3-15\%.
How much dry matter is in a bale of hay?
According to university studies, dry matter losses in hay bales stored outdoors can reach 50\% or more, depending on bale type, bale quality, storage conditions and length in storage. Even 2 inches of weathered hay on a round bale can represent more than 10\% of the bale’s dry matter.
Why is it important to separate cuttings from hay bales?
Even bales stored indoors suffer some dry matter loss due to humidity and microbial action. So it’s important to separate cuttings and to know which hay is the oldest … and be able to get to it, rather than having it trapped in the back of the barn.
Why do farmers cover Hay?
In hotter, more arid climates, it’s important to cover hay, mainly to protect it from solar radiation and to keep it from getting too dry and brittle. In areas where rain is a concern, producers need to cover the hay to keep the rain from going into the top layer of bales, and, again, causing the moisture content to increase and mold to grow.