how long do hay bales last outside

This problem is more common in the colder, northern climates, where barns may be closed up in the winter without proper ventilation. If pos- sible, elevate bales by stacking on old tires, shipping pallets or railroad ties. How To Store Hay To Make It Last - Hobby Farms Step 1: Cover the area you are going to place your hay on with wooden pallets. Before you start loading up the garage, it is important to take a few simple steps to protect your decorations. Densely packed bales are also more stable when stacked. To harvest quality dry hay, you need several consecutive days of favorable weather. When does baled hay begin to spoil? - Ask Extension Use strong, sturdy tarps free of holes or rips. Most feed companies stamp the manufacture date on the bags seam. Dry hay will absorb moisture from high humidity air; Webcast | Degenerative Joint Disease in Horses and Adequan i.m. With the free weekly EQUUS newsletter, youll get the latest horse health information delivered right to your in basket! By Jennifer Noonan | Updated Apr 9, 2021 5:05 PM. For safety, be sure to use large bales and secure them to each other and the ground using sturdy stakes. Why is beta-carotene essential for horses? He's currently building up his own miniature homestead in Central Utah with his wife and six kids. Part 1 Cutting and Raking 1 Check your machinery approximately one month before you plan to start haying. A net-wrapped bale with a hard core will last longer than other types, said Yaremcio. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); What does it mean if you have really wide feet. Cut your hay when the leaves have developed fully but before the seed heads have fully grown. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Bailing Twine Basics - Coastal Country Hay is a generic term for grass or legume plants that have been cut, dried and stored for use as animal feed, particularly for grazing species, such as cattle, equines, llamas, alpacas,goats and sheep. When you harvest quality hay, its dollar-wise to preserve it so it lasts. square bales are stored at greater than about 20 % moisture, heating goes Keep the base dry. In general, hay has a higher nutrient content than straw and is often used for livestock feed. The compost should be spread throughout the bale, and fertilizer should be sprinkled on top. Do you buy your horse feed and/or hay in bulk? If you have a large bale of hay, it can be used as a fun outdoor activity like a bale maze or hay climb think of it like a big outdoor jungle gym! As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Do you want to know how long is hay good for? All of these items could be subject to damage, spoilage, theft, or being ruined in some other way. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Then cover the wooden pallets with a basic blue poly tarp that extends at least 3 feet beyond the perimeter of your hay stack, on every side (you'll need this extra length in Step 3). Day 1 - water the bale and make sure it stays wet. Jennifer Noonan, plant an entire garden within straw bales, 13 DIY Projects You Can Do with Supplies You Already Have, 10 Fun Ways to Turn Your Backyard into a Water Park, Divide and Conquer: 10 Room Dividers to Bring Order to Your Space, 50 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do, 14 Long-Forgotten House Trends We're Glad Are Gone, 15 Photos That Prove You Need a Breakfast Nook. "Beyond that, it's not much . Straw is also sometimes used to mulch gardens, bale gardens, and create erosion control barriers. Fall Decorating With Hay Bales - ArtPoint Hay Bale Wreath A hay Bale wreath is a simple, but elegant, way to decorate your front door for fall. should only reach about 110 to 120F in storage and this is considered normal Shake the container for one minute and if the salt remains dry, it is ready to bale. To make sure that the hay you bought lasts you a long while, you need to ensure proper storage conditions. Other common colors associated with Christmas season include white, gold, and silver. After about two weeks, the bales should be ready for compost and fertilizer to be added. Proof that you dont have to live on a country road to decorate with hay bales, this urban container garden was made by flipping a small round straw bale on its side and hollowing out enough space in the center to hold a bunch of colorful flowers. Top Common Mistakes We Make With Our Trampoline. In general, bales can cost as low as $5 at local hardware stores and the price goes up from there. Hay stacked on bare ground or concrete wicks moisture up through the bottom tiers, ruining the hay. and shipped to a region where humidity is more consistently high ( Florida, Additionally, you should check in on them periodically to inspect for any signs of mold, rot, or insects. In any case, bales should be used by the end of the second year if possible. It is known to cause farmers lung, a condition in which farmers inhale fungus, which then grows in the lungs. And if you store bales next to each other, there should be at least 24 inches between them. Your stored hay might develop mold, especially if you live in a colder climate where you close your barn in the winter season. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_3',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0');Hay bales used for decoration can last for quite a while, depending on the quality of the hay and how it is stored. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. Horse Hay and Feed Storage: How Long is Too Long? 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. Not only are there concerns about the grain components of commercial feeds, but most vitamins and some minerals added feeds lose efficacy after about three months. And leave a little bit of space between each hay bale. Dry hay has to probably be below about 15% moisture -- going For example, whole oats are good for 12 months if stored correctly. If the hay looks to be deteriorating or developing any of these issues, the bales should be disposed of safely and replaced to ensure proper aesthetics. Dec 6, 2018 (Edited) Wow. For a scientific approach, purchase an electronic moisture tester at your local farm supply store or from a catalog. Why store the food outside Keep the hay away from trucks, machinery, or any type of heat source and fire accelerants, like gasoline, kerosene, oil and aerosol cans. A tedder and rake is often the same piece of equipment. You can simply store their food, in this case hay bales, outside. Arrange a few hay bales in the center of your dining table and add a few pumpkins and gourds for a festive fall look. Buying Round Bales of Hay that have been stored outside Round bales that have been stored outside are only good for cattle or other ruminants. The good thing about hay bales is even if they get a little wet, a good little breeze will dry the hay bales right out. SLC Marketing Inc also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Instead, move it to your barn for storage. An expert explains the nutrients loss that can happen in hay over time. 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. You would also have to consider anything near the hay bales that might cause it to catch on fire. Additionally, you should check in on them periodically to inspect for any signs of mold, rot, or insects. If bales are stored side by side, leave at least 24 inches between bales. A: When grasses are cut for hay, the plants continue to respire for some time, so all stored forage will experience some loss of dry matter (the fiber, proteins, sugars, vitamins, minerals and everything contained within the plant except the water). Reducing Losses When Feeding Hay to Beef Cattle | MU Extension For those who feed round bales how long do they last?? - The Horse Forum Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 88,049 times. From developing a permaculture garden paradise to building the ultimate ewok village playground, journey with me to make a backyard a place of memories and joy. How Long Is Hay Good For? Conway Feed & Supply Harvesting and storing large bale haylage | ontario.ca If there are legumes, such as alfalfa and clover, in your hay field, you may need to harvest slightly earlier, when they are at 10 to 20 percent of full flower. Ive seen several different feed-bag dating methods; for example 5MAR09 for 2015 March 9, 2015, or the Julian date 2016080, which is the 80th day of 2016 (or March 21). If you provide those, then you can start buying more than a few weeks worth at a time. Assume the airplane flew horizontally at an altitude of 180 m with a constant velocity of 50 m/s and dropped one bale of hay every two seconds. Les Vough, PhDPasture and grazing management consultantCollege Park, Maryland. Accidentally feeding moldy hay to horses or other animals could lead to serious problems for those animals. The higher the fat content of a feed the more at risk it is of going rancid. Straw bales are made primarily from wheat, barley, oats, rye, or flax while hay bales are composed mainly of grasses, legumes, and other herbaceous crops. In wet years, hay from coastal and other hybrid bermuda grasses (Tifton85) is plentiful and relatively cheap. If you have a deck or patio, use hay bales as seats. If fully outdoors, cover stacks of square bales (large or small) with tarps, securing the tarps with strong tie-downs. The pallets give you just enough space so that the hay bales are not directly on the ground. So how do you store hay bales outside? Decorative Straw Bale Curb Appeal Photo: istockphoto.com Talk about curb appeal, the hay bale in front of this entryway leads guests into the home in such an inviting way. Finally, wrap fragile items such as trees, ornaments, or garlands separately in plastic and store them in plastic bins or tubs to keep dust and pests out. Space adjacent rows at least 3 feet apart so water from one row doesnt run off onto another. Also, keep at least 3 feet distance between bale rows for good air circulation. Straw and hay bales are different types of animal feed used in agriculture to provide nutritious food for animals. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club. So, if you store your bales for a year or more, then your horses will not be getting this vitamin, which is why you might have to consider adding a supplement to their diets. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. coastal Texas). Dont be put off by this lack of smell. [V] Question: how long does silage last? Its also a potential source of fire, putting your barn in jeopardy should it ignite. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_27',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0');If this is not possible, you can try wrapping your tree in a breathable tarp to help keep it dry and sheltered. Day 2 - water the bale and make sure it stays wet. It is generally not a good idea to store the following items in a shed: any kind of food or perishable items, any living animals or plants, hazardous materials, expensive items, valuables such as jewelry or money, any liquid, paint, or other flammable materials, any electronic items, and any type of combustible materials. Make sure when you stack them so that you store the bales at least a few bales deep. Hay bales, on the other hand, have a higher nutritional value and contain more protein, minerals and vitamins than straw bales. Because feed changes upset some animals' digestive systems, it's advisable to put up enough of the same type of hay to last a season. While both are baled and compressed products, they are made of different materials with different characteristics and uses. This article has been viewed 88,049 times. Is it at some temperature or moisture content? In horses, vitamin A helps with cell growth and healing and is important for vision, particularly at night. This will make it easier to get hay bales from the top, but also helps with moisture, as we will discuss in the next section. If the hay storage area is open on one or more sides, or if its a shed with only a roof, cover the fully-cured hay with a tarp to keep out weather and light. Barn storage, especially long term, is best as it will prevent damage from weather. Stick maybe one or two hay bales at the very top of your pile before you put the tarp on. If your decorations are fragile or made of paper, you may want to wrap them in packing paper, bubble wrap, or other protective materials before storing them. Once two days have elapsed, its important to turn the bales over every few days to help speed the process along and prevent sogginess. 5 Things Beginners Should Know About Cut Flower Farming, Pick Purple Clover For Its Many Health Benefits, Chicken Trackers May Show If Your Flock Logs More Steps Than You, Naturally Reared Queens (Excerpt, Raising Resilient Bees). wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. An expert explains the nutrients loss that can happen in hay over time. Then, use a soft bristle brush to gently clean off any dirt or needles that may have accumulated. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, You need to be logged in to fill out this form. When it rains or snows, the hay bales are going to get wait, guaranteed. For large outdoor events such as graduation parties, baby showers, or even weddings and receptions, straw bales are a cost-effective way to instantly add more chairs. Apr 14, 2010 There are no circumstances under which I'd buy round bales that have been stored outside for my horses to eat. BY Equus April 28, 2023 Q: Due to the drought I was unable to find Bermuda square bales last year and had to purchase round bales. How To Store Hay Bales Outside - BACKYARDABLES Silage coming out our ears: how long does it last? The exact amount of fertilizer and compost used will depend on the size of the bale and the desired outcome. The one nutrient that is lost in storage is vitamin A or, more specifically the pre-cursor to vitamin A, beta-carotene. ** total_quantity ** | ** unit_price ** / ** unit_measure **. To reduce losses, ensure that the storage area is well-drained. Storing you hay bales is a great way to keep your hay bales safe and well circulated. This means that one haybale usually lasts for just less than a week. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Bale-Hay-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Bale-Hay-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Bale-Hay-Step-1.jpg\/aid3949242-v4-728px-Bale-Hay-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"