Horse Hay Storage

Mold, mildew, rodents and nutritional loss are the enemies of stored hay. But you can minimize losses with these simple hay storage tips.

Patch Things Up: If you're storing hay in a barn, look at the floor before you bring the hay in. See any water spots? Look up...there's probably a leak. A leaky roof is like a hay mold factory. Patch it!

Look For Heavy Sweaters: Another common roof problem is condensation. Temperature fluctuations can cause some roofs to sweat. Tack a plastic tarp to the underside of the rafters to guide the drips away from your hay.

Repel The Rodents: Plug holes with steel wool to keep rats and mice out. Consider putting a barn cat to work. If you're not ophidiophobic (afraid of snakes), welcome the black snake. They are excellent mousers.

Be Uplifting: Keep the hay off the floor. Pallets are readily available from many local businesses. These are perfect.

Stack It Right: Hay needs to be stacked so that air can circulate freely as the hay continues to lose moisture. Stack square bales on edge, leaving narrow gaps between rows. Caution: check for heat in the stacks, even in winter! A caramel smell may indicate that the hay is becoming hot. Drive a metal rod into each stack to test for heat.

Rotate Your Stock: Pull old bales to the front or side before stacking in new hay, and feed older hay first before starting on the fresher supply.

Limit Breakups: Keep your bale in its compacted state as much as possible. Breaking open a bale and loosening the contents exposes the hay to air which will affect quality. Break off "flakes" as needed to minimize air exposure, gradually using the whole bale piece by piece.

Special Considerations For Outdoor Storage

Again With The Pallets: Hay can be stored outside if it is stacked on pallets. Choose an area that isn't subject to seasonal flooding!

Tarp It: Protect hay from the sun and rain with tarps. Design your stack with a center peak to encourage water runoff. Unprotected outdoor horse hay storage leads to nutrient loss. Rain will damage the first few inches of your bale, but any hay stored outside has the potential to mold. Badly rotted hay poses a botulism risk. Any hay that smells moldy or is discolored and damp should not be fed to horses.

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