how would you store loose hay?

[brody]

second cut just came off our farm and if I take the truck and a rake out I can probably get enough great quality missed hay to feed the rabbits most of the winter but I'm not sure how to store it best to keep it's quality and not have a pile of hay in the living room

we have a little half loft in our shed - could I just fork it up to the rafters on half ?? I guess I could ..
just haven't ever stored loose hay before ... so waiting for your fine people's input

[DaleK]

Sure, put it in the rafters as long as it's dry. Just make sure you have something in mind to keep it there so it isn't blowing down every time the wind blows through.

[DaleK]

If you were to go to the County Farm Centre in Picton, you could probably get a used fertilizer tote for $10-15 dollars and fill it full of hay somewhere. You can get open-top ones or closed top, with a spout on the bottom, hang it in the rafters and you could just pull a little out of the bottom when you need more.

[DaleK]

It would be a bag like the one I have on the loader here, I use all of mine for seed. Think I have a torn one here I could give you but I'm probably 45 minutes away from you.

[brody]

oh cool idea ... thank you .. thats one huge bag

used fertilizer tote ? I can ask for that - they guys just tend to LOOK at me when I try to ask for stuff I don't quite know the name of - so thanks for saving me the agony

[fantasymaker]

Lay two strings across a bathtub or simular box fill with hay stomp down fill agin stomp etc. etc. pull up strings and tie. TIGHT! Throw the bales whever you can!

[heelpin]

Rack it! Stick a pole in the ground about 8 feet high, pile the hay around it packing it in, when you get to the top round it up with a pitchfork. We used this method when I was a boy and it worked well, the rack will shed water like a duck's back.

[Carolyn]

you can use a cattle panel, pull it into a circle, clip it and scoop hay into it. Also on Dairy Goat Info, there are directions with very good pictures of a home made hand square baler--it works good.

[RonM]

Heelpin you and I must have been kids at the same time that's how we didit as well hence the term Haystack.....

[brody]

great ideas
thanks