Storing Hay

[RichZ]

Thanks for all the replies, guys!! As usual, great info. Now I'm sure I want a carport. Hey John!!! I know you're reading this, hopefully well be able to order them in the spring!!

Thanks again for all the responses!!!

Rich

 

[cowboydoc]

Rich,
Just how big of a carport are you planning on building? Personally I wouldn't go with a carport unless you are planning on closing it in. Anywhere that your hay gets wet it's going to mold. Much better than a tarp but you are still going to have some spoilage. Also you would need a huge area to store 50 acres of hay just from one cutting.

 

[RichZ]

Richard, I'll let John Miller answer you about the size, because he and I are considering on buying from the same place and saving on transportation costs, since we live near each other. I'm afraid to keep the hay in my barn. As a neophyte, my fear is that I'll do something wrong and start a fire. If any of my animals were killed by that, I'd never get over it. I do have an old carriage house that I use for a garage with a large loft. I would use that for hay storage also. Between the carport and the loft, I should have enough space, though it would be tight. As far as the carport is concerned, I would extend the sides, so that it had walls to further protect the hay.

As always, Richard, thanks for all your advice!!

Rich

 

[Hillbilly]

I have 500 bales in a barn right now,people have been storing hay in barns for years. When it is cut, the key is to make sure it has had sufficient time to cure ( dry out) do not bale green hay or any hay you might think is too green. Yes it can get hot if it is too green,you can also have moldy hay as well. I had a neighbor came and baled about 50 bales for me one year and he got in a hurry because he thought it was going to rain and baled the dang stuff to green.I new it was a mistake from the start,the darn hay felt like it had lead in itwhen you lifted a bale!! I was concerned, so a few days went buy and I moved a few bales and started reaching my arm down between the bales and it was warm,very warm. I carried every bale out and through them over the hill.
The key is to make sure it is cured good and nice and dry and store it in a place where it will stay dry and stored up off of the ground.

 

[Hillbilly]

And as far as the carport is concerned you will more than likely need a tarp to keep the rain and snow from blowing in on the sides of the stack. They make tarps that are made for storing hay etc.They will not sweat underneath,certain types of tarps will sweat.If your carport has a concrete floor or a dirt floor either way,I would get some wood pallets or something to keep the hay above and off of the floor,I would recommend about 6 inches anyway to allow good air circulation underneath,

 

[Phred]

I can see your points.

So it sounds like a carport would really need sides to ensure sunlight does not hit the hay and that water does not blow in and soak the outer edges of the pile.

Question: How large an area is needed to store hay, based on say 1000 bales? This is really a function of how high it should be stacked since one can easily calculate the area needed for a given stack height.

Thanks for the advice,

Fred

 

[cowboydoc]

Fred,
Really no limit to high you can stack your hay. Two years ago we put up about 8000 bales in old barn that held 10,000 bales. We had them stacked 20 high. 1000 bales though even stacked 8-10 high is going to take an area somewhere around 40x40 and 16'. It takes alot of room to stack hay.

 

[Hillbilly]

I need to stand corrected on the tarp issue,if I were going to use tarps and the hay was being stored on a carport,I would use a tarp in a fashion that would be more like a wall,and not have it in close contact with the hay.I mean to use it like a barrior,have a space between the hay and the tarp itself,if that makes any sense.

 

[RichZ]

Thanks, Hillbilly, that's exactly what I inteded to do.

Rich

 

[RichZ]

Thanks, Hillbilly, that's exactly what I intended to do.

Rich