How long does hay keep for?

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emmalala

emmalala

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I was going to order two huge bags of hay from Hay for pets but was wondering if it would go off or mouldy? It would only be there maybe 2 months max.
 
It won't go mouldy but it does become less fresh over time. I would only buy what you can use within say a month or so. I have had hay in the shed for awhile and its definitely not as good after being kept.
 
if it goes mouldy, it wasn't dry enough when packaged. Happens more than you know
 
MrsM said:
if it goes mouldy, it wasn't dry enough when packaged. Happens more than you know
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After 30 odd yrs sourcing decent hay for my horses I definitely agree with that.

Any hay you buy is likely to be anything up to a year old. Most farmers only cut once a year, sometimes twice. If it was cut, dried, baled and stored properly it won't be a problem.

It will lose it's nutritional value as it gets older though. I am currently feeding my highland pony 18 month old good quality hay as nature designed her to live off of sparce, not to rich grazing.
 
moosmum said:
After 30 odd yrs sourcing decent hay for my horses I definitely agree with that.

Any hay you buy is likely to be anything up to a year old. Most farmers only cut once a year, sometimes twice. If it was cut, dried, baled and stored properly it won't be a problem.

It will lose it's nutritional value as it gets older though. I am currently feeding my highland pony 18 month old good quality hay as nature designed her to live off of sparce, not to rich grazing.
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As above, it's all in the storage and initial drying as to how well your hay will keep.

(and WOOO HiPos are the BEST, my share is HiPo X :)) )
 
moosmum said:
They are aren't they. For those of you that don't know them - just think 5' guinea pig.
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Sums it up perfectly! Though sadly their poos are of the same enlarged scale

I think we need to see photos of your ponio on another thread ;)
 
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