minty hay?

[piggiemummy03x]

so i’ve just opened a new bag of hay and it smells almost minty? i wouldn’t say it smells horrible, but it definitely smells different to the last lot.. would it be okay to use still? any idea on why it smells like this? thanks!

 

[Deleted member 139433]

How fresh is the hay? Does it have a date on the wrapping?

Fresh hay should have more of a 'woody' or 'sweet' smell. Older hay in our barn that has gotten damp/spoilt often has a funky smell. If the hay is spoilt or mouldy, it will also have unusual colour, be dusty or appear very dried out. Fortunately, unlike haylage/silage older hay doesn't carry as many risks; but if it has gone dusty or started to mould, there is a URI risk.

Are you buying the hay from a quality source?


Sorry if I come across picky - a lifetime in the equine industry and liaising with farmers has made me very fussy when it comes to hay

 

[piggiemummy03x]

How fresh is the hay? Does it have a date on the wrapping?

Fresh hay should have more of a 'woody' or 'sweet' smell. Older hay in our barn that has gotten damp/spoilt often has a funky smell. If the hay is spoilt or mouldy, it will also have unusual colour, be dusty or appear very dried out. Fortunately, unlike haylage/silage older hay doesn't carry as many risks; but if it has gone dusty or started to mould, there is a URI risk.

Are you buying the hay from a quality source?


Sorry if I come across picky - a lifetime in the equine industry and liaising with farmers has made me very fussy when it comes to hay

no date and literally had it delivered from wilko yesterday.. its snowflake meadow hay, we’ve purchased before and i was really impressed so bought 5 bales.. they all smell the same! only way i can describe it is like menthol filters!

not at all i really appreciate you asking all these questions and trying to help me!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

How fresh is the hay? Does it have a date on the wrapping?

Fresh hay should have more of a 'woody' or 'sweet' smell. Older hay in our barn that has gotten damp/spoilt often has a funky smell. If the hay is spoilt or mouldy, it will also have unusual colour, be dusty or appear very dried out. Fortunately, unlike haylage/silage older hay doesn't carry as many risks; but if it has gone dusty or started to mould, there is a URI risk.

Are you buying the hay from a quality source?


Sorry if I come across picky - a lifetime in the equine industry and liaising with farmers has made me very fussy when it comes to hay

its definitely a lot dryer than the last bag, literally just finished it off and then opened the new lot to be greeted by this minty smell, i’m too scared to use it!

 

[Deleted member 139433]

its definitely a lot dryer than the last bag, literally just finished it off and then opened the new lot to be greeted by this minty smell, i’m too scared to use it!

Trust your gut instinct if it doesn’t seem right.
But in the mean time they will still need ad lib hay if you’re waiting to get fresh.

I’ve come across plenty of bad hay in my time lol; but not a minty smell

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Trust your gut instinct if it doesn’t seem right.
But in the mean time they will still need ad lib hay if you’re waiting to get fresh.

I’ve come across plenty of bad hay in my time lol; but not a minty smell

we’ve just had to run out to p@h after jolleys being out of stock! going to get a bale of ‘superhay’ from a horse shop this weekend!