Storing Hay Outside

[Beans&Toast]

I ordered large bales from Dust Free Hay because it works out way cheaper than the small bags I get from P@H and also Toast makes hooting sounds from normal hay so needs this kind.


It seemed like a good idea until they arrived...

Normal sized bag in the middle for scale...

There's no room to move and I have bad Hay fever so I've already got a sore head from the smell (like I say, I did not think this through).

I live in a tiny flat so have no spare room but I have the pigs' old hutch outside with a weatherproof cover, if I keep the hay in the sacks and in the hutch with the waterproof cover over it, would the hay be okay? I don't have a shed or anything either so hoping this would be fine...

 

[timmypiggy]

As long as you can ensure that it won't get wet! Just check each morning when ye go to feed them to ensure no mold has grown

 

[Sian25]

I have no advice regarding outside storage but are they breathable sacks @Beans&Toast? I stupidly left a massive £18 bag of ings hay i
Unopened in the plastic bag for a few weeks. I opened it before and it had the worst sour smell to it. I'm unsure whether it was a bad batch initially or its due to being left in the plastic. I have put it in the garden until I can take it to the tip and need to order more hay!

 

[Hank288]

It should be ok as long as it doesn't get wet. I accidentally brought 2 farm hay bales at once not thinking through how much hay it was. I bagged one up to use and then wrapped the other in a tarpaulin and left it outside for a couple of months. It was absolutely fine to use so it should be ok in the outside hutch.

 

[Beans&Toast]

I have no advice regarding outside storage but are they breathable sacks @Beans&Toast? I stupidly left a massive £18 bag of ings hay i
Unopened in the plastic bag for a few weeks. I opened it before and it had the worst sour smell to it. I'm unsure whether it was a bad batch initially or its due to being left in the plastic. I have put it in the garden until I can take it to the tip and need to order more hay!

Yeah it's the tarpaulin sacks. Not sure if it's actually tarpaulin it looks like it, but it's got little holes all over it so it can breathe

 

[acapae]

I have no advice regarding outside storage but are they breathable sacks @Beans&Toast? I stupidly left a massive £18 bag of ings hay i
Unopened in the plastic bag for a few weeks. I opened it before and it had the worst sour smell to it. I'm unsure whether it was a bad batch initially or its due to being left in the plastic. I have put it in the garden until I can take it to the tip and need to order more hay!

This was my thought. You need to stop the hay from getting wet, by equally hay needs air circulation to prevent mustiness and other issues too. If the former was the only constraint, it would be significantly easier and cheaper than it actually is for farmers/ smallholders to store way for winter...

Hopefully your small holes will be enough, but I'd be cautious when using the hay that has been stored outside for the first time. Poke and smell ir more before use type thing.