A few questions about hay storage

**Jenni_Feathers** · #1 11-09-07, 11:59 pm

I have just finished up my 1st batch of Km's timothy hay and me and my pigs love it. I want to try getting hay from a feed store or farmer though to save a bit of money. Tomorrow, well actually today (its past mid night) I am gonna call around to see what kind of hay and what qualities and prices and all that good stuff, that the local feed stores have. I'm gonna ask to see if the one I choose will sell me a broken bale but if they don't I'll problemly be bringing home a full square bale (ushally about 80ibs), which will problemly last my 2 piggys nearly a year! but, how would I store it to make it last that long, I have done forum searchs and looked on a few other sites but still and sorta confused. 1stly I dont have a cardboard box big enough for it, ill have to split it up into 2 or 3 but I do not know where to store them, would they be okay in the garage or basement, me and many of my other family members are terribly allergic to hay, and I dont have any room for it in the house except in an unused coat closet but I dont think you can keep it in a closet, can you? I'm not sure, I am just worried about storing it, do you have any tips or suggestions?

**Jenni_Feathers** · #2 11-10-07, 08:13 am

Okay, I called around and one place has small (60 ibs-ish) bales of burmuda (sp?) hay for $8.00 avail. now. Another place has full bales of Orchard, Timothy mix avail. on monday for $6.99. Which should I get? it dosent matter that I cant get it until monday, im going into town and can pick up a small bag at walmart to last them until monday.

**ctinaw** · #3 11-10-07, 10:36 am

From what I can tell the most important thing is that it has enough air circulation. I'd think the garage would be good or the basement - probably not the closet.

**PhoenixFeather** · #4 11-10-07, 11:39 am

We have ours in a closet, against recommendations. But it seems great so far. The closet gets opened and closed several times per day, so I'm guessing it gets plenty of circulation.

My issue with basement or garage storage is that either would be a lot more damp than the closet. I wouldn't want to store hay in either of those places, personally. If you have a nice dry basement, great.

**camende** · #5 11-10-07, 06:54 pm

I think the Garage is a concern because of fumes from the cars...I would think the basement would be ok as long as it was dry...I have my hay in a cardboard box...it seems fine so far

**ctinaw** · #6 11-10-07, 09:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by camende

I think the Garage is a concern because of fumes from the cars...I would think the basement would be ok as long as it was dry...I have my hay in a cardboard box...it seems fine so far

Good point. I guess I don't think about that because we use our garage for storage and park the cars outside hehe. Part of the joys of having no basement.

**Jenni_Feathers** · #7 11-10-07, 09:32 pm

I think that I will keep it in the basement, it seems like my best option, i'll just have to check to make sure it is okay before I give it to them. I'm still not sure what kind to get, but I'm leaning towards the Timothy/Orchard grass mixture because it is leafier.

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