how long will a 115 pound hay bale last?

[hielly5120]

Ahh so do you still think it would be good if I used it for a long time?

[lissie]

Yes. It would still be good if you store it properly.

[hielly5120]

I see... can i still use my hay after a few years? Like wen its in a good storage conditon? :3

[Onetwo]

I would say UP TO 2 years as otherwise it gets really brown and the vits, minerals and stuff degrade.

[guineapigsrules]

I got it for 22 bucks! ummm do you guys know if hay barn let you get a section of the bale or what? btw i go to daves hay barn in Sanjose CA! thanks if you guys can continue on answering =)

I am a horse farmer and i buy that muck have for 3 dollars a bale so 22 dollars is a LOT!!!!! But being a horse farmer I go through 2 of those a day!!!

[lissie]

Hay is expensive around here. But $22 for a bale is much better than buying small bags from pet stores.

[suzilovespiggie]

I am in Arizona. On my way to work tonight, I saw burmuda grass hay for $14.00. Alfalfa and mixed burmuda and alfalafa $14.00 to $17.00. The last time I bought timothy hay it was almost $30.00 a bale. I too, buy by the bale and it fits into my trunk. I use a glassed in shower stall to store my hay. It keeps it fresh and away from the animals. A bale last a year for me. I give my pigs lots of hay. They love to eat it, hide in it and just have a good time in it.
My rabbit eats some but not like the pigs.

[trexgorawrrrrr]

If it was only 22$, why not keep half and donate the other? I buy 50lbs of orchard grass from Oxbow and it cost me about $40. I'm guessing it is going to last me about 5 months with 5 pigs. I was paying 10$ a bag and going through 3 bags a week when I couldn't find a hay supplier. So, $30 a week for an entire year is an arm and a leg. Granted I had to do this for about three weeks, but $22 isn't a lot for that much hay. I would keep half, donate the rest, and not worry about buying more for another year. Then you don't have to store as much? I don't know, maybe that's just me.

[foggycreekcavy]

$22 for a 115 lb bale of hay is not that bad--I've paid $25. Usually the hay around here is around $12 to $19 for a 85 to 90 lb bale. I buy hay by the ton, and it goes pretty quickly, but it should be fine for at least a year, maybe longer. I usually don't count much nutritional value in hay older than a year.

A 115 lb bale of hay is pretty big--is it a 3 string bale?

[lissie]

A 115 lb bale of hay is pretty big--is it a 3 string bale?

I think it is, but i'm not sure. The hay barn usually helps me break the bale into 4 large trash bags so it's easier to transport.

[skinnyguineaus]

I'd be thrilled to pay $22 for that much hay. There are no timothy or orchard grass farmers around here. I'm happy to pay $60 for 50 lbs. of Oxbow hay.

haha I am with you pinky! I just picked up my 50lb box of Oxbow on Saturday bc the hay I went to check on (beach park) was full of clover and alfalfa SO sad.

[skinnyguineaus]

Donate half! No nutritional value after 1 year... Call a local shelter or humane society. They need hay for all kinds of animals. Its a good deed and you got your money's worth.