storing hay

Hay, if stored correctly, can stay fresh for absolutely ages! I jus finished a bale a couple of weeks back and it lasted me 10 months. I use meadow hay, which I picked up from a horse feed store. So, the horses eat this hay too. You could keep it in a rubbish bin, but I would reconmmend taking the lid off for ventilation. Hmm....come to think of it, maybe the hay won't get enough air from being in a trash can? I store mine in a cardboard box, and I have cut little squares all over. Make sure you don't break the bale - try to keep it in tact as much as possible. Keep it in a dry and ventilated area and not in plastic (my bale came in this plastic bag, take it out of that).

The best way to keep hay fresh, like Piglet said, is to keep it well ventilated. Just make sure it stays dry and try to find a more open way to store it and it should be fine.

Will it make my apartment smell strongly of hay? I like the smell, but I don't want it to be overpowering.

Only the area the hay is kept in will smell strongly i.e. if the hay is kept in the bedroom, part of the bedroom will smell of hay.