Wet hay

Billy

Billy

Member
Jan 26, 2006
573
1
18
High Wycombe
Hi guys,

Rookie mistake here. A big batch of hay arrived last Thursday to share between 3 of us (65 small bales). Half of which has to be stored outside.

The lady who took the order stacked them up against a wall and covered it in the tarp I provided. I check the tarpaulin over at the time, it seemed pretty secure. from the rain at the weekend I had a feel, and it all seemed pretty dry. But I have been looking at it today and bales down one side have been 'exposed to the elements' from the rain today, I think the sheet must've come undone.

It looks like the edges of about 5 - 8 bales are wet. It's just the edge I think. When I feel further down each bale, the rest feels bone dry.

I know the dangers of mouldy hay - how much should I throw out? Just the stuff that feels wet, the whole bale if the edge is wet or (god forbid!) the whole batch of bales?

I could kick myself, I know I should've made it more secure.

Fool!
 
I would leave it and hopefully let the air and wind get to it to dry it out. Tarps are a mixed blessing as hay can sweat and mould under them. Hay needs air to store well. Ours is in an open sided hay barn and the edges do get rained on but don't really take harm.
 
I find it best to put some pallets on top of hay then secure tarp on top.

If only a few got a bit wet today I would just use these up first.
 
I was thinking that the edges might be okay, but reading all about it making me paranoid! Really don't want colic! I thought it better to leave the side that was open, open, to let the air in, plus weather isn't too warm so hopefully mould won't grow too quickly...

If I leave it and let it dry, is there a way of being sure it isn't going to mould?
 
Billy said:
I was thinking that the edges might be okay, but reading all about it making me paranoid! Really don't want colic! I thought it better to leave the side that was open, open, to let the air in, plus weather isn't too warm so hopefully mould won't grow too quickly...

If I leave it and let it dry, is there a way of being sure it isn't going to mould?
Click to expand...

I would use it now as this will be no different from the people that just hose down hay before feeding.
 
I've made this mistake before! It's such a pain!

I would try and use as much of the wet stuff as quickly as you can
 
Tarps arent waterproof... as I too have found out - I have bought a heavy duty plastic sheet from b&q and put tarps over top - I know they will sweat but one of my bales has already gone off :mad:
 
I too would just use the wet ends first. It's no different than soaking or dampening hay for horses to eat in my opinion. Usually you can smell mould in hay, so unless it smells I'd use it with no worries.

Out hay is stored in big barns with no tarp. Sometimes if the rain comes in horizontal it may get a bit damp around the edges, but no one has had any issues (touch wod :))
 
I'd use the wet stuff first, as already mentioned, but would wet it fresh in the haynet. Give it a good squirting with a hose...should freshen it up! I have always sprayed my haynets anyway before giving them to the boys (as opposed to a full soaking) because I am paranoid about dust etc etc

Regards,

Jane
 
Well, I have moved the stuff that had slightly wet edges inside (we can store a certain amount in our feed room).

These bales have since dried off (I couldn't access it on the day, by the time I could it had dried) and I can't smell any mould or see any dust. The bales are next in line to be used, and they get soaked anyway before feeding.

I seem to have got away with it, but I will very carefully check it over before feeding it!

Darn elements!
 
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