In view of the discussion about hay these past few days, I thought I'd
post this informative text from Housbun about hay storage.  I must
admit, until now I have always stored my hay in a garbage bag with the
top open. But I buy small quantities that are finished within a month.


Marieke



Hi Housebunner!

I wanted to add to what I explained some time ago about hay storage.
If you recall I discussed how it was cut, cured, baled, and generally
stored.  Well, something just kept bugging me about the whole business.
I can't remember the person's name, but they emailed me privately with
additional questions. (Thanks to that person, by the way!) One of the
questions went something like this, "Why is it that my bunny isn't very
interested in the last bit of hay at the bottom of the bag but when I
open a new bag she dives right in?" My first response was that it
stands to reason that it was going stale after the bag was openned.

Well, the more I thought about it the less that make sense. So, I
called an expert on the subject... my
baling_hay_for_the_last_20_years_farmer Dad.  I asked him what the best
way to store hay was, given not having access to a luxurious barn loft.
He gave me the following "do's and don'ts".

Do: Store the hay in a well ventalated dry storage area. This could be
indoors or outdoors, in garages and the like, and even in apartment
sheds (like the one off my back patio.) It's fine to be exposed to
humidity as long as it's well ventalated (remember the barn analogy?)

Don't: Store the hay in plastic. Plastic draws moisture which causes
mold and rot. Plastic could be a garbage bag or even a trash bin with
or without a lid. He said don't use either. Also, if you buy hay from
pet stores in those plastic bags, get it out of there into a wooden or
cardboard box- something that breathes.

Don't: Store hay on concrete or directly on the ground. Again, this
draws moisture causing mold and rot.

Don't: Break up the bale if you don't have to. Even when kept in
perfect conditions the outside of a bale will discolor a bit (to the
lighter side). However, when it is broken open to feed, the center will
be just as fresh as when it was baled.

Do: Try to find a hay source for bales of hay. If you can drive a bit
and see horses or cows somewhere near you, then there is a hay source.
He said to go up and knock on doors to see if you could by a bale once
or twice a year. (Although, I'm a little nervous about possibly
knocking and finding a shot gun in my nose- think I'll call first.)

He said he's fed 15 year old hay right beside hay that was less than 1
year old. The cows went for the 15 year old stuff first and only after
that was gone did they start eating the significantly younger stuff.

Anything kept on wood (or in a wooden crate) should be fine.  Remember,
a hay loft floor is made of wood. (I'd still keep it off the concrete,
just to be sure.)

What I did was stuff the half bale I had into an old rabbit cage I had
and stacked it on something in my storage shed. If it rots, I'll let
you know.  The cage is galvanized and has a pull out pan at the bottom
so it has 100% ventalation on all sides. The door acts as a hay bin
openning. I asked about the shed heating up in the summer sun. He said
that should help cure the hay even more.

Lori asked me about bugs. I remember getting bit and seeing bugs on my
way _to_ the barn. However, the only thing I really saw *in* the hay
was the occasional barn snake and an expected spider or two. Besides
that, rabbits are vegetarians I doubt they'd eat them ;) I want to say
that the dried grass hay shouldn't draw bugs. There are other things in
your house that would draw bugs first. Luckily, I'm fortunate enough to
have a frog living in my shed, so I may never know. If it becomes
portly in the oncoming weeks, I'll let you know.

Hope that helped,
Erin