how long is hay good?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 9 months ago by KatnipCrzy.

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- 05/25/2009 at 11:12 AM
  Adalaide
  Participant
  433 posts
  I grew up on a farm. Obviously in a place like Pennsylvania hay has to keep for a year, and cows eat almost anything so it’s fine to have year old hay for them. I’m wondering though how long I can keep/store hay for Freya. I’d like to save a ton of money and get a 25 or 50 pound bale sent to me, but if it’ll just go bad what’s the point.
- 05/25/2009 at 4:11 PM
  lilmizzsnickerz
  Participant
  318 posts
  my parent use to do that for the 13 guinea pigs we had we just had to keep it from getting damp ect
- 05/25/2009 at 4:48 PM
  Deb'sBuns
  Participant
  160 posts
  I buy a bale at a time, but I have 5 rabbits and 4 guinea pigs.
- 05/25/2009 at 11:22 PM
  Adalaide
  Participant
  433 posts
  I’m just looking at prices, buying a 50 pound bale, even after shipping is $190 less than buying that much over time. I’d still save almost as much buying 25 pound bales. I think I’ll get one and see what happens. I keep food storage to feed my family for a year, I count Freya and even my husband’s evil cat as family. God forbid we ever need it, but I’d rather be able to take care of her in an emergancy and waste some hay than to find myself unable to take care of her. Thanks guys.
- 05/26/2009 at 1:30 PM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  I buy hay by the bale and store it in my garage- the bale is wrapped in a large cotton blanket- and the bale is in our wheelbarrow so that it is off the floor. The hay stays clean and dry this way.
  
  I know they make actually bags that are meant to hit a bale of hay (horse owners use them)- but I think when I looked the bags were about $20 and I only pay $4 a bale- and I already had the old cotton blanket. The wheelbarrow or something else would still be necessary to keep off the ground to keep it clean, dry and inaccessible to other pests.
  
  Do you have someone local that you can buy a bale of hay from? I happened to be driving past a farm and noticed a “Hay for Sale” sign with a phone number. I wrote down the number and have gotten 2 bales so far from him. Ironically enough I think I am the only one that buys ONE bale at a time. He is a super nice guy- and I am glad that he is willing to sell only one bale at a time to me.
  
  Just be sure to ask what type of hay it is and what cutting it is. That way you know what to ask for or look for in the future. Another place to find someone that will sell a single bale of hay might be at a local Farmers Market- they most likely would not have the hay there- but would be able to make arrangements.
- 05/26/2009 at 5:19 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  I keep my hay in a really large rubber-maid bin that I got from Target, that does a really good job of keeping any critters out of it since it is in the garage. Mine has lasted about 3 months, but by then we are all done with the bale so I’m not sure how long it would keep for, but I would imagine quite a few months if you can keep it clean and dry.
- 05/26/2009 at 6:05 PM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  My last bale I had about 5-6 months. As long as it is stored properly you should have no problems buying in larger quantities at all.
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