Growing hay?

[Briana C.]

Me and my family were just thinking that wew could save sooo much money if we just got hay seeds and grew it our selves. Have any of you tried this? If you have where did you find seeds? We have a really big yard and we grow all sorts of fruit and veggies, so we are pretty experienced. We also have a huge feild in our yard and all this tall grass and hay i think that would be a good location fot it. I kinda doubt any one has or it would be more common but, any advice or thoughts to this?

[Sarita]

Alot does depend on where you live. I live in Texas and from what I understand it cannot be grown here. You would have to cure the grass, I think Petzy has made hay from grass where she lives. Obviously you can give it to them fresh as well. I think the only reason that we give hay and not fresh grass is because it is not as readily available and able to be stored that way.

[Deleted User]

yes, i have. i live in Northern Alberta, 3 hrs, north of Edmonton. The season here is short but i think I can make enough to get my three buns well into the fall.

[Briana C.]

I am in the U.S. in South Carolina. I found some Timothy hay seeds on ebay, $5 for an ounce. What season do you plant the hay? down here spring is pretty hot and summer is really hot but the winter and fall arent that bad, we hardly ever get snow It sounds like it wont be too hard, i hope it works out.

[Crayon]

Timothy grows well in cooler weather.. or so I read. I just got a bag of timothy grass seed from a local green house here in Michigan. I am growing some in pots. I do not have a yard..

[KatnipCrzy]

I would imagine that you would have to “cure” it in the sun to remove all the moisture- otherwise it will mold.  I am sure someone that grew up on a farm might understand “hay making” more and might be able to explain better.

[Deleted User]

it depends how you store it, too. If you are going to put it in closed containers for sure you’ll have to cure it very well to prevent mould.

[BinkyBunny]

It is amazing how hard growing hay actually is. I mean obviously you can plant some seeds and watch it grow, but I really never knew how complicated it all was until I started selling hay and learning more about it especially as the seasons change, and you see the hay change. . It’s almost like an art. When to grow, when to harvest, how to store, what you do in certain weathers to help offset certain consequences. As it grows longer, how try and prevent mold and other negative things from happening from underneath as the hay begins to lay down before it’s scheduled cuttings. Then there are certain pests that are attracted to certain hays, and so how to protect without using pesticides.  Then the whole curing process is so important, how fast or slow things dry, what the humidity level is… the whole process from beginning to end is just somethin’ else! For someone who is really growing it for their business, it’s much harder than I would have ever imagined.

But if you are just growing a little bit on your own property – I have no idea how that works.

[Deleted User]

BB is right. Growing decent hay is a science. But for my home use, I took some photos to share. I have two good timothy patches that I use. I cut close to the ground and before the grass goes to seed . (I leave some uncut for seeding). The closer to seeding you cut the faster it cures, young grass has a higher moisture content.

Below: This grass I’m not going to use, already has seed pods..

this is some cut grass that I was drying but the weather wasn’t favorable so it will take more time. Plus, it rained on it, so I have to turn it lots.

This is already dry, but needs curing. It’s under a tarped space.

This is last year’s. I’m surprised my rabbits still like it… I just use it in their litter boxes. This was a meadow mix, btw.

It’s a hobby for me. I love the smell of it and I grew up haying during my summer breaks. it’s fun!

[Sarita]

That is so cool Petzy that you have that grass and know how to make hay! It does sound like a fun and useful hobby.

[Beka27]

I agree, it sounds like a blast if you have the know-how and space to do it!

Briana, I am sure you could find more info if you looked online. Do your parents have a lot of experience with farming and growing things?

[Deleted User]

Only problem is that my neighbors are upset with my grass being long. So upset they inquired at the county office if there wasn’t a by-law for grass cutting… luckily we’re in a rural place so there is no law for grass length.

[bunnytowne]

Oh gee. Neighbors.   When I lived in a house the neighbor would call and the city man would actually get out of his car and use a ruler to measure how tall the grass was.  I was wondering what he was doing measuring the grass height.

My ex was lazy in doing yard work.

[Deleted User]

whoooot? no way! people are just as crazy in the south as they are in the north!!!
… i’m *sure* my neighbors measured my grass when I went out…
I’m trying to get along, honestly. My timothy patch isn’t anywhere near my boundary to my neighbors. but their yard reallly llooks like a golf course, only more parched.

[b2dg3r]

I was put off by the cost of hay for a while. I tried and I tried and I tried to conserve it, but, with three 6 or so pound rabbits that’s a lot of hay. The feed store bags its own hay at 3.99 for 4 pounds, but that bag lasts only a week if I really try. And that’s not fair to them. But you know what? A three tie bale is about a hundred pounds, and it is only 19 dollars!!! I bought it months ago and they are only about half through! I can’t begin to fathom the money I’ve saved and they get limetless amounts now–like it should be.

So, if my story is anything like your problem, then I would say buying a bale is so much easier than trying to grow it.

Good luck with the hay!

[BinkyBunny]

Petzy – that is great! Hay, if stored properly, with air flow, can be stored for a year, so it’s no surprise that your bunnies may still like it!
That too bad about your neighbors. Can’t the hay be considered a garden? And so it can’t fit into some city lawn ordinance or ???

BT – That’s crazy about the guy measuring the grass.

[RabbitPam]

Petzy – that is so cool!

The only thing I know is the expression: Make Hay ’till the sun don’t shine.

Making hay is supposed to be great fun.

[Deleted User]

My neighbors’ motto: “cut the grass, rain or shine”.

I won’t have to get into ordinances since there isn’t a law here (yet: I am sure my neighbors are lobbying for one) about grass-cutting. But, when they bring up my dandelions again, I will explain that they are an edible plant grown specifically for my rabbits.

[Briana C.]

WOW i cant belive your neighbors! I guess I have never really had neighbors so I woundt know, you cant even see our house from the end of our driveway, we are in our own little world, we have thick woods surrounding our house. i should probaby buy the hay seeds since it is finally cooling down here.  My dad grew up growing stuff, sweet potatos, peanuts, corn, squash, etc. but we dont have any experience with hay. But i figured we could try it out, We are currently growing the fall crop, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, etc. but that only takes up a little part of the area we have plowed.

BTW: what is curing hay and how do you do it?

Posted By b2dg3r on 06/23/2009 09:50 PM

“I was put off by the cost of hay for a while. I tried and I tried and I tried to conserve it, but, with three 6 or so pound rabbits that’s a lot of hay. The feed store bags its own hay at 3.99 for 4 pounds, but that bag lasts only a week if I really try. And that’s not fair to them. But you know what? A three tie bale is about a hundred pounds, and it is only 19 dollars!!! I bought it months ago and they are only about half through! I can’t begin to fathom the money I’ve saved and they get limetless amounts now–like it should be.

So, if my story is anything like your problem, then I would say buying a bale is so much easier than trying to grow it.

Good luck with the hay!  “

 

where do you but your hay?

 

 

[Lintini]

Petzy, those gorgeous 2 top photos make me want to flee California so fast. I want to move to the midwest and have a farm so bad. I HATE THE BAY AREA!!! Growing your own hay seems like a fun little hobby, I wish I had time!

[Deleted User]

I forgot anout the haying thread! *sniff* here in the north haying season is over! I had to buy bales for the winter.
I’ve patched things up with my neighbors, too, they’re not that bad. I have lived in so many different situations and places, every single one had its perks. In the dead of night when my bf is away and I can hear some drunk hooligans smashing up cars on the road — I enjoy having neighbors.
Sometimes, Lintini, I miss the urban life, too, to have garbage collection, or mail delivery is quite a treat. Or, being able to walk to a store… wow, what a novelty!

[Author]

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