Grr...hay shortage, need some ideas!

ScharmLily · 07-17-2011, 09:06 AM

For hay storage, we bought one of those tarp sheds. We built a solid, wooden floor raised above ground level, and use pallets on top of that to increase air flow. It works great, and between this and our hay room in the barn, we are able to keep enough hay for 3 horses for almost a year. If you do it right, the hay will stay really nice too. Sometimes there are old tractor trailers (just the storage part) available for good prices on craigslist. I know a few people who use those for hay storage, and as long as you check for any leaks, they work really well.

I find that being able to store hay is essential to making sure that I always have quality forage available for my horses.

On a side note, although your gelding is looking a little ribby, I think your mare looks fine. It seems like you will be all set soon, but I would suggest the alfalfa pellets if you run into this problem again. After recently getting a horse with ulcers and doing a lot of research on feeding, I learned that not only is alfalfa a good way to put weight on a horse, but the high calcium content is also a great way to buffer stomach acid. Since your guys are getting quite a bit of grain per feeding, the alfalfa will really help them process the extra sugar and starch, and is I suspect, the reason why they were doing so well on the alfalfa mix hay. Hope this helps!

AbbeyCPA · 07-17-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScharmLily

For hay storage, we bought one of those tarp sheds. We built a solid, wooden floor raised above ground level, and use pallets on top of that to increase air flow. It works great, and between this and our hay room in the barn, we are able to keep enough hay for 3 horses for almost a year. If you do it right, the hay will stay really nice too. Sometimes there are old tractor trailers (just the storage part) available for good prices on craigslist. I know a few people who use those for hay storage, and as long as you check for any leaks, they work really well.

I find that being able to store hay is essential to making sure that I always have quality forage available for my horses.

On a side note, although your gelding is looking a little ribby, I think your mare looks fine. It seems like you will be all set soon, but I would suggest the alfalfa pellets if you run into this problem again. After recently getting a horse with ulcers and doing a lot of research on feeding, I learned that not only is alfalfa a good way to put weight on a horse, but the high calcium content is also a great way to buffer stomach acid. Since your guys are getting quite a bit of grain per feeding, the alfalfa will really help them process the extra sugar and starch, and is I suspect, the reason why they were doing so well on the alfalfa mix hay. Hope this helps!

thanks very much! We used to store our hay in a tarp shed/car port type thing until we got a nasty winter storm and the ice and snow caved it in. They've been started on the alfalfa mix again so I suspect I'll see a change over the next few weeks, hopefully. Unfortunately that also means more work for me to keep the weight off my other two

WildAcreFarms · 07-17-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScharmLily

For hay storage, we bought one of those tarp sheds. We built a solid, wooden floor raised above ground level, and use pallets on top of that to increase air flow. It works great, and between this and our hay room in the barn, we are able to keep enough hay for 3 horses for almost a year. If you do it right, the hay will stay really nice too. Sometimes there are old tractor trailers (just the storage part) available for good prices on craigslist. I know a few people who use those for hay storage, and as long as you check for any leaks, they work really well.

I find that being able to store hay is essential to making sure that I always have quality forage available for my horses.

On a side note, although your gelding is looking a little ribby, I think your mare looks fine. It seems like you will be all set soon, but I would suggest the alfalfa pellets if you run into this problem again. After recently getting a horse with ulcers and doing a lot of research on feeding, I learned that not only is alfalfa a good way to put weight on a horse, but the high calcium content is also a great way to buffer stomach acid. Since your guys are getting quite a bit of grain per feeding, the alfalfa will really help them process the extra sugar and starch, and is I suspect, the reason why they were doing so well on the alfalfa mix hay. Hope this helps!

have no idea how to work these Quotes.... SO thanks for the tip about the tractor trailer for hay storage. I've been storing mine on a big porch but its not very convenient and it tracks little bits of hay into the house. We are looking for something better and I had thought of a storage container for shipping. Where on Craigs list can you find something like that?

Aslo thanks for the tip about the alfalfa hay helping with ulcers!! I have one TB mare off the track about 6 months ago that I'm having a really really hard time getting weight on and I'm 99.9% sure that she has ulcers.
I just bought alfalfa hay and she seems to be doing better in just a few days but I had no idea its probably the alfalfa. Thanks again these TBs are in a world all their own. They are like the BULLDOGS of the equine world LOL

AbbeyCPA · 07-17-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildAcreFarms

have no idea how to work these Quotes.... SO thanks for the tip about the tractor trailer for hay storage. I've been storing mine on a big porch but its not very convenient and it tracks little bits of hay into the house. We are looking for something better and I had thought of a storage container for shipping. Where on Craigs list can you find something like that?

Aslo thanks for the tip about the alfalfa hay helping with ulcers!! I have one TB mare off the track about 6 months ago that I'm having a really really hard time getting weight on and I'm 99.9% sure that she has ulcers.
I just bought alfalfa hay and she seems to be doing better in just a few days but I had no idea its probably the alfalfa. Thanks again these TBs are in a world all their own. They are like the BULLDOGS of the equine world LOL

tell me about it! Between my two I fork out around $100 weekly on feed & hay - yet somehow they still appeal to me?

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