Should round bales be covered?

Should round bales be covered?

Round bales stored outside and covered with either plastic or canvas experience less deterioration than unprotected bales. Plastic wrap, net wrap or tarps can be used to prevent loss from weathering. Don’t stack bales on top of each other unless the entire stack is to be covered.

What kind of paint do you use on hay bales?

Choose a spray paint that is labeled for outdoor use so that the paint can withstand outdoor temperatures and rain. If the hay bale will be placed indoors, any type of spray paint can be used.

What can I do with old round hay bales?

What to do with extra hay:

1. Bedding & Nesting material for nesting boxes, coops, hutches, and run-ins.
2. Filler for the pool the pigs built.
3. Seeding.
4. Mulch for yard, around trees, or in pumpkin patches.
5. Entertainment – chickens and pigs LOVE to scratch, roll and play in fresh hay.

Can you cover hay with a tarp?

Cover Hay for More Control Barns are good for hay. Expect losses up 10 ten percent when hay is stored under tarps. You’ll minimize these losses by stacking square bales on dry days, buying pre-wrapped round bales, and checking the undersides of tarps for condensation after heavy dews and rains.

Can you tarp hay bales?

Hay is no exception, so it’s worth taking a little extra time to stack it and tarp it properly. But to save money and keep hay from spoiling, you need to keep the tarp on the bales through the non-feeding season, which means you’ve got to have the tarp secure and prevent it from blowing into the fencerow.

How long can you store round hay bales?

You can store hay indefinitely if the stack is managed correctly; although, in humid climates, using hay within three years of harvest is ideal. Hay growers need to bale it at correct moisture levels because if it’s baled too damp the hay will generate heat, which leads to molding.

How long are round bales good for?

Bales Stored Outside and Unprotected

How do you make colored hay?

Just mix your dark green with yellow or white to make different shades. Add a little yellow to that grass, then finish filling in the hay portion of the ground. My rocks blended into my hay somewhat, so I used a lighter yellow to pull them back out.

What can I do with bad hay bales?

The best way to use moldy hay is to spread out the bales and let the animals pick through, with a second source of clean hay for them to select from as well. Mold often reduces palatability and animals will avoid especially bad chunks.

Can you burn old hay bales?

Don’t Burn Down the Barn or Make Your Stock Sick – What to Do With Wet/Moldy Hay. It’s a result of bacteria/microbes in the hay, breaking down plant glucose, and releasing energy, or heat, in the process.

How do you keep hay from going Mouldy?

Stack the bottom layer of bales on their sides, with the strings facing sideways instead of up. The uneven surface allows better air circulation and helps prevent mold from growing. Stack the second layer with the strings facing up, all pointing in the same direction.

How do you keep hay bales from falling apart?

If you decide to bale hay in large bales, wrap them with net wrap or plastic twine to reduce bale sag and help maintain bale shape. Plastic twine resists weathering, insects and rodents better than natural-fiber twines. Twine should be snug and spaced 6 to 10 inches apart.

Can hay bales get rained on?

There will be some moisture uptake, but not so much. If you hay gets rained on near to when it’s cut, it’ll have less impact. If it gets rained on near to when it’s dry, then you will have leaf shatter,” says Undersander. However, if hay bales are too wet, mold can grow and give off heat, creating a fire hazard.

How long will a round bale burn?

The bale ignites through an opening in the back of the unit and electric blowers inject fresh air into the firebox to feed the fire, which lasts from four to 12 hours depending on the kind of straw being burned.

Should you stack hay bales on pallets or directly on floor?

Store Hay On Pallets Never store hay directly on the floor or the ground. Doing this restricts air from circulating beneath the hay. Moisture will seep up from the damp ground and ruin the entire bale. By using pallets, you allow ventilation beneath the hay and prevent excess moisture.

Can horses eat hay that has been rained-on?

Rained-on hay can be a suitable forage, especially for horses prone to laminitis. Forage quality tends to be retained if: The rain occurs soon after cutting when the forage has had little time to dry.