Almost out of grass horse hay-need knowledge on PROPER substitutes?

[chooniecat]

Since couldn't get to feed store I found their number and its $15 for 50 lbs Haystretcher so will try to get that to last 5 days at least(with the tiny bit of hay I have left) Have tried calling about round bales and no one is answering. Have 4 really crappy fenced in acres that the fencing is down on(thats why she isn't ON that pasture) so may run some baling twine along downed fenceline to see if I can restrain her in that pasture.

 

[ChicKat]

We are in drought and pay 70.00 for about 800 pound bale 5 1/2 feet tall (delivered)

To OP, you should be able to get the bale delivered. There are trailers that can do that. I'm wondering if the truck (shocks etc) could take the hay and if they hay would come apart because of a non-fit in the truck bed. Just dunno. for alfalfa a reqular sized small square bale went for $12.00 Or at least that is what he was asking. I remember not too long ago they were $3-5. In the 2009 drought, a large round bale (cattle hay for us) was $125. That year we didn't need to buy any---but people were offering to buy some of ours.

Hope that you can get the hay you need for you mare.

 

[chooniecat]

There is a recent ad on cl, appx. 10 miles away again, stating" 4 by 4 1/2 bale" for $60 stored outside(?) clean,green grass mix hay. The outside part is not great(maybe covered?). Price is OK, don't know what their dimentions suggest(maybe appx. 500 lbs?) and I would just give them the go ahead(if I can reach them) but, again, I haven't seen the hay. SO much work and I don't trust most people on cl. If my son gets home early(still be dark) will see if he can run up with me to investigate.The Ohio hay directory turned up nothing remotely close(unless my computer was just being constipated) so the fun continues.

 

[res]

Given that you are in a pinch, I would go for it. If it turns out to be bad hay, or high priced, then don't go back. Only you can determine what a fair price is in your area. But location-wise - you could easily get that size bale home in your Dakota. Enough of it will fit in the bed that it will ride fine. I would still throw a strap around it, just to CYA that it doesn't unload itself! That size bale shouldn't exceed your payload for a 10-mile trip.

When you get it off your truck, cut all the strings and remove them (or cut and remove the netting if it is net wrapped). Inspect the outer layer for mold, peel it off. Discard it if it is moldy. Repeat with following layers until you get to good hay.... This method is easiest if the bale is sitting on its end (like a cinnamon roll) but you can make due if it comes off the truck the other way. It's just a little harder to peel...

 

[chooniecat]

Given that you are in a pinch, I would go for it. If it turns out to be bad hay, or high priced, then don't go back. Only you can determine what a fair price is in your area. But location-wise - you could easily get that size bale home in your Dakota. Enough of it will fit in the bed that it will ride fine. I would still throw a strap around it, just to CYA that it doesn't unload itself! That size bale shouldn't exceed your payload for a 10-mile trip.

When you get it off your truck, cut all the strings and remove them (or cut and remove the netting if it is net wrapped). Inspect the outer layer for mold, peel it off. Discard it if it is moldy. Repeat with following layers until you get to good hay.... This method is easiest if the bale is sitting on its end (like a cinnamon roll) but you can make due if it comes off the truck the other way. It's just a little harder to peel...

Thanks for the knowledge. I am getting most of it. Although my truck is non functioning as of this morning(earlier whiny post!) and won't even get looked at until friday so I will just go out(willing to spend the gas money)to two different places(only 1 has phone number and the other ad(which sounds nicer-but I am ignorant) doesn't so whomever gets back to me I will inspect the hay(ad I liked is further away,appx 40 miles) and see how much delivery costs. The ad I liked had bigger bales(slightly bigger) and they claimed storage in barn whereas the cheaper bales just said 'stored outside"(?) so who knows. The price for bale is doable I am just terrified of delivery. Waiting for further ad to call my number from email to them(or I will just check out the ad with phone number and stored outside hay)So I feel hope now, at least. Thanks. And mare went thru10 gallons of hand hauled warm water already because its VERY cold so she needs even more to eat. anyhoo..

 

[chooniecat]

OK-its a done deal-20 miles away,round bale 800 lbs., will deliver for $35($80 bale) and he sounded extrermely professional(but....) wish me luck! I will now have round bale expreience!(I need to get out more) thank you all for helping me to decide.

 

[ChicKat]

OK-its a done deal-20 miles away,round bale 800 lbs., will deliver for $35($80 bale) and he sounded extrermely professional(but....) wish me luck! I will now have round bale expreience!(I need to get out more) thank you all for helping me to decide.

One more thing that we have done, that you may consider is call your County Extension Agent. They should be able to give you good support on all things livestock related. I hope the whole bale is excellent hay.

 

[topdycke]

Round bales are the least expensive way to get hay. TSC had cubes available - alfalfa has very good feed value. We were short on hay summer before last due to fires and draughts and hay prices have continued to go up.

 

[DelcoChix]

Hello fellow central Ohio-an!
If you're on facebook ask to join this group: Hay and Straw wanted or for sale ohio It's an open group and folks put both hay wanted and for sale, sometimes ads copied/pasted from CL, but it gives you a pretty good idea of what's out here in this area. Going rate seems to be $60-80 a round bale. What's kind of handy also is someone posts the results of the hay auction that takes place in Plain City (I think "ASE Feedstore").....anyways, thought it might help you if you are still looking. Good luck!

 

[grammykimi]

http://www.chaffhaye.com/horses/