Could someone PLEASE tell me the difference between straw and hay??

[OkChickens]

Straw is also what is left from the wheat harvest. Hay is Grasses that are cut and Baled.

Nate

 

[gingernutranger]

Quote:
$20.50 here for a bale!

 

[OrphanNanny]

Oh my! $175 for a round bale of hay!?!?....I think we could sell our cows and just do crops! Yowza!

 

[Ole rooster]

For straw not to have seed, I certainly have seen a lot of oats growing from a bail of straw left out on the road way. It's use down here for errosion control in places. Just let water get to it, let it rot a little and there she goes.

 

[jerryb]

I can go buy hay or straw in this area at a retail store for $5 a bale for either one. That is the only retail store in the area that sells it and they sell it at a premium all winter. I buy it there if I run out in the winter, but 2 bales will last me a year as rabbit snacks.

If i take a short drive i can find farms who sell semi-wholeslae alfalpha hay for $3, fill your pick up truck and get that price. there are also a few amish farms who sell single bales for $3.

I feel bad for those who have to pay so much, a round bale of hay in this area i $25-28 loaded on your trailer, but that would last me a decade or so. . .

 

[myway57]

The hay is Coastal Bermuda that is used in the south for horse hay. I just paid 20.00 for a bale of alfalfa for the girls....

 

[guppy85]

Hay is for eating, straw is for bedding.

 

[Funky Feathers]

I could tell you which is which blindfolded, by the smell. Hay smells delightful, fresh, aromatic. Straw doesn't smell like much of anything. I can also tell Alfalfa from grass hay by the smell.

Also by color- straw is yellow/brown, good hay is green. Poor/old hay can be kinda brown.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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Baled straw could also be oats but still the stalk without the seed. It's intended use is as bedding and has little food value.

Hay could be any type of grass or alfalfa and is intended for feed.

 

[Moogie]

Thank you so much for all your replies - very helpful!

So, this is hay (Texas hay):

and this is also (fine grassy) hay ....with seeds? from who-knows-where:

But, obviously, I should be getting straw! Why pay for livestock food when I'm using it for chicken bedding!

Funny, I'd always purchased hay for the horses and just never even thought about the difference. (and I don't even remember ever seeing straw in a feedstore lot...) Thanks to all of you BYCers for such a great "education". Luv you guys!