Painted Hollow Farm
Hay for horses
~Hay~
We sell hay every year at the end of the season to clear our barn for the current years crop. All of our hay is for horses. They are small bales that weigh around 40#. It consists of alfalfa, timothy and brome grasses. It is good quality hay that keeps our horses in good health all winter long. We also on occasion offer grass hay. These are sold as small squares as well. You will need to call for pricing because as fuel prices rise unfortunately so does our bale price.
Hay Talk
We are in mid summer now and you should be planning your purchases for this winter. It will be here before you know it.
With a bad crop season over the midwest, good hay is likey to be in short supply and expensive. A lot of hay has been lost due to the flooding. And if it is not flooding it is hay ground being turned over to corn and beans. Fuel costs has made the hay escalate. Small squares are usually the most expensive way to buy hay. You can save money by buying large squares or round bales. Buying in balk also will save you money in transportation cost.
Look for quality hay when shopping. A good deal is not a good deal if you end up throwing half away, it gets stomped on because the horses won't eat it or worse yet they get colic or COPD due to the mold.
With a bad crop season over the midwest, good hay is likey to be in short supply and expensive. A lot of hay has been lost due to the flooding. And if it is not flooding it is hay ground being turned over to corn and beans. Fuel costs has made the hay escalate. Small squares are usually the most expensive way to buy hay. You can save money by buying large squares or round bales. Buying in balk also will save you money in transportation cost.
Look for quality hay when shopping. A good deal is not a good deal if you end up throwing half away, it gets stomped on because the horses won't eat it or worse yet they get colic or COPD due to the mold.
Signs of good hay!
- Color: Look for a pale green color, the best place is always in the center of the bale. Even if the hay is discolored on the outside from the sun it could still be hay.
- Smell: All good quality hay has a sweet grassy smell, if it has a sharp smell or smells musty that is usually a sign of mold.
- Appearance: It should be leafy, not alot of stems (first cut always has the most stems and is the least expensive) and be weed free. Your buying grass/alfalfa not weeds.
- Dust and mold: Avoid dusty and moldy hay at all costs! Dust and mold can only end up in one place and that is in your horses lungs.
- Weight: The bales should not super light nor should they be super heavy. You should be able to carry them with somewhat ease.
- Age: Always try to by hay from the current season. If none is available the last season will do just fine if it is top quality hay.
- Storage: Never store your bales directly on the ground. Hay picks up moisture quick and they will mold in no time. Your best best is on a trailer, indoors on pallets or in a hay mow. If you must store them outside make sure they are well covered and off the ground.
