Hay Prices and Availability

[Postapocalypticcowgirl]

Sorry, I know it's pretty early to be thinking about winter- but around my way we've had real issues with hay this summer, hopefully some people will be able to get a second cut this week, but a lot of hay has been spoilt due to the weather and it's definitely going to be a struggle.

A lot of people have already sold their hay to regular customers- I've just moved yards and trying to source some hay for the winter- I think I'm going to be looking at at least £5.50 a small bale, if not more.

What are other people having to pay?

East Midlands and its 5.50 able. We use the big rectangular bales and they are 40 but we have to fetch it.

How long do those big rectangular bales last you? I was offered some (nice hay!) for a similar price, and I think they would deliver (I'd have no way to transport) but I wasn't sure if it would be enough for winter, and storage would be an issue.

I use wrapped haylage which can be stored outside. I pay £30 for medium sized bales. They vary in size but roughly the size of 7 small bales of hay.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · I feed 3 Highland ponies who have virtually no grass and a bale lasts me 12 to 14 days

I mostly use large bales of haylage but also buy some large rectangular bales of hay. Those were £35/bale delivered, the haylage is £37. For 2 large TBs a bale lasts me a week once we are fully into winter.

£5.50 is the price from the feed merchants, a bit cheaper direct from the farms.

You'd be better with big round bale if you've got anywhere undercover to store it. Should be about £40 and is equivalent to 12 small bales.

@GreyBlackBay I am moving to 4ft rounds this summer - any tips on how to manage them? Are they better laid on their side on straight up so can get sheets off them? Tia

@CountryCob are you storing them outside? I get 5' rounds and bought huge round bags from ebay that cover them completely with room to spare, then fasten with a bungee.

Ps mine are upright, I just slide the cover off, take what I need and recover.

@CherryogDog I think they are going to have to be outside as my system was a type of shed which little bales were carried into and out of by hand and used about 1 a day for my horses. The covers you suggest sound amazing, the bales are 4ft but a 5ft bigger cover might not be the end of the world? Was going to put them on pallets and have some shelter at the sides. The round bales were the only ones available really

Could I possibly have a link to the covers you like please?@CherryogDog

Up north we are paying £30 (delivered) for big round bales but as I am in the very fortunate position, after a wet summer, of having more grass than i know what to do with so am hoping not to be feeding hay for a while yet. Our supplier also has plenty of hay but maybe we're just lucky, being in a very rural situation.

We have tonnes of grass too, so pleased mine aren’t lami prone.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194813652156?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pNkmkFyyQC6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=QpA_CKH3SSW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I've seen someone lose all their round bales using those EBay covers. Condensation in warm weather, damp, mouldy hay.
If you cover hay there needs to be some air circulation. Large tarps, pallets on top and at the sided will help with this.

Mine sit on pallets and I only get 2 at a time, no problems yet but I can see that happening @Handlecarefully if you aren't careful

Thanks both that is really helpful

£3 off the field here last week and now £4 barn stored for collection. Worcestershire

Hi folks
I've got the option of very similar hay (late cut, meadow) in either 4 foot rounds (£30) or 135kg squares (£40) which do you think would be more cost effective please? I've not had the squares before but the rounds are a pain and tend to set my hay fever off although they'd be easier to get to my hay store... I'm used to the smaller sized europack bales but they went up to £6 at the end of last season and will probably go up again so I'm checking out alternatives...

Without knowing the weight of the rounds it would be hard to compare.
I prefer squares for ease of use, but the rounds are easier to move.

£6.50 here but yo is getting round bales for winter which will equate to around £13 a week for each livery