People that buy hay from feed stores

[virginia]

Gee after reading all these posts, I don't feel bad about paying $4 a bale for 60lb Timothy.Delivered and stacked. Four years ago, when we were snowed in (3 ft) and couldn't get to my barn (drifting) to feed the horses, I had to make a run to the feed store daily to pick up 7-8 bales of hay. It was expensive but necessary. It's the only time I had to, but it's nice to know it was available.

Ginny StP

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

We buy from the feed store on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The hay is grown locally (Northern California). Some of the grass hay comes from further north - 8+ hours away.

We don't have good storage so I'm only willing to risk tarped stacks for a few weeks or so in the winter. We buy 60+ bales at a time in winter and usually 100 in the summer. We feed Alfalfa and Mountain Pasture, Orchard or Rye grass depending on which is softest. My feed store knows how picky I am about soft grass hay for the babies. The bales are usuall 100-125 lbs (these last feel heavier!). Price is $9.50 for alfalfa, $12.+ for the Mountain Pasture. Summer it drops about 2-3 dollars a bale. We usually get the ton weight price and free delivery over 100 bales otherwise it's $25 for delivery.

We can buy from a few local hay merchants, but I'd rather have our feed store deliver, stack and tarp for us than buck hay myself!

 

[DunPainted]

Sorry, don't know what happened with all the posts.

 

[DunPainted]

Sorry again.

 

[DunPainted]

:no:

 

[DunPainted]

GREAT POST..............

Here in NE Wisconsin, we have two farmers from whom we purchase (both store for free). The bales weigh approx 40-lbs and pay $2.50. First crop is less expensive $1.75. During haying season, one farmer brings huge kick-baled hay wagons right to our barn and we QUICKLY unload and pay $2.00...great exercise!

Last year, one of the farmers had EXCELLENT hay. This year, their hay is stemmy, a couple bales with mold.

Our other supplier's hay is terrific THIS YEAR. However, last year it was very dusty because the gravel pit was dynamiting and remnants fell to the ground. Their horse began having breathing/allergy problems, attributed to that crop of hay. We stopped buying from them after the first load....nothing like having a horse with heaves!

It's a delicate balancing act to keep both farmers supplying us....each have an abundance, but don't want either to be "put out" and cut us out come Spring.

It's fascinating to know that, even though Californians pay $12-$16 per bale, theirs are triple the weight of ours in Wisconsin. Add the cost of transporting to their area, and the price is within reason. (I couldn't lift/stack the bales....thus robbed of the exercise I enjoy from bucking hay!!)

On its face, organizing a group of horse breeders together and buy hay sounds like a good idea. Only problem is what happens if the hay quality is AWFUL....do you refuse the load? My friend in Florida had this happen on a few occasions (looked like straw) and refused the loads.

There are so many variables in purchasing hay....when it's cut/baled (dry), has the field been reseeded for quality, type of storage before delivery, region of where harvested, trustworthiness/knowledge of farmer or hay dealer, etc.

I admire folks who "know their hay" and what's good for their horses. Always thought straight alfalpha would cause founder in minis....but I guess that isn't true. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME PLEASE!

Thank you.

:aktion033:

 

[Sonya]

I buy from my local feed store, which is actually just a local famer who sells purina products. They grow the hay and normaly have about 100 bales at the store which they replenish as needed. They keep it in a shed. It is a grass/hay mix, they normally have available 3 different cuttings. They also sell a couple different types of straw. You can also have them deliver it for you right from their farm, but you have to buy a min of 100 bales - I don't have room so I just go to the store every couple months and buy about 10 bales at a time. It is of good quality and good price, plus it's very convenient since they are only about 10 miles away.

 

[Loess Hills]

We buy our feed from a feed store in Nebraska, just across the river from Sioux City. The feed store has fresh feed, they're very careful about their storage and supply. They also have a selection of excellent 4th cutting Alfalfa, brome grass hay, etc. We're really picky about our hay, and can put up enough or buy some brome grass hay from the guy who bales for us. I think we pay $2.00 a square bale for wonderful alfalfa. But we may only get 5-6 bales a winter.

 

[HGFarm]

I am in central AZ and we have many feed dealers here. They carry different brands of bagged feeds, etc... and yes, hay, shavings, straw, etc.... Usually most of them here carry two or three different kinds of hay. Alfalfa, timothy (which may as well be dipped in gold) and bermuda, which if not cut at the right time, does not have much in it and we usually use it for bedding!

Yes, their hay is always either inside or covered. They go through truckloads so quickly that it doesnt have time to even think of getting old. I always check the hay before I buy and if I dont quite like it,will try one of the other places.

 

[Southern_Heart]

Ok another question (actually 2 questions)

I understand Miniature horse people that will only buy 1 or 2 bales at a time.

I don't know about others but I buy my hay to last till spring when we get new cuttings. We have 24 minis and 2 big ones. If we don't buy in a large amount to last us over, none of the farmers here are going to have any. So its best to stock up. At least I do. I have enough to last till April. Gald I bought it as all the hay farmers here are sold out now and the Feed Stores don't even have any. None at all to be had unless we truck it in from far east Texas and thats not getting it at a good price. Even then it would be ify if they even had it.

 

[vvf]

This has been very interesting. Around here our feed stores only sell bags of feed such as alfalfa cubes/pellets and the different complete feeds,etc.

If i walked into our local TSC and asked for a bale of hay, they would look at me like i was nuts! LOL

Loss Hills, This really surprises me, because i am only 90 miles straight north of you. I didn't realize that feed stores down your way sell hay also.

I don't know about others but I buy my hay to last till spring when we get new cuttings. We have 24 minis and 2 big ones. If we don't buy in a large amount to last us over, none of the farmers here are going to have any. So its best to stock up. At least I do. I have enough to last till April. Gald I bought it as all the hay farmers here are sold out now and the Feed Stores don't even have any. None at all to be had unless we truck it in from far east Texas and thats not getting it at a good price. Even then it would be ify if they even had it.

Yes, that's what we do too. We buy plenty (more than we need) My husband always says it is better to have too much than not enough.

Actually now a days we don't buy many small squares, we mostly buy round bales.

[/quote Hey, maybe you need to hook up that truck & trailer and start delivering hay....and taking some horses home with you on the return trip!!

]

Jean,

from the sounds of it, trucking and selling hay could be a heck of a part time job.....Nope, not for me though, my full time job doesn't allow me any extra time the way it is.

And your probably right, it would be too tempting not to bring a few more horses home

 

[Becky]

If i walked into our local TSC and asked for a bale of hay, they would look at me like i was nuts! LOL

Well, actually, my local TSC has started carrying some really nice looking alfalfa!

 

[Tammie-C_Spots]

I buy my grain through a feed store and hay from a farmer but have bought hay from a feed store. Here we have "farm and garden" stores and they will carry horse supplies. In one place they keep only a small stock of hay and straw and grain. Hay quality isn't that good for the price. The other place is more horse supply oriented. They have a big warehouse out back with three different kinds of hay. They keep about 100 of each type in the warehouse so I can go look at it and they have tractor trailers parked outside (like 6 of them) full of hay.

Tammie