Where to buy hay.

[O So]

Which feed store are you using? I go to River Valley... but I buy hay direct from the grower until he runs out. After Eric runs out, I have to switch to River Valley. We're currently feeding alfalfa, as that's all I can find that's decent. I can only store 15 or bales at a time myself, so I have to do hay runs once a month (7 mares, 2 goats). I much prefer to feed the tri-forage hay Eric grows, but he runs out usually about December, depending on how the growing season went.

I was getting my hay from River Valley at first. It is the closest feed store to me. That and I get a SHA discount!

Not much, but every bit helps. When they ran out of the Orchard grass hay, I tried Elverta Feed and that is when I fell in love with their hay. I would rather pay more and get the better quality stuff, then to get a discount on the lesser quality. I was shocked at the difference in quality. Sad thing is, now I don't want to go back to the old hay, even though I may have too. Then again, the way you talk, they must still be out of it? I haven't checked yet.

I didn't want to feed straight alfalfa because of the things I heard about it and minis. So I have been trying to find the grass/ alfalfa mix ( Orchard grass hay). Although I have to say, I'm not sure what my new hay is. I do know it has alfalfa in it. My farrier thinks it is bermuda grass mix? I am going to take bag full to River Valley to ask if they know what it is, and see it they can get it.

I probably wont buy for a year at a time, but I will try to buy for 6 months at a time. Basically I want to try to do it where I can make it through the rough periods with no worries. I am learning a lot though. I really never new that hay would get scares like this. In a way it was good that my first place ran out, because I would have never known there was even better stuff out there!

My hay that I buy is probably 4ft long by 2ft wide and 18" tall. I guess it probably is heavier, but I was able to handle it by myself, so that is why I came up with the smaller number. LOL The stuff I was getting from River Valley had a mix of alfalfa and grass but the grass was sometimes kind of thick stemmed and sometimes on the yellow side. It was also tight and hard to pull apart. The stuff from Elverta was loose, really green and smelled yummy! It also had less stems and was more like soft grass. I really like it and so do the boys.

I want to thank you all for your tips and suggestions, and your compliments. I really appreciate it. You guy's are great.

 

[GrullaBlue]

re: storage

Perhaps if you had a place to set up some pallets, you could store hay on said pallets and cover the bales with a tarp, so you could have more on hand at a time. We grow our own, store a few hundred bales in our barn, and the rest is stored in sheds off the property nearby....but we go through three bales a day, more when it's really cold out (single digits and lower). I was going to suggest looking at Craigslist, or even stopping by some farms in the area and seeing if they might have any to sell, or contacts of people who have some. Otherwise.....the pellets or cubed hay may be the way you have to go until you find some. You could perhaps store a couple bales in the back of your hauling van if you needed to....or a basement if you have one.... since you buy few enough bales anyway....I think there are plenty of creative ideas to come up with some sort of hay storage to help you be able to buy more at one time....

 

[GrullaBlue]

Totally missed the second page..........someone already mentioned the pallets!

re: storage

Perhaps if you had a place to set up some pallets, you could store hay on said pallets and cover the bales with a tarp, so you could have more on hand at a time. We grow our own, store a few hundred bales in our barn, and the rest is stored in sheds off the property nearby....but we go through three bales a day, more when it's really cold out (single digits and lower). I was going to suggest looking at Craigslist, or even stopping by some farms in the area and seeing if they might have any to sell, or contacts of people who have some. Otherwise.....the pellets or cubed hay may be the way you have to go until you find some. You could perhaps store a couple bales in the back of your hauling van if you needed to....or a basement if you have one.... since you buy few enough bales anyway....I think there are plenty of creative ideas to come up with some sort of hay storage to help you be able to buy more at one time....

 

[O So]

Ok, I think I found some hay!!

I was at the stables I take O So to, to see if I could get a couple bales from them and a delivery came in right when I got there. I talked to the guy and he said his business has Orchard grass hay with no alfalfa and also has a grass hay with 10% alfalfa. He said the kind with the alfalfa looked better then the stuff he was delivering to the stables. I thought it looked good so this other may be the same kind I bought from the Elverta feed store. I am hoping it is at least. I loved that stuff!

My truck is in the garage waiting for a windshield repair, so I plan on going tomorrow to see about getting some of the 10% stuff. I am going to take a bag full of my current hay and try to compare.

I did talk to my friend that runs the stables and she said I could buy hay from them if I am ever in a bind again. So that is a good thing. At least I have a back up plan. She also told me some of the in and outs on hay supply for this area. So I at least know what I want to do as far as buying amounts and all. She also let me know that things will be better come April. So I only have a couple weeks and the hay supplies and quality should be getting better. She let me know that I want to stock up come January. So that is good to know.

I have decided to buy 6-8 bales at a time. When I get down to 2 bales, I will restock. In January I will by enough hay to get me through till April!! That way I wont go through this again!!

I am feeling so much better knowing I will be able to go get hay tomorrow!

Well, that is if it's not raining!

If it is I will have to wait till Sunday, but I still have a half bale of hay left, so I will be good till at least Monday or Tues.

 

[GrullaBlue]