Making your own hay for livestock

[Livestock lover]

Has anyone tried this? If so please tell me how to do it because I tried once and failed! lol

 

[Cricket]

Are you trying to do it without any equipment? I've been cutting june and orchard grass and some clover and letting it dry on the hay barn floor. I'm feeding it to 2 of my young calves--they inhale it like it's cotton candy and it's not time efficient. We put up around 400 bales for winter with one newish tractor and old (well, actually, antique!) equipment

What did you do that failed? What region do you live in? What kind of animals are you feeding? Think you'll get more responses if you are more specific. Our big issue in my region is having enough dry days in a row to get it dry. And then the keeping it dry!

 

[Livestock lover]

Are you trying to do it without any equipment? I've been cutting june and orchard grass and some clover and letting it dry on the hay barn floor. I'm feeding it to 2 of my young calves--they inhale it like it's cotton candy and it's not time efficient. We put up around 400 bales for winter with one newish tractor and old (well, actually, antique!) equipment

What did you do that failed? What region do you live in? What kind of animals are you feeding? Think you'll get more responses if you are more specific. Our big issue in my region is having enough dry days in a row to get it dry. And then the keeping it dry!

Yeah keeping it dry is the hard part. I'm just trying to get free bedding for rabbits, chickens, etc. No I don't really have equipment.

 

[bubba1358]

I do it with a scythe on a very small scale. I only have the 4 animals, plus some extra needs for chick-u-bator lining. I've got an acre of land devoted to hay, which I cut 3x a year. It takes about a day. It dries in windrows, then I scoop it up and wheelbarrow it to some racks I set up from old pallets in my shed. It's great exercise, and very meditative...and "runs on breakfast"!!

 

[Livestock lover]

I do it with a scythe on a very small scale. I only have the 4 animals, plus some extra needs for chick-u-bator lining. I've got an acre of land devoted to hay, which I cut 3x a year. It takes about a day. It dries in windrows, then I scoop it up and wheelbarrow it to some racks I set up from old pallets in my shed. It's great exercise, and very meditative...and "runs on breakfast"!!

Nice! So you don't buy any bedding at all for your animals?

 

[bubba1358]

No. I try to do everything 100% from what's on hand. I use rotating electric netting, with a solar/battery energizer, and portable shelters, and they're out in pasture 24/7. Then in the winter they stay relatively confined, and I bring em a wheelbarrow of hay from the shed. It's been working great so far. I only use about half my 5.5 acres for the three sheep and donkey.

 

[secuono]

All hay is, is dried grasses.
Mow or use a scythe, let dry 2-3 days, rake up and store in a dry, but breathable location.

 

[Livestock lover]

All hay is, is dried grasses.
Mow or use a scythe, let dry 2-3 days, rake up and store in a dry, but breathable location.

Good post! Thanks, that is helpful!

 

[Rachel.And.Yue]

All hay is, is dried grasses.
Mow or use a scythe, let dry 2-3 days, rake up and store in a dry, but breathable location.

Good post! Thanks, that is helpful!

*just one tip* I would not use a mower that leaves any residue on the grass. Animals have a tendency to eat their bedding and anything left on the grass (such as oil/gas), even when dried, can make them sick and possibly die...a push mower might work better then regular mowers for this.

 

[Livestock lover]

All hay is, is dried grasses.
Mow or use a scythe, let dry 2-3 days, rake up and store in a dry, but breathable location.

Good post! Thanks, that is helpful!

*just one tip* I would not use a mower that leaves any residue on the grass. Animals have a tendency to eat their bedding and anything left on the grass (such as oil/gas), even when dried, can make them sick and possibly die...a push mower might work better then regular mowers for this.

Okay.