storage?

[muddipuppy]

I'm getting two baby Nigerian Pygmies next month and am getting ready. I'm wondering what kind of storage I will need for them for hay, and I have no idea what else. How quickly will they go through a bale of hay? Do I need a plastic storage bin of some sort? Can I just keep it in the garage or will it attract pests? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thx.

 

[freemotion]

Do you plan to get your hay one bale at a time? Sounds like it. Put it in a storage tote or it will end up all over the garage! Don't store hay right on a cement or dirt floor or it will get moldy.

You won't likely have problems with pests, but you never know...

How much they will eat will depend on many factors, such as their age (that bale will last a while if they are still on the bottle) and whether or not you have pasture/browse for them. Also, what type of feeder you use and how much they turn into bedding. What time of year....if your winters are cold, they need a bit more hay to stay warm.

I used 60 bales of alfalfa/grass mix hay for 5 goats (three dairy and two pygmy crosses) from Dec-April, and just used up maybe two bales since then, and only because I have to confine one doe part of the day. Also, I give everyone a little hay when it rains a lot. I have plenty of pasture, though.

 

[Henrietta23]

I'm new at this but here's what I'm doing. I bought two bales of hay. The open one is in a plastic storage bin, the other is wrapped in a tarp and up on a pellet. They're in my garden shed.

 

[muddipuppy]

when you say storage bin, do you mean one of those plastic ones that cost like $200?

 

[tiffanyh]

For my goat, two small goat would probably go through a flake a day.

Hay needs to stay dry mostly so it wont mold and make goats sick.

There are lots of good website that could give you an overall view out there of nigerian care also.

 

[Henrietta23]

when you say storage bin, do you mean one of those plastic ones that cost like $200?

Nope, a big Rubbermaid knock off that cost less than $20 at Walmart.

 

[ducks4you]

If you can get a free wooden pallet, it won't take up very much room, and will give your hay the circulation that it needs. Store the hay upright so you can see the wire or baling twine. When it is wet THAT is where it can mold, and mold can make your livestock sick.
If there are no free pallets available, buy 2-3 landscape timbers and use those.

 

[mully]

Hay needs to breath so do not store it in anything or wrap it up. I stack on 4x4's and pallets are also good. If you wrap it in a tarp and there is any moisture in the bale it will mold quickly.