how long to leave hay baled before putting in shed

valtra2

i would like to know how long to leave hay out in feild that has been baled few ppl say leave it out for few weeks, but i cut it two weeks ago and it never got rain and baled few days ago, dont really want to leave it out in rain

pakalasa

If small bales definitely bring it in. If it rains, you'll be kicking yourself.
The big round ones are a lot more waterproof though.

After all, it does rain in Ireland.:D

reilig

My opinion is to bring them in as soon as you can. If the grass wasn't dry enough when they were baled then they're going to heat whether they're outside or in. Leaving them out in rain only means that the first inch of the bale is going to be affected. Made square bales recently and a neighbour tackled me about bringing them in off the flat without stacking them for a few weeks so that they could "season". Truth was that i had given the grass an extra day and shook it out an extra time just to be sure that it was dry enough.

The idea of leaving hay out comes from the old traditional way of leaving out cocks of hay. The grass was often very green when putting it into cocks and because the grass wasn't compacted, it would often dry out in the cock. As I said above, the grass that is going into bales should be dry and saved. There should be no need to leave it out. If you think your bales are going to heat, then you should be wrapping them.

Box09

Given the weather we have had and the fact that it was more than likely very fit at baling time, bring it in straight away - especially square bales.

locky76

Here, here Reilig, I brought in 431 small ones hot off the baler and left them lose in the slatted shed, too many memories of the finest of bales being pi**ed on out in the meadow three days after they were baled, mad stuff!

reilig wrote: »

My opinion is to bring them in as soon as you can. If the grass wasn't dry enough when they were baled then they're going to heat whether they're outside or in. Leaving them out in rain only means that the first inch of the bale is going to be affected. Made square bales recently and a neighbour tackled me about bringing them in off the flat without stacking them for a few weeks so that they could "season". Truth was that i had given the grass an extra day and shook it out an extra time just to be sure that it was dry enough.

The idea of leaving hay out comes from the old traditional way of leaving out cocks of hay. The grass was often very green when putting it into cocks and because the grass wasn't compacted, it would often dry out in the cock. As I said above, the grass that is going into bales should be dry and saved. There should be no need to leave it out. If you think your bales are going to heat, then you should be wrapping them.

roosterman71

The general rule for square bales is:
"If its good enough to bale, its good enough to bring in"

Round bales can be left out a while cos the rain won't affect them as much.

Back in my younger days, we used to make about 3500 small square bales a year. They were being brought in and stacked on a loft as they were baled.

blue5000

bring them in before they get wet or nicked