Hay storage ideas - Shelter Logic?

[KLeaphart]

@BoyleHeightsKid

Do you put the plastic on top of or under the pallets? Right now where I’m storing them I’m having trouble with the bottom bales in the back corner starting to get dusty. I stack the bottom bales on their sides and clean it out good before I put new hay in, but with all the rain and humidity this year it’s a struggle. I go through about 50 bales a month and by the time I get to the bottom they are starting to get dusty in the back corner. The hay is on pallets with a shale floor.

I think I’m definitely going to go with a shelterlogic until we get the barn done,which is going to take some time since we are trying to build as we go so that we don’t have anymore debt than we do, or wait until the land is paid off in 13 years lol.

I put plastic down first to seal out moisture, then pallets on top for airflow. I was going to use a tarp instead of plastic but decided against it as most are only “water-resistant” and would eventually be permeated.

I also did way too much reading on stacking the bales. I stack the first row on its side, perpendicular to the pallet slats then the second row is sitting normally (strings facing up) perpendicular to the first row. Then repeat going up alternating the orientation of the bale (on its side or strings up) and alternating direction (either perpendicular or parallel to the pallet slats). I also leave a couple inches between bales for increased airflow, but this can begin to take up a good bit of space and may not work if you get larger loads of hay.

To keep dust down, I sweep excess hay out and if ever gets really bad I suppose I’ll break out the leaf blower. As far as preventing the back corner bales from getting dusty like you mention, alternating which end of the shed you are getting hay from (assuming your ShelterLogic will have two doors) will eliminate the untouchable corner hay issue.

Edited to add: Just saw your post about flood concerns. I should’ve mentioned that I extended the plastic up the sides of the wall a few inches and taped it so water wouldn’t get on the plastic and leak in.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@KLeaphart

I put plastic down first to seal out moisture, then pallets on top for airflow. I was going to use a tarp instead of plastic but decided against it as most are only “water-resistant” and would eventually be permeated.

I also did way too much reading on stacking the bales. I stack the first row on its side, perpendicular to the pallet slats then the second row is sitting normally (strings facing up) perpendicular to the first row. Then repeat going up alternating the orientation of the bale (on its side or strings up) and alternating direction (either perpendicular or parallel to the pallet slats). I also leave a couple inches between bales for increased airflow, but this can begin to take up a good bit of space and may not work if you get larger loads of hay.

To keep dust down, I sweep excess hay out and if ever gets really bad I suppose I’ll break out the leaf blower. As far as preventing the back corner bales from getting dusty like you mention, alternating which end of the shed you are getting hay from (assuming your ShelterLogic will have two doors) will eliminate the untouchable corner hay issue.

Edited to add: Just saw your post about flood concerns. I should’ve mentioned that I extended the plastic up the sides of the wall a few inches and taped it so water wouldn’t get on the plastic and leak in.

I do clean the hay out and sweep really good before stacking the new load in there and I’ve only had this problem the last couple of loads I’m sure because of the humidity and all the rain we’ve had. That’s another plus to getting the shelterlogic is being able to access both ends of the shelter. Yep, getting one.

Thanks everyone!

[IFG]

My hay supplier said to put the pallets down and then the plastic and stack on top of that. I had no bad bales this year. Word to the wise. Walking on plastic sheeting on top of pallets is sort of like ice skating. It becomes even more exciting when you are carrying a 40 lb bale of hay.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@IFG

My hay supplier said to put the pallets down and then the plastic and stack on top of that. I had no bad bales this year. Word to the wise. Walking on plastic sheeting on top of pallets is sort of like ice skating. It becomes even more exciting when you are carrying a 40 lb bale of hay.

One of these days I’m going to break an ankle walking on those pallets getting a foot stuck in them when not paying attention.