Thinking about putting up a metal carport with 3 sides to store square bales of hay. Have some concerns though.
Anyone regularly store hay in an enclosed (at least 3 sides) metal carport? Any humidity/condensation issues and with it dust or molding of the hay?
What did you do for a floor? Did you leave the open end open or close it by hanging a tarp or fabricate an end with a door of some sort?
Any sage wisdom on storing small squares in a metal carport are much appreciated.
We have a metal/carport style haybarn/tractor shed. Hay is stacked on pallets or poles to keep it up off the floor. We leave the one end open, so no problem with moisture or condensation. Hay stays nice and clean and dry.
In every way, an improvement over keeping in a loft.
Probably depends on your climate. I have a metal carport with one open end and an open space all around under the roof, but it weeps. I’d never be able to store hay under it without it molding from the damp.
If the carport has a concrete floor I would use pallets to keep the hay off the concrete.
If the CP has a dirt floor, I would put down a heavy plastic tarp then put down the pallets.
The rain running off the roof of the CP and soaking the ground around the footprint of the building is the biggest drawback to this type of hay storage.
Think about a path into and out of the CP and how to prevent that from turning muddy.
If it is wet or humid where you live air circulation is a must.
Will you need to keep vermin out of the hay?
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