My daughter’s horse has moved home, and he has taken up my extra hay storage stall. In addition, my hay supplier warned me that this was a lousy year for second cut, so I probably need to buy hay now for both horses to have second cut come spring. If I put down a tarp with pallets, and then use a shelter logic, would that work?
Can you close the front?
It won’t be as secure as it would be in a completely enclosed space: no matter how tight you seal that sucker, something will find its way in there, but I think that is the case no matter where you store your hay.
My bigger concern would be moisture from the ground coming up and ruining your bottom layer of bales. Tarps will “sweat” if there isn’t enough air flow to allow the moisture to evaporate and be moved out, and I’ve seen it ruin more than a few bales :no:
I’d make sure there is plenty of airflow under the stack.
I have that exact ‘shed’ from TSC and it is very stable – I live in MA, too, and was worried about how it would survive near the ocean during storms, but it has done great. My neighbors that use a bigger one for hay storage have had good luck by putting down plastic sheeting – think shower curtain more than tarp – and two layers of pallets, and then a tarp. Good luck.
Maybe better to build a shelter? Even just a cover. I prefer to keep my hay in an enclosed storage to keep out opossums that are in our area.
But interestingly when I buy hay; all suppliers store their hay in open sheds/shelters anyway.
I agree the tarp would get moisture you probably don’t want.
What about some kind if geotextile fabric instead of the tarp on top of the pallets? Some protection, but not totally waterproof so hay sitting up against it could still dry out with airflow underneath?
I have the “Garage in a box” from Shelter Logic for my hay and grain storage. I love it! I just have pallets down as the “floor” and it works great!
We had a storm 2 weeks ago with strong straight line winds (sheriff said it was a tornado) and it was not affected at all!
Well worth the $349 I paid for it.
I’m in central Florida.
Great info–thank you! Current plan is to put down a heavy duty tarp, then a vapor barrier, then the pallets and stack the hay directly on the pallets.
I use a tiny version of one as my “redneck” tack and feed room. The second the barn is up small squares are going to fill it. We also have a huge version that was storing stuff while we moved. Rounds will go in there. (I hope)
That shelter that Grand Prix linked to does have a front cover, it is simply folded up out of the way for the photo. We have one that I have tractors and equipment inside of. You will get a huge amount of moisture coming up from the ground and dripping back down from the ceiling, depending on your location. I would also suggest heavy mill plastic covering the ground pallets, maybe rocks salt dumped thru the slats of the pallets then another cover over the pallets. Hay costs too much to loose to mold and moisture. If you can do something to the cover to add vents it might be helpful. The darn things can really get damp inside.
Oh, almost forgot, the style of shelter that is “peaked” like the one you linked to,… snow will not slide off of it. the tarp roof dips under the weight of the snow and the frame that is at the junction of the sides and the roof prevents the snow from sliding off. Two years ago we had a Shelterlogic collapse under the snow weight. the round topped shelters have a different frame and the snow will slide off.
chicamuxen
Yep, my hay storage is that exact building. A search should bring up a past thread I commented on.
Skip the tarps, not good for hay. I put down several layers of moisture barrier (the proper kind from the hardware store, for construction), then pallets, then stacked my hay and zipped it shut.
Tropical storms, ice storms, wind, etc, not a drop of water has gotten in, much to my surprise!! A lovely black rat snake moved in as guardian. Worth. Every. Penny.
I hate snow, which is why I live here, LOL, so we don’t have to deal with that. But do be aware (a) it does NOT come with the appropriate 3’ anchors for some stupid reason, only short ones, (b) there is nothing “easy” about the “easy-auger” anchors unless you live in a tilled garden bed, I had my neighbour drive pilot holes with his tractor-mounted hydraulic post driver, sheesh, & © I’m very handy and have assembled a million things but it took 3 people and two days to put this up because it’s like a horrid Ikea process where you get to That One Step that makes you want to jump off a cliff.
But once the frame was up, fabric stretched tight & it’s been phenomenal & my hay kept perfectly from Nov till now in the humid, changeable, crazy weather south. Plenty of airflow around base, but I also installed their wall vents to let hot air out, it gets oven-like in there otherwise.
Location matters as well – I was very careful to not put it under any trees (falling branches) & where winds would keep occasional random snowfall from accumulating as well as keep air moving in summer. I’ve had ZERO condensation, mold, or any hay loss. That’s just going to depend on your property.
Thanks all. Have the vapor barrier already as I use it on top of mats and under the pallets to store hay in my hay stall :). Now tell me more about cutting vents? Doesn’t the rain and snow get in? As for snow, I can knock that off easily enough in my area.
I don’t have that shelter, but I do have a stone/dirt floor in my hay shed. After several years of trying various options to keep the hay dry on the bottom layer, I nailed sheets of plywood on top of the pallets. Wish I had thought of that sooner! Bales are 100% dry AND no hay mess falling into the pallets and getting moldy and disgusting. Not expensive, and not permanent…easy to sweep, way better than just pallets.
No, ShelterLogic sells great temp controlled fan vents on their site. I messed up the first time and ordered my SL vents from Home Depot – pic looked same, but they don’t have the fan. Since I put the shelter near the top of a hill, no biggie, it’s a got a breeze, but making sure I get the fan ones to jury rig on to my feed shed!
They have wide plastic vents angle down with screens. No rain or bugs get in unless it is raining up, which means we have bigger problems.
Cool, thanks. You have a hill? So envious, we are in the flatlands of Massachusetts.
[QUOTE=wildlifer;7749768]
No, ShelterLogic sells great temp controlled fan vents on their site. I messed up the first time and ordered my SL vents from Home Depot – pic looked same, but they don’t have the fan. Since I put the shelter near the top of a hill, no biggie, it’s a got a breeze, but making sure I get the fan ones to jury rig on to my feed shed!
They have wide plastic vents angle down with screens. No rain or bugs get in unless it is raining up, which means we have bigger problems.[/QUOTE]
Whoa, I didn’t know MA has real flat places! But yes, I spent two years property searching b/c I required (a) NO flat land and (b) great soil. I REALLY REALLY REALLY hate mud!!!
Two layers of pallets will help whenever storing hay. With just one layer, the air space in the pallets will get clogged up pretty quickly with loose hay defeating the purpose. 2 layers seems to help.
[QUOTE=wildlifer;7752297]
Whoa, I didn’t know MA has real flat places! But yes, I spent two years property searching b/c I required (a) NO flat land and (b) great soil. I REALLY REALLY REALLY hate mud!!![/QUOTE]
Believe it or not, Southeastern MA is pretty flat. What I wouldn’t give for some hills for conditioning.
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I made a pallet and tarp sandwich…
Place first layer of pallets on the ground…then the tarp…then another layer of pallets. This prevents ground moisture from coming up and condensation from forming under the tarp. This has worked beautifully with no hay spoilage.
Be certain that small animals (skunks and others) cannot get in.
