Wanted to ask when stacking small bales in the barn with a concrete floor what’s best to put between the hay and floor so it doesn’t mold?
I would like to avoid pallets if possible to try and keep little furry creatures from living in the pallets.
Thanks
Something that’s an adequate moisture barrier.
Even with pallets, any time I’ve used them between hay and concrete without a moisture barrier, the bottom bales still got musty.
Pallets. Be very judicious about cleaning them out before stacking and regularly sweeping.
How much hay are you laying in?
we use a large, industrial-quality tarp, then pallets laid on top of that, then the hay. It works great, and so far haven’t had any issues with creatures. But we also have dogs and barn cats.
You def need some sort of moisture barrier.
We use pallets and do have creatures, but cannot put hay directly on concrete even with a tarp.
The hay needs the air circulation.
The creatures would find a a way through the bales anyway.
If you lay the pallets so they line up properly, you can keep the open area under them cleared out somewhat with a blower - that’s what I try to do when we have to keep hay in our lower barn on concrete. We don’t put a moisture barrier down, just the pallets, and haven’t had an issue, but I also don’t keep much in that area. We have most hay up in a loft, but sometimes have to put a little overflow on the main (concrete) floor. Even if you don’t use pallets, you’ll get critters in amongst the bales, so I wouldn’t not use pallets for that reason. Set traps if you need to.
I live in a very, very damp climate (SW WA state…land of eternal gray and wet) and my large barn has a concrete floor. I store the majority of my hay on pallets over a tarp, but I also have a ton of 125 lb. orchard stored directly on the floor–no issues with mold or damp or animals. I’ve never had hay mold from floor contact in the 14 years I’ve used my barn for such. My floor is smooth, and has no cracks.
If you live in a dry climate (Fruita, CO??) I think a tarp alone might be adequate–makes clean up easier too.
Is this a climate thing?? I’ve been storing hay on pallets on top of concrete and never any mold?
Or critters, now that there is no oats in the barn.
I store my hay directly on the concrete floor and have never had issues with the hay being ruined. I am, however, in a fairly arid climate.
[QUOTE=SimpleSimon;8958065]
I store my hay directly on the concrete floor and have never had issues with the hay being ruined. I am, however, in a fairly arid climate.[/QUOTE]
Same here and I think where the OP is she should not have any problems either.
If the hay is put in right, below the moisture indicated for that hay, it should not mold on the concrete or dirt barn floors?
I have 8 foot square boards that I line up and stack the hay on top of them. There’s ventilation underneath and they’re easy to move, and remove, as I work through my hay. I’ve done this for ten years with no problem. I use them in the barn, in one of the 12x12 bays. I also use them in the 12x16 hay shed, but I put a tarp down under the boards since moisture is more likely to get in there as the snow melts in the spring. I will occasionally lose a bottom bale to mold by the time I get down to the end of my stack, but it’s not a big deal. For me it’s just much easier to manage the posts than pallets.
^^ similar here. I have a dirt/gravel floor hay shed and had all kinds of mold issues with pallets over tarps, or tarps over pallets. Finally tacked plywood on top of pallets and it’s been fantastic for 4 years. No mold, no moisture, and no hay in the pallets.
I store some hay in my garage on the concrete floor and just set it directly on the concrete, because it’s temporary (easy access for hay delivery in winter, and I move it to the barn 20 bales at a time). But if i was going to store there for longer I might just put plywood over the concrete. If permanent, I might put pallets and then plywood.
The best way I’ve found is to put a tarp over the concrete as a moisture barrier. Then buy some bagged shavings and place the bags on the tarp every few feet. Then put some of these fence panels on top of the bagged shavings. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ok-brand-handy-panel-8-ft-l-x-50-in-h?cm_vc=-10005 Put the hay baled on top of the fence panels.
This has the advantage of allowing air to circulate under the panels. As you feed the hay, store the fence panels upright for next year, and use the shavings to bed your stalls.
Years ago I used to store hay in a dirt floor carport with no garage doors. Stored my hay on pallets with plastic over the top of the pallets. Because of the open front carport, I also hung tarps to tent off the hay. Never had a problem. Cleaned it out each summer before getting the new hay in.
Mice and rats will find ways inbetween the bales no matter what.
Radiant floor heating…
Only kind of kidding. It works GREAT at keeping the damp out of the concrete, but there is the cost factor.
I use pallets with cheap plywood on top. Not fond of using a tarp over pallets because my feet inevitably fall through and get stuck between the pallet slats.
Double stack your pallets, making sure they all line up the same way if possible. Make sure all hay/pallets is at least 1’ away from the walls if you can - a big enough walkway for cats, dogs and ideally humans to patrol.
This makes the opening and access much larger, easier to clear out with a leaf blower, and less friendly to critters. Critters won’t want to nest in a spot that feels wide open, and can be accessed on all sides - critters like to be tight up against walls and in nooks and crannies.
agree with putting plastic over the floor. you really should put plastic under the concrete to reduce sweating, but whoever built my barn didn’t know to do this, so my floors can get damp. I use the heavy, heavy contractor’s grade plastic, the kind you can’t punch a hole through for anything. Put that right on top of the concrete, then a layer of pallets on top of that. whenever I have failed to use the plastic in a small area the bottom bales get ruined but like this, I am able to keep all the hay nice.
Oh, and those of you storing directly on concrete? makes sense because I’d bet you money your concrete was poured on a moisture barrier since it is so wet there. here, lots of people skip that step because it is just average wetness. it is a pain to do but it definitely pays off in the long run.
If you don’t want to use pallets…landscape timbers will work, too.
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