Cover my wet rolls?

UnlistMe
Inventry
Gather App
millstreaminn

millstreaminn

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Messages
928
City & State/Province
Northern Pennsylvania
I just got 100 rools of hay delivered today. They had been stored inside by the grower, I got them stacked but before I could get them covered they got 3 inches of rain on them. Question is: can I or should I cover them when they are wet? It is supposed to rain for the next 4 days and I really don't want them to get any wetter. I was thinkin' I should let them try to dry a bit though... But in Northern Pa, they won't dry much this year. Prolly freeze before they ever dry.

So cover wet, let dry a bit, or just leave 'em uncovered?

Thanks-Scott
 
I vot for just leave them uncovered, at least they can breath so less rot

dun
 
A lot of people store round bales up here outside and uncovered.

If they were properly cured you shouldn't see much loss.
 
Saltydawg":81xo86dc said:
A lot of people store round bales up here outside and uncovered.

If they were properly cured you shouldn't see much loss.
Click to expand...

They were cured. I piled them on pallets, inside my trench silo. I tiered them, five on bottom row, 4 then 3. Just ticks me off that I wasn't able to cover before the rains...
 
Is it feasible to cover them for the next few days and then uncover when it stops raining to let them dry some?
 
Chris H":55u9n55t said:
Is it feasible to cover them for the next few days and then uncover when it stops raining to let them dry some?
Click to expand...

I was thinking about picking up some plastic on the way home and covering... I don't assume they would mold in the next few days being covered.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
Storing htem uncovered tiered is a problem. They'll tend to rot each place that they're in contact with another bale.

dun
 
dun":3gjytnay said:
Storing htem uncovered tiered is a problem. They'll tend to rot each place that they're in contact with another bale.

dun
Click to expand...

Like dun said, they will rot in those spots worse than even the spot on the ground.

I wouldn't cover them either, but make rows of them, butt ends tight together and if you make multiple rows,leave at least a foot between the rows, maybe more depending how much snow you get.

You lose the outside couple inches,but not much more.
 
I wouldn't cover them either, but make rows of them, butt ends tight together and if you make multiple rows,leave at least a foot between the rows, maybe more depending how much snow you get.

You lose the outside couple inches,but not much more.[/quote]

I agree with LimoX and Dun. Stacked rolls with no cover causes rot very quickly as the water runs off the above rolls.
Now that it is wet, I would too stack it in a single row. If dry, I've found that it keeps very well if each bale is pushed tightly against the other. With it already wet, it's best to leave a gap.
 
I've done my own tests, and I lose less to spoilage when rowing the bales if I leave a little gap between the flats and not butt them up against each other. But that's in my climate, yours may vary.

cfpinz
 
When we store hay outside, the only time we stack it is if we've run out of room to store it. If it's not stored lined up we tarp it. If we were getting really top grade hay like good alfalfa I would either store it inside or stack it and tarp it.

dun
 
We stack hay outside if we can tarp it, which is what it sounds like millstreaminn was planning to do. I don't know where he is in PA but if it's like it is here then most winters you can lose an awful lot of quality if it's not covered.
If he can protect it from more rain I think he'll save it OK.
 
Chris H":1kms7tpk said:
We stack hay outside if we can tarp it, which is what it sounds like millstreaminn was planning to do. I don't know where he is in PA but if it's like it is here then most winters you can lose an awful lot of quality if it's not covered.
If he can protect it from more rain I think he'll save it OK.
Click to expand...

I am located in Northern Pa. It's snowing today...

As the walls of my trench are 14' high and my rolls are 12' high, I was able to put a tarp from wall to wall, not really touching the hay at all. I hope whatever moisture wants to evaporate will, and the tarp will keep the majority of new rain off.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top