Hay Barn Design

[clarkmorefarm]

That's what ours is. Plan on building one on the opposite side of the farm . Dread getting a price on building one!

Have you looked at the Summertown Metal buildings?

I had them build a 2 car garage on my place last year and was the best price I could find including the concrete.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Outside stored hay stores a lot different in different locations.

My outside hay is currently completely under 3'+ of snow and the 5' space between the rows is packed solid. Also the ground is not frozen, so the bales slowly melt the snow from below and they spend 8 months with snow melt trickling thru them. 200+ inches of snowfall melting and 40-50" of rainfall aren't kind to hay stacked outside long term. 2 year old hay has quite a bit of spoilage, so I never try to carry over any hay stacked outside.

Barn is perfect for stockpiling hay in the abundant/cheap years and carrying it over for when things get dry/expensive.

 

[RDFF]

Outside stored hay stores a lot different in different locations.

My outside hay is currently completely under 3'+ of snow and the 5' space between the rows is packed solid. Also the ground is not frozen, so the bales slowly melt the snow from below and they spend 8 months with snow melt trickling thru them. 200+ inches of snowfall melting and 40-50" of rainfall aren't kind to hay stacked outside long term. 2 year old hay has quite a bit of spoilage, so I never try to carry over any hay stacked outside.

Barn is perfect for stockpiling hay in the abundant/cheap years and carrying it over for when things get dry/expensive.

Yeah, you've got a really "special" situation there Chevy. Be difficult to have hay stored outside in those conditions. Has to be hard to find a way to get around with that much snow being "the norm"!

 

[alacowman1]

Hope to put lean shed on this side in the future..and close the far side in

 

[kenny thomas]

Remember the surge in prices for lumber as Covid took off? I expect a similar surge with the fires in So. Cal.
I built a pole barn in 2020 just before the prices escalated, that was bid for 20K from a reputable builder... for less than 6K in materials. It is amazing what labor and a contractor's license costs.

Im not understanding lumber prices being high with log prices the cheapest i have seen them in 40 years. Mills here don't even want many species because its not profitable to saw it. These are all hardwood.

 

[Travlr]

Im not understanding lumber prices being high with log prices the cheapest i have seen them in 40 years. Mills here don't even want many species because its not profitable to saw it. These are all hardwood.

Well maybe I'm wrong. I'm just thinking the demand will be pretty high after all the fires.

 

[kenny thomas]

Well maybe I'm wrong. I'm just thinking the demand will be pretty high after all the fires.

Oh you are correct. Lumber prices in the stores are still high.
Here the closest market for pulpwood is 250 miles away. Most of it is just left in the woods now.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Im not understanding lumber prices being high with log prices the cheapest i have seen them in 40 years. Mills here don't even want many species because its not profitable to saw it. These are all hardwood.

Like everything it's the middle man who does the least work making the money.

I sold my logging equipment 6 years ago because there wasn't enough profit in it then to justify the work, guys today are getting paid nearly the same as I was back then and prices of everything else have skyrocketed.

 

[Brute 23]

View attachment 53901
Hope to put lean shed on this side in the future..and close the far side in

That's a good looking cover. Some one knew how to use a hammer on that deal.

 

[alacowman1]

That's a good looking cover. Some one knew how to use a hammer on that deal.

He only lives half mile from me as the crow flys..building and construction is all he's ever done..

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

@RDFF I do similar with my dry bales - but, I definitely leave more room between rows - I feed with a tractor not a skid steer. People don't understand, that if you push them up tight - flat end to flat end, my net wrapped dry bales stay just as good as in a barn. Yes, you will get 1/4 to 3/8" spoilage, but the cattle eat it. "IF" you let round edges tough (cringe!!), you might as well just set them in a pond. All the water or melting snow runs down the bale INTO the two bales - ruining them. At least if you live in an area like ours.
And the subject of covering with a tarp. IF I covered bales out here (we did it ONCE), you work you hiney off trying to remove the tarp (if it stays on) as you need bales. Between the weight of the snow - or frozen ice, it's nearly impossible.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

View attachment 53901
Hope to put lean shed on this side in the future..and close the far side in

My hay would mostly get ruined in an open barn like that. With blowing rain & snow. Not saying I wouldn't LOVE to have that building. Mine would need sides.

 

[chaded]

Hay being covered from the top and side is only part of the equation. The biggest contributor to hay loss around here is where the hay touches the ground.

 

[RDFF]

Hay being covered from the top and side is only part of the equation. The biggest contributor to hay loss around here is where the hay touches the ground.

And THAT's why I use "bale rails"... pretty much 0 spoilage on the bottoms.

 

[Dave]

View attachment 53901
Hope to put lean shed on this side in the future..and close the far side in

That is how they are built here. Except maybe taller. Most stack the 3x4x8 big squares 6 high. So that is an 18 foot tall stack.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Anybody who claims that any bale stored outside "stays just as good" as inside barned stored hay is dillusional. Ha.

Something sitting out in the rain/snow/sun/wind/soil/etc simply can not retain the same quality as something protected from those elements. I don't care if we are talking a hay bale, piece of lumber, or a car the outside elements simple degrade things.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

My hay would mostly get ruined in an open barn like that. With blowing rain & snow. Not saying I wouldn't LOVE to have that building. Mine would need sides.

I have plenty of hay stacked in an open sided building and none of it gets ruined and we get the same wind/rain/snow as you do. Is it as good as hay completely enclosed? No but its better than outside stored hay.

 

[alacowman1]

My hay would mostly get ruined in an open barn like that. With blowing rain & snow. Not saying I wouldn't LOVE to have that building. Mine would need sides.

The outer bales will get a little discoloration slight mold..fed the two year old hay already,they wore it out

 

[chaded]

Anybody who claims that any bale stored outside "stays just as good" as inside barned stored hay is dillusional. Ha.

Something sitting out in the rain/snow/sun/wind/soil/etc simply can not retain the same quality as something protected from those elements. I don't care if we are talking a hay bale, piece of lumber, or a car the outside elements simple degrade things.

Not to mention that outer layer contains quite a bit of hay as well. So even if they eat the degraded hay it wasn't that nutritious.

I am usually able to get most of mine in but not all of it and the difference between the outside hay and inside is pretty staggering.

 

[alacowman1]

Anybody who claims that any bale stored outside "stays just as good" as inside barned stored hay is dillusional. Ha.

Something sitting out in the rain/snow/sun/wind/soil/etc simply can not retain the same quality as something protected from those elements. I don't care if we are talking a hay bale, piece of lumber, or a car the outside elements simple degrade things.

Like I've heard said..you'll pay for a hay barn one way or another..in the waste over the years