- Location
- Deepest depths of Crusty Dell
Hiyah - can any of you wonderful farmers tell me how much hay I will need to get in and store for 6 sheep in readiness for winter please?
Thank you for all advice!
Thank you for all advice!
Hay for 6 sheep
- Thread starter mrsmojos
- Start date
2 round should be plenty or 20 small bales (probably have some left over)
- Location
- Ceredigion
In or out , sheep here have never seen hay or Haylage, they live of grass ,
- Location
- South Pennines ol14
Depends how winter goes … better a few to many than running out
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
You’re in Cornwall. They shouldn’t need anything unless there’s snow on the ground - does that happen often in your parts?
- Location
- Ceredigion
My sheep have shovel feet ,
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Mine do too, but their legs aren’t always long enough to reach the grass.My sheep have shovel feet ,
- Location
- Deepest depths of Crusty Dell
Although I'm sure you have a good point - I'm not sure is the answer -I'd rather be prepared and never have to use it than have a fit if it happens
devonbrion1998
Member
- Location
- Radnage Buckinhamshire
If they have any grass in front of them they won't touch any hay, so its really dependent on the size of the field there grazing
if there in, that's a different game
if there in, that's a different game
As above if they've got remotely anything green to eat they won't bother with the hay. But say they eat 1 a week that's about 24 for 6 months keep. Depending on what's available locally and your storage situation you might be better off buying 2 or 3 big bales of haylage. We get 4 stringers for £25 for the horses but small bale hay is £4.50/bale - 3 haylage bales would set us back £75 and live outside, 24 bales would cost us £108 and need dry storage.
LuckyEleven
Member
- Location
- Brittany
Ive a similar number of head, gone through 20 small bales already just getting through the drought...
- Location
- Deepest depths of Crusty Dell
Hiyah, they are neither pets or lawnmowers, we are starting our smallholding 'this year' so these lovely ladies will be bred next year. They do have plenty of land, but I am also a walking risk assessment (I was a nurse in my previous life so I am always seeing problems when there are none!!), so I will definitely take your guidance - thank 'ewe'
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
I would say buy 20-50 that way if you don’t feed them all ( you won’t) you will have enough for them the next winter and no worry.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
It's not the size of your flock that should be the limiting factor, but the size of your storage. Good hay will last indefinitely and hay bought now will probably be worth more after Christmas. If it isn't or doesn't sell, you can sill feed it yourself.
Aspiring Peasants
Member
- Location
- North Pennines
It should be a good year to buy hay after the weather we've had. Buy 40 to 50 small bales if you can store it and as others have said you've got for next year. Who knows what the weather will be next summer so it may be scarce and more expensive. Just make sure what you buy is good stuff
Tamar
Member
May I suggest you just find a farmer to buy some off and pick them up as they are needed.
Storing a small amount of hay isn't ideal. Ends up turning dusty and mouldy.
If you have grass, the sheep aren't going to eat much at all.... if any.
toquark
Member
Buy rounds and break them, a whole lot cheaper than small bales. You’ll need someone with a loader to move them or if it’s flat and dry you can roll them about.
As others have said the amount you’ll need depends a lot on storage and how much grass you’ve got. Sheep will not touch it if there’s anything green there. In Cornwall I’d imagine the grass grows most of the way through the winter so you may not need much at all. I only feed it when there’s deep snow lying, a rarity in that part of the world I’d have thought
As others have said the amount you’ll need depends a lot on storage and how much grass you’ve got. Sheep will not touch it if there’s anything green there. In Cornwall I’d imagine the grass grows most of the way through the winter so you may not need much at all. I only feed it when there’s deep snow lying, a rarity in that part of the world I’d have thought
Tamar
Member