How do you store straw?

[Moselle]

Go ahead. Laugh and make fun of the stupid city chicken owner.

Fine, now that that's over, can someone please tell me how to store a bale of straw? I really only have it to put in the nest boxes, so one bale will likely last a LOOOOOOOOONG time. Do I need to keep it in a bin? Sealed in a trash bag? Out on the lawn?

 

[rooster0209]

somewhere dry will be fine. no need to cover it.

 

[MRNpoultry]

We keep ours in garbage cans with bungee cords to keep the animals out. Metal garbage cans work best.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I put mine next to my goose pen, and cover it with a tarp on the bottom and top.

 

[patandchickens]

Best to keep it totally dry but AIRY (not in a bag or can) if at all possible -- straw is pretty prone to mold, and keeping it enclosed is just asking for mold problems.

Up on a couple pallets (not lying on the ground) is best.

HTH,

Pat

 

[dacjohns]

Keep it dry with air circulation. I was gone for 5 years and came back and what was left of the bale was still good.

 

[angelmarie]

I just use one of those big plastic rolling trash cans. The ones with the lids that come completely off and have that good snug seal, yea you have to make sure its on properly or the black widows get in there, and when you reach in to grab some hay you get a not so nice surprise lol

 

[DuckyBoys]

Mine's been sitting in the middle of the barn aisle for like a month now. I've been meaning to move it - but why bother?

 

[ravenfeathers]

i would steer clear of sealing it in a container. as others have said, this is asking for dust and mold. the best way to store straw is to keep it in a covered area with lots of ventilation and make sure it's up off the ground. you can get a wooden pallet to put underneath the bale. that will keep the bottom dry. once you've cut it open, you can loosely retie it to keep it tidy (and solid so that it doesn't look like a great place for a mouse to make a nest) and it should keep for many months.

 

[Moselle]

So it sounds like I could put it up on a shelf in the garage and it will be OK. And don't start talking about black widows - I've had it up to here with them.

Thank you all for being kind and helpful