How much are small bales of hay?

thenightrider

Hi i want to get some hay for my rabbit's i would rather just by some from a farmer rather then going to the pet shop if it works out cheaper can i buy small bales to fit in my car and how much would i be looking at.

Im in Dundalk so would have to be in that area to make it worth my while.

Thanks

Timmaay

There are very very few farmers who make small bales anymore, just not worth the effort! If you do find some, you wont fit more then 2/3bales in, assuming you have a hatchback/estate. A farmer might be willing to let you to buy part of a large bale, however its going to be messy putting that loose in your car ha! In terms of price, a 4x4ft round bale of hay would be 30quid or so, far cheaper then the same quantity from a petshop but obviously not practical to bring home!

Hmm, this conversion reminds me about a friend who was a Dub, called me up while back and said he was organizing a cycling race in the phoenix park, and he was looking to borrow a few round straw bales, to use on a dangerous corner, to stop the cyclist from ploughing into trees if they came off. I was like hmmmm yeh you can borrow them but transport might be a problem! He then asked straightout, how many could he fit in his Yaris!!!! I burst myself laughing, and explained that they were 4ftx4ft, and weighted 250kg each (thats no reflection on you nightrider by the way, just had2 mention it there ha)

kboc

some of the best agri land in the country is bound to have small bales. All those sheep farmers on cooley penninsula or those big dairy/arable farmers in mid louth.

Get in the car and drive around, and knock on their door. If not look in the Argus or Democrat

charityboy

check out hay in co louth on donedeal ,add gone up 2 days ago for small square bales ,you would feed some heap of rabbits with a bale should be priced between 3 - 4 euro a bale

Bizzum

I was in the north some time this year and saw a bale of hay for sale in a pet shop for £8 sterling.
Find a small overgrown corner of a garden locally and make a bit of hay if we get a summer:)

Rovi

Be aware that when farmers talk about a 'small' bale of hay, they're talking about an object measuring approximately 100 x 46 x 36 cm (3 foot x 18 inches x 14 inches), weighing 40kg or thereabouts.

You wouldn't fit many in a family car.
Or at least, not a car that you wished to remain suitable for civilised family transport

Given the small quantity I suspect you're talking about (a bale or two?), you might be better looking for hay from someone supplying the horse industry, or even approaching a local stables and asking them if they'd sell you a bit or give you the contact details of their supplier.
'Horse hay' is generally of very high quality, whereas hay that will 'do' cattle could be anything from superb quality to stuff that's actually dangerous to handle.


Be sure to tell whoever you end up dealing with that you're only looking for a (relatively) tiny quantity!
A friend of mine tells about an uncle of his who was selling straw years ago. This uncle was a grain farmer who sold all his straw baled out of the shed in the latter half of the winter, when it was generally a seller's market. He got a call from a very posh sounding lady enquiring if he had straw for sale and could she come look at it. She duly arrived in the yard and was given the grand tour, being driven all over the county to the various sheds he had the straw stored, and wined and dined with the family.
Our hero was notorious for always starting negotiations at at least double the current market price, and this time was no exception. The good lady was making no objections to his outlandish opening gambits though, and appeared to be willing to pay whatever price he cared to name. He finished up the tour with the pièce de résistance, a shed full of 4x4 bales of beautiful golden oaten straw.
The lady exclaimed that this was EXACTLY the straw she was looking for, and that she would take it!
With pound signs floating before his eyes, yer man says that they're £20 each. This was at a time when 4x4 bales of good barley straw were making £5!!!.
It's a deal, she says, grand, he says, how many do you want?
Just the one, she says, can you deliver it for me?

It turns out she was involved in making souvenirs for the tourist industry, and wanted the straw for the roofs of model thatched cottages. The single 4x4 bale would do her for years

He laughs about it now, but he wasn't laughing much at the time

johngalway

€2.80 ish for a small bale, haggle (it may have been lower this Spring, but €2.80 is the last price I remember).

Probably put two in the boot lengthways (bring rope to tie everything down) two in the back seat and one in the passenger seat if your car is as fancy schmancy as mine

ci985

Four euro a bale for last years hay in the crossmaglen area you can take one or two at a time if you want!!

redzerologhlen

Any half decent farmer would probably give you one or 2 for nothing if he had them.

As a matter of interest how much does it cost in the pet shop?

Sam Kade

Timmaay wrote: »

There are very very few farmers who make small bales anymore, just not worth the effort! If you do find some, you wont fit more then 2/3bales in, assuming you have a hatchback/estate. A farmer might be willing to let you to buy part of a large bale, however its going to be messy putting that loose in your car ha! In terms of price, a 4x4ft round bale of hay would be 30quid or so, far cheaper then the same quantity from a petshop but obviously not practical to bring home!
)

Simple solution with the part round bale, bag it and put it in the car boot, after all how much hay would a few rabbits need;) Car stays hay free and rabbits are happy

johngalway

Got three small bales for the ould fella this morning, €3.50 a bale for poor enough stuff :mad:

whelan1

thenightrider wrote: »

Hi i want to get some hay for my rabbit's i would rather just by some from a farmer rather then going to the pet shop if it works out cheaper can i buy small bales to fit in my car and how much would i be looking at.

Im in Dundalk so would have to be in that area to make it worth my while.

Thanks

get the local trader,loads of them under the farming section

vanderbadger

got about 70 there recently for 2.50 a bale, last years hay, nice stuff..got 6 free as well! collected by myself locally
was happy out
handy for small calves

Birdnuts

vanderbadger wrote: »

got about 70 there recently for 2.50 a bale, last years hay, nice stuff..got 6 free as well! collected by myself locally
was happy out
handy for small calves

Thats a very good price given the year thats in it - I'll be making a few small bales on the place I have in North Mayo and was sounding out locally what kind of price others are charging. All are quoting North of 3.50 euros.

Username John

Birdnuts wrote: »

Thats a very good price given the year thats in it - I'll be making a few small bales on the place I have in North Mayo and was sounding out locally what kind of price others are charging. All are quoting North of 3.50 euros.

vanderbadger wrote: »

got about 70 there recently for 2.50 a bale, last years hay, nice stuff..got 6 free as well! collected by myself locally
was happy out
handy for small calves

That is a good price.
I bought bales last Autumn for 3euro. But I guess they were delivered for that (albeit from 3 miles away, but still, it would be a pain for me to have to collect em)
Buy em from the same man for years - always 3 / bale delivered.

Atilathehun

Would "beart" of rushes, be any good to you:D I have plenty, free to a good home:cool:

Graces7

We use hay beds for the dogs.. straw is too prickly..

A kind farmer gave us a bale last year, but seeing farmers hereabouts struggling to get even sileage in, I am reluctant to ask and will need for the winter.

We have long grass galore in the land and garden aroung the house so maybe that is the way for us. IF we can get it dry....

jay gatsby

€4 a bale down in the south east for small numbers - little less maybe if it's a decent amount.

Oaten straw is the usual choice for dog bedding - do not use barley or wheat.

finbarrk

I bought 40 of last years lately. €2.50 each, good quality too. Co. Clare.

KatyMac

Graces7 wrote: »

We use hay beds for the dogs.. straw is too prickly..

A kind farmer gave us a bale last year, but seeing farmers hereabouts struggling to get even sileage in, I am reluctant to ask and will need for the winter.

We have long grass galore in the land and garden aroung the house so maybe that is the way for us. IF we can get it dry....

That's the way to go, especially if you are only looking for a small amount. I supply a neighbouring friend of mine who has guinea pigs with the dried grass that's left at corners when the silage has been collected from round the field. There's always a little bit missed by the machines. Any one that has access to a small patch of grass should be able to 'save' enough for pets unless they live in an awfully highly manicured area.