Anyone grow hay? Timothy in particular?

[Cranky]

I got some seed awhile back and tried to get it going in small planters but it never took a hold. Would like to know how to get it going or is my weather too ruff for it? SE Texas and hot for long periods and sometimes not much rain during those hot periods.....

 

[khryslerkid]

You would have to have plenty of moisture in the ground to get it started then weekly to biweekly rain.

Getting some animals?

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

Here in Indiana we get 3 cuttings a year. You need a lot of regular rain showers to get a good Hay crop.

Tom

 

[sam dupont]

I considered raising it when I had horses. It is said to be a superior feed for horses.

 

[khryslerkid]

I considered raising it when I had horses. It is said to be a superior feed for horses.

That and Orchard grass. Big money for that around here and the Eastern Shore. Race Horse fuel.

 

[Budnicks]

Straw (never tried to grow it) or hay
grows like most grasses,
it need like an 1" of water weekly/regularly
a good healthy dirt/base soil, not sand-based soils
3-2-1 nitrogen-based fertilizers (we used a spray) to help start it,
especially if the soil isn't great
that's how we grew it in/on 165 acres Garden Valley
in ElDorado Co. Ca.
back when I was a kid (really hot/dry summers, cool winters)
for our cattle, horses, bedding for other animals

 

[Budnicks]

www.wikihow.com/Grow-Hay

 

[6PK2GOBEE]

It’ll stunt trying to grow it in pots and never reach maturity. We grow select Timothy hay for horses around here.
In pots it’ll play out the nutrients pretty quickly.

 

[khryslerkid]

Pot? Grass?

 

[moparedtn]

Easy enough answer....
Move to Tennessee. Can't hardly keep the stuff from growing EVERYWHERE....
including gravel roads, through concrete, anywhere.
In fact, my "yard" is all pasture honestly - tamed pasture from decades ago
("Johnson Grass") that if I don't keep it down turns into hay, as in the pickin' and
balin' variety, literally in a couple weeks.
Fertile soil. Tons of rain. Yep, it grows here, whatever it is.

 

[MarPar]

haaaay lol

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

When I was in the trucking business we hauled the big rectangle bales of hay from Eastern Colorado to all the horse farms around Lexington, KY. So if you want to grow the most expensive Hay in the country study how they do it in Eastern Colorado.

Tom

 

[Cranky]

You would have to have plenty of moisture in the ground to get it started then weekly to biweekly rain.

Getting some animals?

It's the main staple for prairie dogs and well, I still have one. Used to buy a bale about twice a year for 3 but 1 bale gets so dry as it doesn't go very fast for just 1 dog and the last bale I got must have been the 3rd cutting. Lots of 'fluff' if that's what it's called. More like short grass with very few stems or tops.

 

[toolmanmike]

I'm a alfalfa fan myself. It's a legume and not a grass and is more nutritious. My uncle milked cows and fed them some clover hay. Damn good stuff that comes through in the milk.

 

[toolmanmike]

It's the main staple for prairie dogs and well, I still have one. Used to buy a bale about twice a year for 3 but 1 bale gets so dry as it doesn't go very fast for just 1 dog and the last bale I got must have been the 3rd cutting. Lots of 'fluff' if that's what it's called. More like short grass with very few stems or tops.

Third cutting can get pretty thin. If we get enough moisture we can get a 4th but there isn't much to it. You have to make a few extra rounds with the rake to get a big enough windrow to bale it.

 

[Cranky]

I'm a alfalfa fan myself. It's a legume and not a grass and is more nutritious. My uncle milked cows and fed them some clover hay. Damn good stuff that comes through in the milk.

My problem is that PD's rely on Timothy hay. The stuff isn't cheap if you buy it from a exotic pet supply. The feed supply I've been buying it from is 40 miles one way and well.....not sure what I want to do. I'm getting kinda low and don't want to buy another bale of 3rd cutting. Might buy a 50 lb box of it from a pet supply ($$$$) and take my chances to tide me over until the first cutting is over come late spring but that still doesn't mean I'll get that from the feed supply store. The last bale cost me 32.50 and the drive and can only imagine what it is now. That was back in mid June.....of 21! but think I got left over hay from the fall of 20!

 

[khryslerkid]

I wonder what a TSC or that type of store would have? I know rabbit pellets have hay in them along with corn. There were small 2" squares for rabbits that was compressed hay. Maybe you've sought those alternatives out before. Any local farmers in your area?

 

[dodgedifferent2]

Yup we grow many varieties and mixtures for the dairy herd.

We deal with quality seeds. Here are the pasture mixes.
Pasture Forage Mixes | Quality Seeds

The alfalfa is dependent on the soil. We can usually get 4 cuts a year, depending on weather. This summer was dry so not very good yields.

We let the field grow three years then plow down for crop rotation.

Horse owners in this area dont like the alfalfa content. Go 800 kms north to the in-laws and they can't get snough alfalfa in their hay. So it is very dependent on the areas and the colder climates.

If your planting a pasture, get in touch with the local seed dealers to get a recommendation for your weather and soil. Its easy as going for a drive and finding the signs advertising the company. Every area is different.

There are some that are a bit drought resistant and some that need lots of moisture. I can't even guess for what i see texas as. (Dry and sandy)

I HATE reed canarygrass and would never suggest using it for cows.

 

[Cranky]

I wonder what a TSC or that type of store would have? I know rabbit pellets have hay in them along with corn. There were small 2" squares for rabbits that was compressed hay. Maybe you've sought those alternatives out before. Any local farmers in your area?

Ever heard of 'monkey' biscuits? A very local feed and supply had them and our first P dog loved them but that place quit stocking them. Not even sure if they are still in business anymore. And since I'm pretty close to Houston, most of the farmers have moved away. Used to be some and some cattle around here but that's been gone for nearly 50 years now.

Yup we grow many varieties and mixtures for the dairy herd.

We deal with quality seeds. Here are the pasture mixes.
Pasture Forage Mixes | Quality Seeds

The alfalfa is dependent on the soil. We can usually get 4 cuts a year, depending on weather. This summer was dry so not very good yields.

We let the field grow three years then plow down for crop rotation.

Horse owners in this area dont like the alfalfa content. Go 800 kms north to the in-laws and they can't get snough alfalfa in their hay. So it is very dependent on the areas and the colder climates.

If your planting a pasture, get in touch with the local seed dealers to get a recommendation for your weather and soil. Its easy as going for a drive and finding the signs advertising the company. Every area is different.

There are some that are a bit drought resistant and some that need lots of moisture. I can't even guess for what i see texas as. (Dry and sandy)

I HATE reed canarygrass and would never suggest using it for cows.

The soil around my place ranges from medium gumbo to top soil and there's plenty of 'garden' soil where I used to have a garden. I brought in a good amount of 'good' soil for the garden years ago.....but not sure how good it is now.

 

[sam dupont]

For a PD, couldn't you go with hydroponics and have fresh feed all the time?

How To Grow Timothy Hay Indoors

Growing grass in pots and containers is easy but requires a few basic conditions and steps. Click to learn how to grow timothy hay indoors.

indoorgardentips.com