Tree hay

4656 Views 93 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Boer Mama, 6 d ago

FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2021

I am looking in to making my own tree hay, at least some to experiment with over the winter. I’ll have their stocked supply of orchard grass hay as the staple and use tree hay supplementally. @Caileigh Jane Smith introduced me to this idea in another thread and it caught my interest.

Do any of you make tree hay? Or have any experience with it? Do you have any helpful links to instructional/informative articles or videos you could share? Any storage tips? I don’t have a ton of room once their hay is stacked for winter, so this so far is my only hang up.

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #2 · Jul 1, 2021

Check out Barakah Heritage Farm. They have a website, and some YouTube videos about tree hay.
I know a guy who works for a tree service. I haven't asked him yet, so no idea if he'd work with me, but I thought I could maybe take the truck out to pick up tree trimmings from their jobs. The trimmings have to be disposed of, anyway, so they might be happy to have me come and do it. Only issue would be making sure they're not from an area where nasty chemicals are being sprayed. Also, I don't have a great storage space set up yet. I was thinking something along the lines of a corn crib, with slatted sides to allow for good airflow.

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MadHouse

· #3 · Jul 1, 2021

@goathiker has lots of experience and info. I am hoping she will help us out.
We are also trying it out for the first time this year.
We are just going with the Willow trees that the beaver have cut, they sent out tons of thin branches. Once they were fully leafed out, we cut and hung them to dry in bundles (in the greenhouse).
We are planning on storing them in paper bags, so they won’t catch so much dust in the hayloft.
We are storing the ones that are thumb width or less. The thicker ones the goats get now. 😊

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #4 · Jul 1, 2021

This year, as an experiment and to see how the goats do with it, I may try hanging smaller branches from the rafters of the barn, up in the hay loft. When it comes time to feed, I could take them down and hang them from the trees out in the goat pen.

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #5 · Jul 1, 2021

@MadHouse and I posted at the same time! Looks like we're thinking along the same lines.

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MadHouse

· #6 · Jul 1, 2021

Caileigh Jane Smith said:
@MadHouse and I posted at the same time! Looks like we're thinking along the same lines.

Yes! Especially when it comes to using what is readily available! 👍

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 1, 2021

I’ll check that out for sure. I bet the tree trimmers would love if you take their trimmings. And I bet they know the areas and if chemicals have been used.

I have a huge pile of elm, white oak, and gum tree branches just waiting to go in the chipper, and more won’t be far behind it. We’re tying to get down damaged, leaning, or other trees endangering buildings, fences, or power lines, so there will more where this came from. And my acreage is heavily wooded. This is just form the five fenced (mostly cleared acres) and we still have almost 35 acres of thick woods on our property that we haven’t touched. And for the forest’s own health, it needs a bit of thinning. Though I could likely make tree hay for a decade and not make much of a dent.

A corn crib isn’t a bad idea at all. I was thinking of hanging bundles from the very tall rafters in my husband’s shop as a temporary solution. I just honestly can’t think of another place to put them right now. He doesn’t seemed thrilled.

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 1, 2021

So I’m super slow or you both are super speedy. Lol. I was just slowly replying (admittedly while I was wrangling a few goats who are mad I dared let them get a raindrop on them).

MadHouse said:
@goathiker has lots of experience and info. I am hoping she will help us out.
We are also trying it out for the first time this year.
We are just going with the Willow trees that the beaver have cut, they sent out tons of thin branches. Once they were fully leafed out, we cut and hung them to dry in bundles (in the greenhouse).
We are planning on storing them in paper bags, so they won’t catch so much dust in the hayloft.
We are storing the ones that are thumb width or less. The thicker ones the goats get now.

Oh gosh, yeah, I have a big greenhouse I could use. Didn’t even think of that. And how nice of the beavers to help.

And the thumb width rule is what I’ll have to watch. A lot of mine are thick, so I’ll have to figure it out. And I’m worried more about moisture than dust (though both could be an issue). I may have to try some each way and see which does better, with or without a paper bag.

Caileigh Jane Smith said:
This year, as an experiment and to see how the goats do with it, I may try hanging smaller branches from the rafters of the barn, up in the hay loft. When it comes time to feed, I could take them down and hang them from the trees out in the goat pen.

That’s a great idea!

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 1, 2021

NigerianDwarfOwner707 said:
@goathiker is obviously who you want to talk to - but personally I've taken an interest in it and done some studying. Check this out first: Goat Gardens: What to Plant, Forage, and Feed to your Goats

Thank you! It’s so funny because I just saved this in my Goat Files after seeing it on FB last night. Great information.

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #10 · Aug 25, 2021

So @FizzyGoats @MadHouse have either of you started on tree hay yet? I cut down some sassafras saplings and I'm working on drying those out. I've been eyeing the autumn olives and redbuds, but haven't gotten started on those yet.
This year, in addition to kale, collards, and spinach, I experimented with growing orach. It grew really well, and was delicious! When it bolted, I left a few plants standing in the garden to hopefully reseed themselves for next year, and cut the rest down for the goats. I fed it over the course of a few days, and started with just a few stalks at first, to let their rumens get accustomed to the new food. They loved it, and it's very nutritious, so it's something I might grow more of and harvest to save for winter next year.
Here they are, chowing down on their evening orach feast. It was almost dark, so the picture quality isn't great.

Aren't the seed heads pretty?

If you're interested, you can read more about orach here: Orach: An Ancient Vegetable That’s New Again

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MadHouse

· #11 · Aug 25, 2021

That’s great that the goats are helping you clean up and getting good nutrition at the same time!
That is a beautiful plant. I tried growing it, but it bolted immediately. Our summers are usually too hot for it.

I have been feeding some of the tree hay we have made. It is great on wet days when I don’t let the goats go out to browse. And it is great when the fuss budget milker doesn’t want grain or alfalfa pellets.

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MellonFriend

· #12 · Aug 25, 2021

Here's a thread I started on it a few years ago. Goat hiker's expertise is on there. 🙂 Tree Hay? Why not?
I never did try any of these tactics, I realized that I didn't really have anywhere to accomplish drying. But it's something I would love to do some day!

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 26, 2021

@Caileigh Jane Smith I have not done anything on it yet and keep kicking myself for it. I really want to try it. I’ve never even heard of orach. I’ll definitely check it out. Looks like your goats love it!

@MadHouse, where do you dry and store your tree hay? (I apologize if you already told me and I forgot).

@MellonFriend Thanks for that link. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot reading it. The space for drying and storing is a bit of a hiccup for me too.

For those who do make it, how many bundles do you like to have stored up for winter?

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goathiker

· #14 · Aug 26, 2021

You guys are thinking about the drying stage too much. It's not like green forage, it doesn't need all that much.
You cut the branches, bundle them into manageable bundles, tie them off, throw them into your truck, and take them to your storage area.
Inside your storage space there should be racks that are basically 8 foot 2x4s about 4 feet off the ground with whatever supports you come up with. Tie 2 bundles together and throw them over the 2x4. They should hang top down on either side of the board. Fill the board up all down it's length. The next bunch goes over top of this one. When you have about 4 layers, start on the next rack. Leave plenty of room between racks, 4 or 5 feet.
You don't dry it, just make sure that there's plenty of ventilation to wick moisture away. It will cure and still be green during the winter.

It's a bit late to be starting now. You should be cutting in June and July when the leaves are the most nutritious.

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 26, 2021

Thank you for this. I do overthink things and make them more complicated than they need to be. And yeah, I feel like I missed the boat for doing it this year. I do have some saplings that might work. I might do a bit anyway, just so I have the feel for it and it’ll be more entertainment for them than a nutritional boost. But maybe then I’ll feel more comfortable with it next year and get on it at the right time. I just need to find a storage space now.

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goathiker

· #16 · Aug 26, 2021

Are you going to coppice or Pollard?

NigerianNewbie

· #17 · Aug 26, 2021

goathiker said:
Inside your storage space there should be racks that are basically 8 foot 2x4s about 4 feet off the ground with whatever supports you come up with. Tie 2 bundles together and throw them over the 2x4. They should hang top down on either side of the board. Fill the board up all down it's length. The next bunch goes over top of this one. When you have about 4 layers, start on the next rack. Leave plenty of room between racks, 4 or 5 feet.

This description reminds me of the old wooden tobacco barns and the way my grandparents sort of put in the tobacco leaves.

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FizzyGoats

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 26, 2021

goathiker said:
Are you going to coppice or Pollard?

I have the option to do either. I think I might try a little of both. Do you have a preference?

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goathiker

· #19 · Aug 26, 2021

Coppice works really well on saplings. Pollarding is better for older trees.
If you do any ever greens leave the bottom ring of branches. They will grow up and form 2 or 3 more trees. You always have to leave a few branches on ever greens or they will die.

Cedarwinds Farm

· #20 · Aug 26, 2021

I eventually want to have a setup like goathiker mentioned. Since I don't, and since the hay loft is completely full, I am looking at putting up a temporary 'shed' made out of livestock panels and tarps, and stacking the partially cured branches on pallets to keep them off the ground. Mold could be an issue with our humidity, so that's why I'm partially drying branches before stacking, and I've been formulating ideas for keeping good airflow. I am not coppicing or polarding. Just lopping the leafy bits off of trees that are coming down anyway. So no real science here. Just some experimenting.

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