Sounds like the hay was not quite dry when baled. My dad (and I have done the same) always had me and my brother in the barn salting hay when it was like this. We used coarse softner salt. I've done it with table salt, too, because you can't always find that kind of softner salt around here nowadays.

If the hay was baled a little too casey you might want to set it out in a single layer, cut side up for several weeks. That should help prevent it from molding and getting too hot. If that's not possible I'd stack it rather loosely with some ventilation space between the bales.

Janet

If it's hot and humid in your area, keep a close eye on the bales. Spreading them out is a good thing, but do stick a hand in a bale - or use a compost or barbeque thermometer - because the bales CAN get hot enough to smoulder and burn. It sounds like they weren't quite dry when baled. If you have the room, but not enough to spread them out in a single layer, you can lean 2-4 bales together, on end in a teepee shape, and let them dry out that way. If your barn has fans, turn them on, and if not, get some of the bigger fans you can find, beg or borrow, and set them up with the air running across the bales.

I would also, if you haven't, speak to the guy who baled and delivered it - for no other reason than to let him know there may be a problem with the hay - he doesn't need a barn fire any more than you do. IF he were willing, you might break open the bales, if they don't seem to be drying out with the other measures, and spread the hay out to dry more, and then rebale it. The problem with this, is that A. the hay will break up more, so there will be leaf loss, and B. it may still be a bit "spoiled".

If at all possible, can he take these back and give you replacement bales that were dry when baled? IF he has other, cattle-feeding customers, whose animals are not quite so picky about their hay as horses are, so he's not taking a loss on them, he might be willing to do so.

And last, but certainly not least, DON'T DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF. Ending up in the hospital or with your back out for months is no help to you. If worse comes to worst, see if there are a couple of husky, strong teenagers around to hire! You might be able to frame it so they are happy with it, never mind getting paid - they will be building upper body strength!

I realized after hitting the submit button on the above, I had left out an important point -

If the hay is, in fact "bad", then the supplier should take it back and replace it, no questions asked. My next to last paragraph was more along the lines of your first approach to him. If he gets balky, stick up for your horses!

ninapearl
I found this on the subject of hay curing and the sweating process. I was raised on a farm and helped with the hay baling and have heard the word curing and sweating of the hay all my life. Hay can be totally dry and once its baled it can and will go through a sweating/curing process to an extent, a very small extent. Most stem type hays will have an amount of mositure content within their stem for several months after the curing and baling process. When we cut hay in the Early Spring time then we wouldn't feed that hay until the winter months until after it went through the heating/ sweating proecess. We never had a barn catch fire due to hay if you remember to stack fresh cut hay kinda loose. We are in a draught here in middle tenn and not to much spring hay was gotten up this year. Here is a link to what I found on the subject. Now if hay is wet from rain and then baled if will mold for sure and the mold will smoldder and the chance of a fire from that is more likey.If you walk into a barn where the hay was cut and baled correctly with very little mositure the smell will be sweet, but the hay will still be going through a sweating process, but if the hay was baled wet, will it will stink so bad you can't stand to be in the barn. Here the link for you to read. Sandy http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/bse/442-105/442-105.html

interesting article, thanks! unfortunately, spreading this hay out isn't an option, it's stored in a 30' x 60' open-front hay barn.

i have spoken with my supplier and he assures me that if there are any problems whatsoever, he will make it good either by a refund in full or a new load. i have dealt with him in the past and i know he's honest.

thanks again for your input, it has helped me a lot! nina:)