Hay-Barn Design Criteria

Hay barns are a necessity on all large farms, horse ranches and cattle operations. Hay is used to feed livestock roughage, either as a basic part of the animals' diet or during cold weather when grass is not readily available for consumption. A poorly designed or constructed hay barn can ruin the stored hay and cost farmers hundreds of dollars.

  1. Dry

    • The most important design criterion for a hay barn is that the structure be built so that the hay stored inside of it stays completely dry. Wet hay can mold, making it completely useless as a source of nutrition for your animals. If not detected prior to feeding, moldy hay can have severe health consequences for your animals. Wet hay will also generate more heat than dry hay and has been shown to increase the chances of having a hay-barn fire. Hay will also be more inclined to collect moisture and mold if it sits on the bare ground, so make sure to plan to put a floor in your hay barn that will keep the hay a minimum of several inches off the ground.

    Well Ventilated

    • Hay is highly flammable and can catch fire when stored in extremely hot, crowded and poorly ventilated storage areas. Making sure your hay barn has good ventilation will make the barn cooler, aid in keeping hay dry and reduce the likelihood of hay fires occurring due to excessive heat. One or more thermometers should be placed in easily visible locations inside the barn to keep track of temperatures.

    Access

    • In order for your hay barn to be useful, you have to be able to get hay in and out of it easily. Your barn doors should be large enough to allow you to drive large tractors, trailers and trucks into it to load and unload hay. There should also be room to turn vehicles around or 2 sets of doors to allow them to drive through the barn. Your hay barn should also be located on high ground near a good road that you will be able to access in all weather conditions. A hay barn will not do your animals any good during the winter months if you cannot get to the hay.

    Pest Proof

    • Small animals, such as mice, rats and other vermin, may decide that your hay barn is a good place to take up residence if it is not built with some consideration towards keeping these animals out. Rodents and other vermin will make nests in your hay, deposit feces in the hay and carry a wide variety of bacteria and diseases, putting your animals at risk if they consume rodent-contaminated hay. Making sure your hay barn is built out of materials that are difficult for pests to get through can help reduce the likelihood of hay contamination due to vermin.