Building Project

Hay Shed

Building the base for our hay shed . . . another project using free railroad ties.

We laid out the site in the fall of 2008 and began building in April of 2009. These pictures are at the end of May 2009.

Five 36-inch-wide terraces on the inside of the hay shed, which will get wide boards so the hay bales can be stacked on a flat surface.

The width of each terrace is 36 inches, the length of a hay bale.

June 3 through June 9, 2009.

Erecting and anchoring the metal frame for the hay shed.

Self-closing gate so we can bring hay from the shed into the horses' winter field (small field).
Anchoring the metal frame in a number of different ways to make sure it stays in place.
January 15, 2011 - our second winter using the hay shed.

We want some of our hay located close to where we feed in the winter. When the horses are out during the day we feed two times, at 6 o'clock in the morning and at noon. We only have to carry the hay 20 or 30 feet, through the gate, to the winter feeding area in the small field.

Skip. 23-year-old Quarter horse gelding.
Chance. 14-year-old Hanovarian mare.
The hay shed holds 165 to 170 bales. The hay lasts for 5 to 6 months; generally we feed from the hay shed from late November through April.