Comments on: Hay vs. Straw http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2010/02/hay-vs-straw/ Our Family's Journey To Self Sufficiency Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:52:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mrs. D http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2010/02/hay-vs-straw/comment-page-1/#comment-9187 Mrs. D Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:39:43 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=4033#comment-9187 OK I think I've heard it all now. The only reason I know the difference between straw and hay is that we have almost every gardening book ever printed. You don't put hay in the garden for mulch unless you want a healthy crop of weeds. Straw is what remains after the grain has been removed (the seed). There are lots of different types of straw too. Of course as many different kinds at there are different grains. (wheat, rye, oat etc, etc.). Hay on the other hand is just grass with all the seeds... the good part for the animals who get protein from that part of the plant. Alfalfa hay seems to be the best for that, or there's clover and many other types depending on what the predominate crop is in the hayfield. Old hay can be used as bedding, but you must be careful the animals don't eat moldy hay or they could get sick. Usually you can put old hay into the compost, but make sure that it is well cooked to kill all the seed or you'll again get a huge crop of weeds in the garden. You can use mulch hay for over grass seed when you are planting grass too to help keep the seed in place and will add a few weeds in there too :). Actually eggs without a rooster are better... not fertilized, so don't have blood spots. :) Then again if you want babies... guess you need him after all. OK I think I’ve heard it all now. The only reason I know the difference between straw and hay is that we have almost every gardening book ever printed. You don’t put hay in the garden for mulch unless you want a healthy crop of weeds. Straw is what remains after the grain has been removed (the seed). There are lots of different types of straw too. Of course as many different kinds at there are different grains. (wheat, rye, oat etc, etc.). Hay on the other hand is just grass with all the seeds… the good part for the animals who get protein from that part of the plant. Alfalfa hay seems to be the best for that, or there’s clover and many other types depending on what the predominate crop is in the hayfield.

Old hay can be used as bedding, but you must be careful the animals don’t eat moldy hay or they could get sick. Usually you can put old hay into the compost, but make sure that it is well cooked to kill all the seed or you’ll again get a huge crop of weeds in the garden. You can use mulch hay for over grass seed when you are planting grass too to help keep the seed in place and will add a few weeds in there too :) .

Actually eggs without a rooster are better… not fertilized, so don’t have blood spots. :) Then again if you want babies… guess you need him after all.

]]> By: Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2010/02/hay-vs-straw/comment-page-1/#comment-9185 Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:15:35 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=4033#comment-9185 I just learned the difference recently too! I just learned the difference recently too!

]]> By: Carmen http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2010/02/hay-vs-straw/comment-page-1/#comment-9175 Carmen Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:29:33 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=4033#comment-9175 Before we moved to the homestead I didn't know any different, either. We've had goats for about 8 months now and I still have to remind my mom which is which (she lives with us and helps our middle son take care of the goats --one of them is hers). Now...next question..."how do you get eggs without a rooster?" Yup...been asked that one! ;) Before we moved to the homestead I didn’t know any different, either. We’ve had goats for about 8 months now and I still have to remind my mom which is which (she lives with us and helps our middle son take care of the goats –one of them is hers). Now…next question…”how do you get eggs without a rooster?” Yup…been asked that one! ;)

]]> By: Deanna http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2010/02/hay-vs-straw/comment-page-1/#comment-9172 Deanna Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:21:07 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=4033#comment-9172 I think that hay also has the entire stalk present but straw had the seeds removed...for a future planting. Hay can also be of different quality alfalfa is better than fescue for example. There is so much to learn with animals. I find that the fun of it. I think that hay also has the entire stalk present but straw had the seeds removed…for a future planting. Hay can also be of different quality alfalfa is better than fescue for example. There is so much to learn with animals. I find that the fun of it.

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