Putting Up Hay
Alpacas in pasture, hay arriving in background
Last weekend we got 200 bales of hay. We go through about 800 bales of hay a year, but I keep thinking that if we buy that many, then we will sell the farm and have hundreds of bales to move.
We got lots of hay on Saturday. Alpacas like orchard grass hay. It is almost a perfect food for them. This hay came from Kentucky. We can’t grow orchard grass this far south in Alabama so we bring it in.
Truck full of orchard grass
Trailer with hydraulics unloads bales
All dumped out, ready to go in the loft
This is the time when we wish we had a hay elevator to help get the hay into the loft. It’s also the time to get lots of exercise… or look really busy.
Alpacas don't look like they are going to be much help
Notice that the alpacas have taken it a step further. “If we play dead, no one can ask us to help”. Steve always says they look like they’ve been thrown out of a plane when they sunbathe like that.
It will be nice when the kids get old enough to help put up hay…
(if I sound lazy let’s chalk it up to swine flu. Yeah! That’s it.)
October 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Okay those sunbathing alpacas look HILARIOUS! I gotta agree they do look like they were thrown out of a plane.
Lady Coles´s last blog ..The Multicolor Wave
October 21st, 2009 at 9:21 am
That reminds me, got to order some hay for Oklahoma ranch.
Steve’s comment had me ROFL. I had never thought about it like that, but when they sunbathe they do look quite dead. I always figured it was like one of those horror movies where everyone is lying out in the streets, dead from some mysterious virus/gas. It’s difficult not to walk over and inspect the body, but they give you “a look” for disturbing them. I am greatly relieved when they get up.
Kathleen´s last blog ..Hoarding
October 21st, 2009 at 10:06 am
Where I grew up, there was a small horse pasture next to the post office, which was on the main drag of a street we would always drive down on the way to/from home and errands. One day one of the horses was lying down in that “dropped from an airplane” position, and my mom was certain that it had died, and was horrified that (a) a dead horse had been left in public view and (b) her children were witnessing it.
On the way home from that set of errands, the same horse was up and amount, grazing just like any horse in any pasture. Mom, feeling sheepish, coined the family expression we still use: “Looks pretty good for a dead horse!” It’s somewhat macabre, but always funny in my family. We also use the same intonation and phrasing to talk about the weather, if it was predicted to be foul and turns out fair: “Not bad for a rainy day!”
So, when I saw your post-skydiving alpacas, it was the only thing I could think of. “Not bad for a dead alpaca!”
Sorry to bring such a morose topic to your blog! It’s funny and a nice memory for me, I swear.
Emily´s last blog ..black cat
October 21st, 2009 at 11:09 am
Pancake alpaca! How cute!!
Moving all that hay looks like a lot of work! But hey, (was that a pun?) you’re going to have buff arms when you are done!
Shana´s last blog ..Too Early
October 21st, 2009 at 11:11 am
Now I feel extra lucky that we grow our own hay … and that we have a hay elevator!
October 21st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
thats funny! They play dead so they wont have to help. Hilarious! Lol!
October 21st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I love it when we do big round bales instead of squares cos then the tractor moves the bales to the shed and I get to sit down with a thermos of tea and watch the show.