If you’re a farmer or just keep some livestock on your property then you’ll know how important it is to keep your hay or fodder supply adequately and safely stored. Leaving your hay bundles exposed to the harsh Australian elements can lead to significant financial loss.
It’s with this in mind that many locals are investing in hay sheds to create a safe and organised storage space for anything from fodder and hay bales to temporary animal shelters in the rainy season. Depending on the design you choose, your hay shed can serve a variety of purposes.
Advantages that Justify the Cost
There are many advantages to using a shed to create a more organised space on your property. Here are a few of the top ways that your space will benefit from adding one or even a few hay sheds.
1. You Can Create the Design You Need
The number one reason to opt for a hay shed is that you can create the design your space needs. Typically, Australian hay sheds are created with three closed sides and one much larger open side. Creating a hay shed with large open access ensures that you can easily store your hay and fodder bales.
With two open gables, it’s considerably easier to load and unload hay bales into the shed and makes it possible to access from both sides. This design also ensures that you’re able to rotate your hay bales so that the ones at the back don’t deteriorate and become harmful to the new bales.
There are also other ways to customise your hay shed to match the unique needs of your property. The most common of these include the following:
- Create access doors
- Install windows if you want to convert a part of the shed into a workshop
- Include sliding doors
- Add fibreglass skylights
- Include concrete flooring or use the natural floor
- Add insulation
- Paint using COLOURBOND cladding to match the rest of your décor design
2. A Strong Design Offers Protection Against the Elements
Anyone living in Australia will agree that the various weather elements can play havoc on your property. With this in mind, it’s essential to choose a hay shed design that can still protect your contents from damage and ruin.
Fortunately, Australian sheds are made with all these factors in mind. Shed walls are made from superior quality, galvanized RHS steel which means that your shed will be durable to last a lifetime. Since this type of steel also boasts a category 2 wind rating, you’ll have added support if you live in a cyclone or wind-storm-prone area.
Additionally, this strong design will also keep your hay bales more secure. As you may already know, hay bales don’t always stay exactly where you put them. Once stacked up, hay bales can lean to the sides and start leaning on the shed walls. When this happens, timber walls can get damaged. Fortunately, galvanized steel can support the hay without hampering the integrity of the shed.
3. Functional Storage Designs are Versatile
Another matter attraction to a modern Australian shed design is that it’s simple enough to store anything from hay and fodder bales to large machinery and everything in between. With the various customizable features, you can easily design the space you need to accommodate your needs.
A few of the common hay shed designs to consider include the following:
- Open front hay shed where the front is open
- Roof-only hay shed which is similar to a carport (keep in mind that this space won’t protect your hay effectively)
- Hybrid hay shed which you design based on your needs
4. Installation is More Cost-effective than Traditional Sheds
Installing a traditional shed structure using timber or bricks can be quite costly. Not only do you need to budget for the raw materials for the walls, but also need to get additional supplies for the roof. In a modern shed design, there’s no need for this.
Fewer materials ensure lower installation costs. You can also start with a basic structure and extend it as your business needs grow. When you need to expand your shed, you can add lean-tos and extra bays as needed. If at some point, you no longer need hay storage, doors can be added to the open sides to create a closed structure.
This means turning your shed into a closed storage room to secure store tools and small machinery is also a possibility. By adding doors and insulation, you’ll be able to use it to house smaller animals. With the right adjustments, the possibilities are endless.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re preparing to start an agricultural business, running your family farm, or just maintaining animals on your smallholding, it’s clear that your space will benefit from adding a hay shed. It’s a functional way to keep your animals, hay and fodder supplies safe and organised. You’ll find yourself wishing that you had installed one sooner!
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