Hay shelters, ideas?

I really need to make or buy new hay shelters....All tarps keep shredding and it's getting expensive! Plastic tarps only last 6-8mo under the sun, even the high quality ones.

I need a way to store 4-8 round bales. They are 4x5 in size. Either two shelters, one bale width or one shelter at 2 bales width.

Carport.com has one just the right size, $700 delivered and put up. And I may need the certificate, which adds $150-200. And making it 12g adds $300 more!!

Has anyone used the cattle panel and bent the roof into an A frame shape and then added corrugated roof panels to it?

I have the carport and it is very versatile. For a small investment, I added metal sides so its enclosed on two sides.

A pole barn structure is an idea if you have willing labor. They're simple, sturdy, and also versatile.

We're building an A frame structure for a chicken coop. It seemed simple and easy on paper but after four days, it's still not done.

For storing hay, I'd go with the carport. It's moveable, sturdy, and will last.

If you order a carport, go through a local dealer. Carport.com / Elephant Structures / Carolina Carports sucked---if you weren't ready for the delivery of the carport when they call you, then you have to wait a while to get on their list for a delivery date and that's if they showed up. Terrible company & terrible customer service... some feed stores or shed places sell carports for $695 or $795 depending on size, at least here in MD anyway. That's just driving by them, I've never inquired about them so I'm not sure about delivery/installation.

If you have humidity, anything with a metal roof might get condensation on it, which can drip onto the hay and ruin it. I have that problem with my pole barn, even though one large door is open 24/7, there is a ridge vent and a vent at each end. When the sun hits it, especially, it gets moisture condensing - not a ton, but enough to ruin hay. I finally built a hay storage area, framed in wood and with plastic over it, sloped to let the condensation run off.

If the barn had come with a vapor barrier, I wouldn't have that problem. Adding it now would be pricey, so for now it's a lesson in barn construction. On a carport size structure, it would probably be much easier and less expensive to add a vapor barrier.

I can toss some plastic on top to keep condensation off.
Better than this mess...

Decided to scavenge up cattle panels and U them overthe current bales. Layer plastic, then put on tarps. Hopefully, at least until spring, it will work and then I can figure something more permanent.

Well, that failed.
Individual wraps failed.

All I can find for carports and such is fake websites for other companies that ship in.

So, when building a barn or storage for hay, use OSB and not metal for the roof, right?

My little acre yielded 65 square bales the other day, mostly because it was 5' high and first cut came abt time of 2nd cut on the neighboring alfalfa fields.
I needed a third for my needs, so stacked the other 40 on pallets and tarped. My hopes were to sell on Craigslist for cheap and get rid of it before the tarps shred, but hasn't happened yet...

I have seen others on here make nice barns and sheds out of those carports and then finished off the interior with plywood or OSB before putting in stalls or lofts, etc.

I think I'll make cattle panel shelters for the sheep and use their side of the barn for the hay...Only way to do it w/o spending a lot of money I don't have right now. And it seems like the metal carport may just fly away or get crushed by snow at some point, that's a lot of scrap metal...

Go online to Farm Tek & see if they have any heavy tarps &/or high tunnel cover material in their closeout or end of roll deals. I've gotten some great, heavy, durable plastics from them that were inexpensive -- especially since they really last! Some are on 4th year, solid white. The reps are really good about helping & explaining different product material.

Years back I had 2 18x20 carports put up. Still good as new after 12 years! I have added & removed sides at various times for wind/rain/snow. Condensation can be an issue & hay doesn't like that BUT... I could store round bales on pallets, & tent plastic over for the light condensation, if needed. Still you are talking $800-1200. for one this size now. Mine are normally used for field shelters --- shade summers, sided winters if using the field then.

I've put up cattle panel hoop shelters in past, with tarps, mine lasted well. Maybe 12-14 months for tarp if installed in Fall. They seem to do best with colder weather first, then the sun bakes them. LOL Also, the heavy silver seems to last longer. those blue ones 3-6 mos.