10 Easy Steps to Craft Hay in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley hay crafting guide

hay stardew valley

If you’re looking to make hay in Stardew Valley, you’ll need to first grow some grass. Grass can be grown in any season, but it grows fastest in the spring and summer. To grow grass, simply till some soil and then plant grass seeds. You can purchase grass seeds from Pierre’s General Store or JojaMart. Once you’ve planted the grass seeds, water them regularly and they will soon grow into mature grass.

Once the grass is mature, you can harvest it to make hay. To harvest grass, simply use a scythe to cut it down. The cut grass will then turn into hay. You can then collect the hay and store it in a silo. Hay can be used to feed animals, or it can be sold for a profit.

Making hay is a great way to make money in Stardew Valley. Hay can be sold for a good price, and it is also a valuable resource for feeding animals. If you’re looking to make some extra money or if you need to feed your animals, making hay is a great option.

Harvesting Grass for Hay Stardew Valley

To create Hay in Stardew Valley, you’ll need to obtain Grass, which can be harvested from patches of long grass found throughout the valley. Harvesting Grass requires a Scythe, which can be crafted or purchased. Here’s a detailed guide to harvesting Grass for Hay:

Locate Grass Patches: Grass patches appear as green, tall grass sprouting from the ground. They can be found in various locations, including the Farm, Forest, and Mountain areas. Look for areas with abundant vegetation and check near trees and bushes.

Use a Scythe: Once you have identified a Grass patch, equip the Scythe. Position yourself in front of the patch and use the Scythe by clicking or pressing the appropriate key. The Scythe will cut down the Grass, leaving behind Hay.

Collect Hay: After harvesting the Grass, you will need to collect the Hay. Approach the pile of Hay and interact with it (click or press the specified key). The Hay will be added to your inventory.

Repeat Process: To gather more Hay, repeat the process by locating additional Grass patches, using the Scythe to harvest the Grass, and collecting the Hay. You can continue this process until you have collected the desired amount of Hay for creating Hay.

Hay Required Straw Required Time Required
10 1 20 minutes
20 2 40 minutes
30 3 60 minutes

Building a Silo in Stardew Valley

A silo is an essential structure for storing hay and preserving it throughout the winter. Here are the steps on how to build a silo:

Materials Required

Item Quantity
Stone 100
Wood 100
Clay 100

Construction Process

To build a silo, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Carpenter’s Shop menu.
  2. Select the “Silos” tab.
  3. Choose the location where you want to place the silo.
  4. Pay the required materials to Robin, the carpenter.
  5. The silo will be built within a few days.

Tips for Building a Silo

  • Make sure you have enough materials available before starting construction.
  • Place the silo in a convenient location near your barn or coop.
  • Consider building multiple silos to store a larger quantity of hay.

Making Hay in a Keg

Making hay in a keg is a great way to preserve grass for later use. This is useful for feeding animals during the winter months when grass is not available. To make hay in a keg, you will need the following:

  1. A keg
  2. Grass
  3. Water

Once you have gathered your materials, follow these steps:

  1. Fill the keg with grass.
  2. Add water to the keg, filling it to about 3/4 full.
  3. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
  4. Cover the keg and let it sit in a warm place for 2-3 weeks.
  5. After 2-3 weeks, the hay will be ready. It will have a brown color and a sweet smell.

Making hay in a keg is a simple process that can be used to preserve grass for later use. This is a great way to feed animals during the winter months when grass is not available.

Making Hay in a Keg: The Science Behind It

When you make hay in a keg, you are essentially creating an anaerobic environment. This means that there is no oxygen present. In this environment, the bacteria that would normally cause the grass to rot are unable to survive. As a result, the grass will slowly ferment and turn into hay.

The fermentation process produces lactic acid, which gives hay its characteristic sour smell. Lactic acid is also a preservative, which helps to keep the hay from spoiling.

The amount of time it takes for hay to ferment will vary depending on the temperature and the amount of water that is added to the keg. A warmer environment will speed up the fermentation process. More water will slow it down.

Once the hay is fermented, it can be stored for several months without spoiling. It is important to keep the hay in a cool, dry place to prevent it from molding.

Optimizing Hay Production

To increase hay production, consider the following tips:

1. Utilize Quality Sprinklers: Quality sprinklers (upgraded to gold quality or higher) can cover a larger area and prevent the need for manual watering, reducing labor costs and increasing the amount of hay that can be produced.

2. Plant in Multiple Seasons: Hay can be harvested multiple times per in-game year. By planting hay in different seasons, you can maximize the amount of hay you produce. Consider using the Greenhouse to grow multiple crops during the winter.

3. Use Fertilizer: Fertilizer can increase the yield of hay when applied after harvesting. Choose high-quality fertilizer, such as Quality Fertilizer, for the best results.

4. Automate Harvest with Junimo Huts: Junimo Huts can be placed in fields to automatically harvest hay, freeing up the player’s time and allowing them to focus on other tasks. The following table provides details on Junimo Hut effectiveness:

Junimo Hut Level Hay Harvested per Day
1 10
2 15
3 20

Upgrading Junimo Huts to higher levels increases their efficiency, allowing for larger quantities of hay to be harvested automatically.

Preserving Hay in Stardew Valley

Hay is a valuable feed item in Stardew Valley, used to keep your animals happy and healthy. To ensure a constant supply of hay, you need to preserve it properly.

How to Make Hay

To make hay, you will need:

  • Grass or fiber
  • A scythe
  • A silo

Cut grass or fiber using the scythe, then place it in the silo to ferment.

Storing Hay

Hay can be stored in silos or barns for future use.

Silos hold more hay than barns and are a good choice for storing large amounts.

Barns can hold fewer hay bales but provide shelter for animals, making them more convenient for immediate use.

Feeding Animals with Hay

To feed animals with hay, simply interact with their feeding troughs and select the “Hay” option.

Each animal consumes hay at a different rate, so be sure to check their troughs regularly.

Purchasing Hay

If you run out of hay, you can purchase it from Marnie’s Ranch for 50g per bale.

Animal Hay Consumption Rate (per day)
Chicken 1 bale
Duck 1 bale
Rabbit 1 bale
Pig 2 bales
Cow 3 bales
Goat 4 bales
Sheep 4 bales

Feeding Animals with Hay

When feeding animals in Stardew Valley, hay serves as a cost-effective and nutritious alternative to other feed options. Here’s a detailed guide on how to utilize hay efficiently:

Benefits of Feeding Hay

Hay offers several advantages:

  • Affordable and readily available
  • Provides roughage for optimal digestion
  • Can be stored for extended periods

Obtaining Hay

Hay can be purchased from Marnie’s Ranch or crafted using a Silo and Grass. To create hay, simply put Grass into the Silo and wait for it to process.

Using Hay Feeders

To feed animals hay, place Hay Feeders in their barns or coops. Hay Feeders can be crafted using 50 Wood and 10 Iron Bars.

Feeding Frequency and Amount

Animals require daily feeding, and the amount of hay they consume varies depending on their species:

Animal Hay Consumption
Chickens 1 Hay per Chicken per Day
Cows and Goats 5 Hay per Animal per Day
Pigs 10 Hay per Pig per Day

Remember to keep Hay Feeders stocked regularly to ensure animals have access to sufficient food.

Advantages of Feeding Hay over Grass

While Grass is also a source of food for animals, it deteriorates quickly when stored and requires more frequent tending. Hay, on the other hand, can be stored for longer periods, making it a more convenient and cost-effective option for long-term feeding.

Using Hay in Crafting

Animal Feed

Hay is a vital component of animal feed in Stardew Valley. It can be used to feed all types of livestock, including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and rabbits. Animals that consume hay will increase their health and happiness, leading to increased production of milk, wool, eggs, and meat.

Silo Storage

Hay can be stored in silos to preserve its quality and prevent spoilage. A silo holds up to 240 pieces of hay, making it an efficient way to store large quantities. Hay stored in a silo will not deteriorate over time, unlike hay stored outside or in a chest.

Table of Crafting Recipes Using Hay

| Recipe | Hay Required | Additional Items |
|—|—|—|
| Quality Sprinkler | 5 | Gold Bar, Refined Quartz |
| Lightning Rod | 5 | Iron Bar, Battery Pack |
| Garden Pot | 1 | Stone |
| Wood Fence | 1 | Wood |
| Flooring | 1 | Hardwood |
| Filler | 1 | Stone |
| Scarecrow | 15 | Wood |

Selling Hay for Profit

Turning a profit from hay production in Stardew Valley involves a multi-faceted strategy. To maximize your earnings, consider the following steps.

1. Choose High-Yield Crops

Opt for crops like Wheat and Starfruit that produce multiple harvests per season. These crops ensure a steady supply of hay and increase your potential revenue.

2. Use Quality Sprinklers

Install quality sprinklers like Iridium Sprinklers to automate watering and increase crop quality, which translates to higher hay prices.

3. Optimize Field Layout

Plan your farm layout efficiently to maximize the number of crops you can grow within your sprinklers’ range. Rearranging crops vertically or horizontally can increase your hay production.

4. Use Fertilizers

Apply fertilizers like Quality Fertilizer to boost crop growth and increase hay yields.

5. Harvest at the Right Time

Harvest crops at the peak of their quality. Hay made from high-quality crops sells for a higher price.

6. Craft Silos

Construct Silos to store excess hay. Silos offer a convenient way to manage your inventory and prevent hay from spoiling.

7. Check Market Prices

Monitor the market prices for hay to determine the best time to sell. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand.

8. Sell Hay at Shipping Bin or Merchant

You can sell hay either through the Shipping Bin or to Merchants. The Shipping Bin provides a consistent and reliable income stream, while Merchants may offer slightly higher prices at certain times.

Selling Location Features
Shipping Bin Consistent income, 24/7 availability
Merchant Higher prices at certain times, availability varies

Hay in Community Center Bundles

Hay is an essential item in Stardew Valley, used for feeding animals and completing Community Center bundles. There are two main ways to obtain hay in the game:

  • Purchasing from Marnie’s Ranch: Marnie sells hay for 50g per bundle. Players can purchase as many bundles as they need.
  • Crafting using scythe: Players can use a scythe to cut grass, which will drop hay. This method is free, but it takes time and requires a large amount of grass.

Stardew Valley Hay Starters

There are several items in Stardew Valley that can be used to make hay. These items include:

  • Grass
  • Wheat
  • Hops
  • Fiber
  • Ancient Fruit
  • Starfruit
  • Pumpkin
  • Corn
  • Cauliflower

Processing Hay

To process hay, players need to use a scythe. Scythes can be purchased from Pierre’s General Store or crafted using the following materials:

Items Quantity
Wood 10
Fiber 1
Iron Bar 1

Once players have a scythe, they can use it to cut grass and other items that drop hay. Hay will be automatically added to the player’s inventory.

Gathering Grass

Locate areas with abundant grass, such as the Forest Farm or near the Beach. Use a scythe to harvest the grass, which will drop Hay.

Placing Silos

Construct silos to store excess Hay. Silos can be built using Wood and Stone. Place silos strategically to minimize distance from grazing animals.

Feeding Animals

Fill troughs in barns and coops with Hay to feed your animals. Each animal consumes one Hay per day. Maintaining a steady supply of Hay ensures animal health and productivity.

Growing Your Own Grass

Plant Grass Starters in your farming area. Water the Starters regularly; they will grow into fully-grown Grass within a few days. Harvesting this Grass will yield Hay.

Purchasing Hay

Visit Marnie’s Ranch to purchase Hay directly. This option is convenient but more expensive than producing your own Hay.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Hay Making

1. Scythe Mastery

Upgrade your Scythe to increase its reach and damage. This allows you to gather grass more efficiently.

2. Speed Boost

Consume Coffee or eat a Triple Shot Espresso to increase your movement and harvesting speed.

3. Quality Sprinklers

Install Quality Sprinklers or Iridium Sprinklers to automate the watering of Grass Starters, reducing time spent on maintenance.

4. Grass Field Expansion

Purchase the Grass Field Expansion from Robin to increase the area where grass naturally grows.

5. Animal Automation

Use Automatic Feeders in barns and coops to dispense Hay automatically to animals, saving you time.

6. Hay Storage Calculator

Utilize the Hay Storage Calculator on the Stardew Valley Wiki to determine the optimal number of Silos needed for your animal population.

7. Multiple Silos

Build multiple Silos to avoid running out of Hay during the winter or when animals are in high numbers.

8. Winter Grass

Plant Winter Grass in the Greenhouse during winter to continue producing Hay.

9. Seasonal Selling

Sell excess Hay during the winter when its price increases due to higher demand.

10. Seasonal Haymaking Plan

Create a seasonal Haymaking plan, planting Grass Starters in spring and summer to ensure you have enough Hay for the entire year. Adjust your plan based on the number of animals you own and the space available on your farm.

How To Make Hay Stardew Valley

To make hay in Stardew Valley, you will need to first grow grass on your farm. You can do this by planting grass seeds, which can be purchased from Pierre’s General Store. Once the grass has grown, you can cut it with a scythe to harvest it. The harvested grass will then need to be placed in a silo to turn it into hay. Silos can be built using 100 stone and 20 wood. Once the grass is in the silo, it will take 24 hours to turn into hay.

Hay is a valuable resource in Stardew Valley. It can be used to feed animals, or it can be sold for a profit. Hay is also used in the construction of several buildings, including the coop and the barn.

Can you make hay in the winter in Stardew Valley?

Yes, you can make hay in the winter in Stardew Valley. To do this, you will need to build a greenhouse. Greenhouses can be built using 200 wood, 100 stone, and 60 glass. Once the greenhouse is built, you can plant grass seeds inside and grow grass year-round.

How do you get hay in Stardew Valley?

There are three ways to get hay in Stardew Valley:

  1. Grow grass on your farm and cut it with a scythe.
  2. Purchase hay from Marnie’s Ranch.
  3. Build a greenhouse and grow grass inside.