How to Get Hay in Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide

Hay is a crucial resource in Stardew Valley, especially if you plan on raising livestock. It serves as the primary food source for your chickens, cows, sheep, goats, and pigs during the colder months or when they are kept indoors. Without a steady supply of hay, your animals will become unhappy and may stop producing goods. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining hay, from the early game to late-game strategies.

Understanding Hay in Stardew Valley

Before diving into the methods of acquiring hay, let’s understand what it is and why it’s so important:

• Hay’s Purpose: Hay is the primary food for your farm animals in Stardew Valley. When your animals are not grazing outside on grass, they need to be fed hay. This is particularly important during the winter when no grass grows, or during rainy days when they remain inside.
• Storage: Hay is stored in Silos, which you’ll need to build on your farm. One Silo can hold 240 pieces of hay. You should always aim to keep your Silos full, especially before winter hits.
• Consumption: Each farm animal consumes one piece of hay per day when they are not grazing on grass.
• The Importance of Happiness: Keeping your animals fed is essential for their happiness. Happy animals will produce higher-quality goods.

Methods to Obtain Hay in Stardew Valley

There are primarily two methods for obtaining hay: cutting grass and purchasing from Marnie. Each method has its pros and cons, so choosing the right approach for your playstyle and current situation is important.

Method 1: Cutting Grass with a Scythe

The most common and initially the most economical way to acquire hay is by cutting grass with your scythe. This method, however, requires you to first build a silo. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Obtaining a Scythe

The scythe is one of the first tools you will receive in the game. It is given to you by the mayor, Lewis, on the second day of your playthrough. It’s a simple tool, but it is invaluable for cutting grass and harvesting crops like wheat. Make sure to keep it in your inventory or toolbox.

Step 2: Building a Silo

Before you can start converting grass into hay, you need a Silo. This building stores the hay you collect. Here’s how to construct one:

• Visit Robin’s Carpenter Shop: Robin’s shop is located north of your farm, next to the mountains.
• Gather the Required Materials: You’ll need 100 Stone, 10 Clay, and 5 Copper Bars to build a Silo.
• Stone: Stone is acquired by breaking rocks with your pickaxe around your farm and in the mines.
• Clay: Clay can be found by tilling the ground with your hoe. You’ll find it more often in areas like the beach and around the farm. Sometimes artifact spots (the wriggling worms) will yield clay when hoed.
• Copper Bars: To get copper bars, you’ll need to smelt copper ore in a furnace. Copper ore can be found in the mines starting from floor 1. You’ll need 5 Copper Ore to make 1 Copper Bar, and you’ll need coal to power the furnace.
• Pay the construction fee: Once you have the required materials, head to Robin. Choose to construct a Silo and pay the 100 gold fee.
• Wait for Construction: The Silo will be built in one to two in-game days. Once completed, you can start storing hay.

Step 3: Cutting Grass

With your scythe in hand and a silo on your farm, you are now ready to begin cutting grass:

• Locate Grass Patches: You’ll find grass growing all over your farm, especially in the open, untiled areas.
• Equip your Scythe: Select the scythe in your inventory.
• Swing the Scythe: Click or press the use button on grass patches to cut them.
• Collect Hay: If a silo is present on your farm, you’ll see hay automatically fly into the silo while you are cutting grass. Each patch of grass has a 50% chance to give you a single piece of hay.
• Note: Cutting grass without a silo will not provide you with hay.

Step 4: Check your Silo

To verify you have hay stored in the silo, approach it and interact with it. The UI will display how much hay is stored there.

Tips for Efficient Grass Cutting

• Start Early: Clearing grass before planting is important because it won’t grow underneath crops. Clearing before planting prevents hay loss in the mid and late game.
• Cut Regularly: Especially during spring, summer, and fall, make it a habit to cut grass around your farm often to keep your silos full.
• Strategically Plant Grass Starters: You can purchase grass starters from Pierre’s General Store or by completing a certain quest. Place grass starters in an area and let them grow, creating a replenishable hay source.
• Improve your Scythe: Upgrading your scythe at the blacksmith can improve its efficiency, allowing you to cut grass faster and with less energy.

Method 2: Purchasing Hay from Marnie

If you run out of grass to cut or need hay quickly, you can purchase it from Marnie. She runs the Animal Shop south of your farm. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Visit Marnie’s Ranch

Marnie’s Ranch is usually open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except for Mondays and Tuesdays. Her ranch is located to the south of your farm. Check the map to pinpoint the exact location.

Step 2: Purchase Hay

• Speak to Marnie: Approach the counter and interact with Marnie.
• Select “Buy”: Choose the “Buy” option from her dialogue.
• Purchase Hay: You will see “Hay” in her inventory, priced at 50g each. Buy as many pieces as you need.

Step 3: Store Hay

• Manual Storage: When you buy hay from Marnie it doesn’t automatically go to the silo. Instead, it is added to your inventory.
• Transfer to Silo: To store the hay, approach your silo, and interact with it. Select the option to place hay into the silo.
• Feed Animals Directly (Optional): You can also manually take hay from your inventory and place it in animal feeders, which is useful if your silo is full.

Pros and Cons of Buying Hay

• Pros:
• Convenience: Buying is a quick way to get hay, especially in a pinch.
• No Grass Required: You don’t need a large grass field to obtain hay this way.
• Cons:
• Cost: At 50g per piece, it can become expensive, especially if you have many animals.
• Limited Stock: You can only buy as much hay as Marnie has in stock, which can be an issue when you need a large amount.

Advanced Hay Management

As you progress in Stardew Valley, you’ll want to optimize your hay management. Here are some advanced tips:

The Auto-Grabber

The Auto-Grabber is an item that can be obtained from the mines once you reach a certain level or as a reward from the Skull Cavern. It allows you to collect hay directly from your silos to the Auto-Grabber box and is very helpful if you are using the direct storage option for hay.

Winter Strategy

Winter is the most challenging season for hay management because grass doesn’t grow. It is vital to have your silos full before winter. Here are a few winter strategies:

• Maximize Fall Grass: In the late fall, avoid cutting your grass until your silos are completely full.
• Purchase Hay: If your supply is low, you may need to buy additional hay from Marnie in winter.
• Plan Ahead: Calculate the number of hay pieces you will need based on how many animals you have and how many days there are in winter.

Preventing Hay Loss

• Fences: Place fences around grass patches to prevent your animals from eating it before you cut it. This is especially important with a smaller area of grass.
• Hay from Wheat: After harvesting wheat, you will get wheat crops which can then be turned into hay.
• Indoor Areas: Make use of the barn or coop areas. Placing hay directly in the feeders there will avoid them from grazing outdoors where there is less grass.

Troubleshooting Common Hay Issues

Even with the best planning, you might encounter problems related to hay. Here are solutions to common issues:

No Hay after Cutting Grass

If you’re cutting grass but not getting hay, make sure you have a silo. Without a silo, the grass will simply disappear, and you won’t get any hay in return.

Running Out of Hay

If you’re running out of hay, here are a few options:

• Purchase from Marnie: This is the quickest solution, but it can get expensive.
• Strategically Plant Grass: Use grass starters in the spring, summer, and fall to create a constant hay supply.
• Limit Animal Grazing: Reduce the amount of time your animals spend outside, allowing you to feed them hay when necessary, which in turn will make the grass grow back.

Silo Not Working

If your silo isn’t working, make sure that you have actually built it, and not simply the blueprint. Verify that your silo is complete, interact with it, and verify it isn’t full.

Conclusion

Hay is an essential resource for any farmer in Stardew Valley, especially if you plan on raising animals. Whether you choose to cut grass, purchase it, or combine both methods, knowing how to effectively obtain and manage hay is crucial for the success of your farm. With a bit of planning and these strategies, you can ensure that your animals are well-fed and happy, allowing them to produce the best possible goods for you.

By following this detailed guide, you can become a proficient hay manager in Stardew Valley. Happy farming!