Hay Bale question

[IamMokume]

I tried to stock up my granary with hay bales, but the animals eat them non stop, even when they have free access to grass. Aren't they only supposed to feed from the troughs when they can't graze outside? And is it correct that feeding hay has no benefits over normal plant fiber, therefore it's better to just feed them fiber?

[VelorOfBrac]

Been some time since I've played, but yeah, they should be eating that high grass that they can reach... Can the animals freely exit the barns, and do you see them going out? Doors are open, no objects blocking them (it appears that putting anything except paths and such right next to barn's doors can block them in)?

And hay bales will feed them the same amount as regural fiber, indeed, however the difference is it's supposed to make them somewhat happier in comparison.

[IamMokume]

Originally posted by VelorOfBrac:

Been some time since I've played, but yeah, they should be eating that high grass that they can reach... Can the animals freely exit the barns, and do you see them going out? Doors are open, no objects blocking them (it appears that putting anything except paths and such right next to barn's doors can block them in)?

Oh yes, they have a huge yard to graze in, and I walk among them distributing friendship and collecting products.

The day after it rained (sunny day #1), the granary had 7 bales, so I added 23. I checked the next day (sunny day #2) and was back to single digits. So they had access to grass and it did not rain, but they chose to eat bales. Or my granary is bugged in some way. I have monitored consumption when only plant fiber is supplied, and they generally eat a few each day, but not nearly at this rate.

Overall, I'm just going to give up on bales, since it seems the time they take to make isn't worth the benefit.