[sokel]

Never made hay before but our farming neighbour has just cut 3 acres and his bailer has broken down.
He has phoned to say if we want the hay we can have it , its been cut for 3 days and I am in the process of turning it by hand    How long should I leave it once turned ? and once turned and dried on the top will that be it ready or will it need turning again ??
I am hot bothered and have blisters on my blisters 

[Hassle]

You are looking for about 15% to 25% moisture. I'd say three days of fine weather is good to bail and should still be green but dry throughout

[sokel]

Thanks,  Just finished turning it. Its 32deg here today and no wind  so it was a bit hot out there 

[Hassle]

You've done we'll, don't forget drink lots and sometimes a shandy is just right 

[SallyintNorth]

The main thing is that once it's really dry you don't want it getting wet.  We had a sharp shower here last night - I heard it, and the cement was wet this morning - and our friends uphill had a downpour just as they started baling their first hay for 7 years. 

When the top's dried, go pick up a pile of it and see what you think.  If there's no green left, it's dry.  If there's green, twist it hard - does it break?  If so, bale it / get it in.  If you can squeeze moisture out, it could do with a bit more drying - can you shake it out a bit?  (But don't be silly in this heat.)