Aaargh - hay! WWYD?

[Surbie]

I bought 2 8ft bales of hay for Cobbus. I thought I was doing the right thing laying in a stock. Unfortunately the ungrateful s*d will only reluctantly eat it - instead of 8kg 5pm-7.30am he maybe eats half and chucks the rest around his box.

It's very coarse, has a fair bit of bramble & field bindweed in it, which I try to remove. I have to soak it as my horse coughs on dry hay. I've tried giving him some other hay, and he's eaten every scrap, so I know it's this hay he dislikes.

He's lost a good bit of weight over winter and is a fair way through a rehab programme for a sore back. He doesn't usually refuse food, and he's hungry in the morning.

Would you:
a) give up on it and replace it?
b) keep plugging away with it, as he does at least eat some.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I'd give up and replace - if you can't afford for him to lose weight. Can you sell it? Return it?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If you could send it back then I would (although doubt you'll be able to), you could buy some more and mix it together, or you can advertise it on Facebook. Someone will probably want it, especially if you put it on cheap.

 

[meleeka]

I had some hay recently that mine wouldn’t eat. Firstly I tried the horses next door and they ate it. Next I mixed it in with hay I knew they liked. When they still wouldn’t eat it I put it in builders sacks and gave it to a friend who was very happy to collect. I couldn’t see what the problem was, but I tried over a few weeks.

 

[Surbie]

Thanks - I've tried to get him to eat it over the last 2 weeks.

It's horrible seeing so much end up on the muck heap.

 

[Birker2020]

I bought 2 8ft bales of hay for Cobbus. I thought I was doing the right thing laying in a stock. Unfortunately the ungrateful s*d will only reluctantly eat it - instead of 8kg 5pm-7.30am he maybe eats half and chucks the rest around his box.

It's very coarse, has a fair bit of bramble & field bindweed in it, which I try to remove. I have to soak it as my horse coughs on dry hay. I've tried giving him some other hay, and he's eaten every scrap, so I know it's this hay he dislikes.

He's lost a good bit of weight over winter and is a fair way through a rehab programme for a sore back. He doesn't usually refuse food, and he's hungry in the morning.

Would you:
a) give up on it and replace it?
b) keep plugging away with it, as he does at least eat some.

Its a nightmare when they won't eat it and you find it mixed in the bed. I'd do as others have said and mix it. Or maybe mix with a tiny bit of haylage to make it smell more interesting?

 

[atropa]

I'd buy something more palatable to mix it with, maybe try a 6kg 'bad' to 2kg 'palatable' mix to start and see if that encourages him to eat more of it? What a pain.

 

[TPO]

Advertise it and sell it on? If theres nothing wrong with it, it does sound like it would suit good doers, might as well try to get your money back

 

[ester]

I'd get rid, I've never found mixing to work - they just pick through it all and usually make more mess! YO bought some in once and did admit that if even Frank didn't eat it there was clearly something up.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I’d try and sell it on. Sounds like the type of hay I like for my guzzling chubster. You will probs lose some money but at least recoup some.

I make my pony eat what she’s given and my stubbornness outlasts hers but then I don’t have dropping weight to worry about with her!

 

[Surbie]

He does still need to lose a bit more weight, which is why I've been persisting. I was skipping with happiness when I got it as it looked just right for a dieting cobbus.

I'll give mixing a go, and if that doesn't work it'll be advertised. Thanks.