after hay has been steamed?

[BackInBlack]

hi, i am planning to steam some hay in a dustbin and would like to know;
a. how long after it has been steamed can you use it. ie. can you steam in the morning and feed it to them at night.
b. does the hay have to be shaken up really loose for the steaming to have any effect.
thank you!!

 

[Persephone]

I steam mine in a big sailbag. I put it in loose and tip it straight on the stable floor twenty minutes later. It takes about 10 mins to cool down to edible temp.

I tease the slices out a bit, not totally shaken out though.

I think if you soak it in the morning it would be dry by the evening and you would have lost the benefit of steaming.

Jo x

 

[S_N]

[ QUOTE ]
I think if you soak it in the morning it would be dry by the evening and you would have lost the benefit of steaming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not true! Unlike soaking hay, steaming permanently expands/swells the dust spores and seeds in the hay, so even when dried out, it should (in theory) be OK to feed. That said, if you are going to steam in a dustbin, the condensation will keep the hay fairly moist all day. Steaming also does not leach out all the nutrients in the hay, like over soaking can and does.

 

[BackInBlack]

many thanks!!