Aggressive eating

[Lynnejordan17]

I have a yearling section d who is quite blotchy when I give him his feed in his manger he pushes the bucket out of the way grabs big mouthfuls and the walks the box often spilling most of the food out of his mouth.he isn't hungry as he has ad lib haylage and is turned out most days he also dosnt like me in the stable when he is eating. I know I can try to slow him down with a salt block or stone in his bucket but I would like to try to get him to eat calmly as he is only young so would like to break he habit now any suggestions.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Here's what to do but in order for it to work you must do it every single time you feed your yearling and must NEVER be too tired or busy to do it. If you do, you'll go straight back to square one because you will have taught your lad that the rules are never adhered to!

Get his feed ready in a feedbowl or bucket but don't tip it into his manger, hold it at chest level and let him eat. Don't speak, don't flap, don't shout at him. Keep quiet. The very moment he starts getting pushy or grabs a mouthful and walks off, calmly leave the stable, with the feedbowl. Don't shout at him or speak. Walk away for 2 or 3 minutes, then return and carry on where you left off, holding the feedbowl for him to eat out of. Again, the very instant he starts being silly, leave the stable, wait a minute or two, return as before. The first day you do this it might take you 50 goes and an hour to feed him but by day two it will be half an hour, day three 15 minutes and by day four he'll understand the rule and do his bit. It WILL work if you absolutely stick to the new rule...either he eats quietly and politely from his feedbowl or his dinner disappears! Obviously, once he's got the idea, you can put the feedbowl on the floor, but make sure you stay the first few times, ready to grab the bowl and disappear, exactly as if you were still holding it. You may need to occasionally remind him of the rule every month or so but honestly that's all.

I would add that he will probably get worse before he gets better, so expect the first few times you disappear with his dinner he'll get fearsomely cross! Don't shout, don't get involved in his tantrum. Just stick to the new rule. Trust me, he WILL learn if he wants his dinner! Of course, if he doesn't care if his dinner disappears, then you might need to ask if he actually needs it, though he's probably getting yearling vits and mins in it. Good luck!

 

[Lynnejordan17]

Great thanks will give it a try