any tricks up your sleves

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sue12345

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to stop my gypsy cob from eating his straw bed. Have had him on shavings but it was a complete nightmare, he is so messy. Put him on to straw about 6 weeks ago, at first it was wonderful to muck out but now he is eating any fresh straw that i put down. I have to deep litter him otherwise he would have no bed left. Thought maybe i could sprinkle diluted disinfectant over the top or something similar. Any ideas. He's stabled overnight with a small feed and haylege, with a good view out and plenty of company.
 
I'd try dilute Jeyes Fluid sprinkled on top with a watering can.

Mine goes through phases of straw guzzling and then gets bored. This is wheat or barley straw - he's not fussy!
 
I don't actually know what type of straw it is. We are on a farm and it comes as part of the fee. Will have to ask or how do i tell the difference. Oddly some one else put the exact same post on yesterday so I will be watching her results closely. I am mixing some old with the new to see if that helps.
 
Put fresh straw underneath (helps keep dust down a bit too) and leave a little semi-soiled to sprinkle on top. If that dosen't work you'll probably have to find something nasty tasting to discourage him!
 
This year they are eating straw in preference to hay, as I believe due to the lack of water the 2010 crop is bitter tasting.

So with our horses we accept they are going to munch it, we mix old hay in the bed and can hide the new straw to slow them down.
 
Horses will often pick at straw but if he's really eating it then it shows its good stuff and that hes hungry! As straw has less calories than haylage then he shouldnt get fat so nothing to worry about there. Just make sure that there is something succulent eg soaked sugar beet or carrots as straw is dry. if this horse w as mine I would be pleased . straw is a cheap feed and will help slim him i guess also that he isnt getting enough roughage, haylage has a lot of water in it . not a fan of it myself.
 
So it's not doing him any harm and is good for his weight. He drinks well and has soaked sugarbeet. It's just not nice to think of him laying on a horrible bed when i've left a lovely dry one for him.
 
sue12345 said:
It's just not nice to think of him laying on a horrible bed when i've left a lovely dry one for him.
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His choice! :D I am horrible, if my horses eat their beds, pee or dung on their hay, choose to stand out in howling blizzards. then I always say that.

As long as he isn't lying on concrete then I'd let him get on with it. I feed straw along with hay anyway, Either in shelters or just a round bale out there for them to pick at/play with, lie on whatever.
 
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