Barely eating any hay over night...should I start worrying?

[petite-girle]

When my gelding first started being stabled at night he was getting through 3 sections of hay. I give him 3 sections every night but recently his haynet is still really full in the mornings, at a guess he's probably only eating about one section throughout the night. I haven't changed the hay I give him.

He's stabled from about 6pm to 7.30am. He has plenty of grass out in his field where he spends the day. He also has a feed of calm and condition and chaff twice a day.

He's a 15.2hh 3 year old and has never been weighty. He's always on the slim side but still looks healthy. I'm worried he might start dropping weight though.

What do you think? Why is he eating less?

 

[nikicb]

Teeth - get them checked! It tends to be the one of the first signs that they need attention.

 

[0ldmare]

If there is plenty of grass out in the paddock he is probably stuffing himself on that and so doesnt feel very interested in boring old hay.

Are the other horses on the yard eating it OK?

Also if its only the last day or 2 you might just have a not very nice bale perhaps?

 

[Bug2007]

My gelding will go days having only picked at the hay in his stable, and then one night he'll eat all of it, not a sign of it ever having been in there.

Eats it in the field over night though.

Have you tried putting it on the floor, he might find it hard work with his neck in an un natural position while eatting.

 

[bexwarren24]

Echo the teeth thing. Please get these checked. One section of hay a night is not alot. Even in summer when my horse is out stuffing himself he will eat 3 sections. Ok, he is a big horse but still. Is there alot of grass in ur padocks? Could be as others have said that he is stuffing himself out in the field during the day. You could consider changing the hay to haylage (if feasiable). The tend to find it more palitable and has more nutrional content especially if the hay is low quality.

 

[Rana]

Worth getting teeth checked in case. Dodgy bale of hay? I'd be inclined to think it's either a dodgy bale, or he's just getting enough from the field. My oldie is doing the same - eating about half what she normally does. But she's just moved to a new field with a bit more grass in, so there's an obvious reason.

Get teeth checked, if teeth are fine I wouldn't worry unless he's losing weight. He's probably just not a greedy horse and happy to only eat what he needs

 

[Keltic]

Both my mares are not eating any hay over night, they are eating breakfast and tea fine, they are out all day in a large field. The vet came last week and ran full bloods which revealed nothing, teeth are ok too. Ive tried several types of hay and its not made the slightest difference, another horse at the yard is the same and vet checked that one out yesterday and was given a clean bill of health.
Its so frustrating I want them to eat lots!!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I watched my 2 mares yesterday.
Hay has been put out every evening in the field - its been gone in the morning.
They come in to have 'tea' and then go back out again when I've popped the hay out.
They both dash across to the hay - and then I leave usually as they are settled. Last night got caught taking to friend passing by yard - and noticed after 10 mins or so that the girls had pottered off across the paddock to check out any spare blades of grass. Neighbour said they often do that & leave the hay at the moment.
However, all hay & any traces!) has gone by dawn when I arrive

 

[ladyt25]

Could it be a bad bale? Sometimes ours will leave some bales even though normally our hay is very good. What is his bedding - if straw, has he been nibbling at that as well?

May be worth getting his teeth checked but if he's eating hard feed without problem and if you've seen him eating hay ok I can't imagine all of a sudden his teeth would be causing issue. Still, you never know!

 

[Winklepoker]

India isnt eating any either, was the same last year, so I have upped her chaff and nuts to compensate. She is on adlib everything

 

[pedilia]

Two of mine are not eating much hay either, teeth are up to date. We have just changed over to winter grazing and they have a lot of grass, so I know mine are just stuffing them selves silly during the day.

 

[marinitagsd]

Was just about to post a thread like this! lol
My girls arn't eating much haylege at night either. They are out during the day with nets and in at night. Will follow this thread with interest.
x

 

[Cuppatea]

we have found with this weather, we have rugged up warmer and last night wasnt quite as cold as the previous few and none of our 20 odd horses ate up like normal. Dont get me wrong, theyre not too hot, but they just dont need to eat quite so much to stay that way. If teeth are fine, it could just be fluctuations in temperature.