Best way to feed winter hay outside?

[Fiona]

The digger has started today on our all weather turnout area

It will be about 20 x 20m and with hedge on one side and post and rail on the other three.

Using it will be either 2 mares or one pony..

What is the best way of feeding hay? Small bale....

Round metal feeder?

Haynets?

Hay hutch type thingie?

We do have a v good local blacksmith who can make stuff too if required...

Fiona

 

[Kylara]

Not nets. I put on the floor, but that's because well behaved equine didn't trample it. I think the metal raised feeders or round metal ones are probably a good idea, or get a few wooden crate boxes and put in there (not good for those that chew wood though!) or some big plastic tubs. Depends how many horses you have to feed.

 

[Fiona]

Two mares or one pony..

Would a single bale of hay not look a bit silly in a round bale feeder? Could they reach it?

Fiona

 

[lottiepony]

I made a hay box out of pallets last year and worked a treat. Made it by myself just a saw, screws and drill required I also then used nets as well secured at the bottom of it so took them longer to eat and saved on wastage. It was just the right size for 1 small bale.

 

[paddi22]

i made two by cutting squares at the base of 2 old wheelie bins. its works really well.

 

[Fiona]

I made a hay box out of pallets last year and worked a treat. Made it by myself just a saw, screws and drill required I also then used nets as well secured at the bottom of it so took them longer to eat and saved on wastage. It was just the right size for 1 small bale.

Any pics?

Fiona

 

[EQUIDAE]

I put a large square post in with a ring on each side and tied a net to each side. Having them facing each other, with they bums facing out, seems to reduce the arguments and the chance of kicks.

 

[SusieT]

single bale of hay - haynet probably. round feeder will be too big for it - there are quite a lot of one bale feeders but most would be hard to feed two prob - maybe a small round hay hutch?

 

[Fiona]

I put a large square post in with a ring on each side and tied a net to each side. Having them facing each other, with they bums facing out, seems to reduce the arguments and the chance of kicks.

Funny, I had thought that too, hence thinking of a round feeder.

I wonder could blacksmith make us a small one??

Have you had a hay hutch yourself susieT??

Fiona

 

[SusieT]

no - for small bales I use haynets or slices on the ground.

 

[Fiona]

I'm sure hubby won't allow it on the ground but Hay net wd be OK. Except we would probably need to tie up three nets for two horses?

Fiona

 

[JillA]

Hay balls - nets with the neck cord tied tight and then surplus cord tied back on itself so there are no loops to get caught. Small holes work best to avoid catching feet, left on the ground so they can roll them around, eat in a normal grazing position. I've used them with my lot for years, except when the ground is very muddy and never had any caught in them yet. They aren't generally round the feet, that isn't where the eating machinery is lol.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I think this is quite a nifty idea

 

[Fiona]

I think this is quite a nifty idea

That does look clever

Can anyone guess how the net is attached to the blue barrel though?

Jill A were your horses shod when you used hay balls. One of my mares is a serial self harmer and not the sharpest pixie in the forest

Fiona

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Tattie box

 

[MagicMelon]

I prefer feeding a big round bale as they last longer, are cheaper than buying square and labour saving. I use those giant nets to go over the bales too so that limits wastage a lot and keeps it all together, then I put the bales in either a steel bale feeder which is up off the floor (tractor has to put it on the feeder) and in my other horses field I roll the bale in myself, tip it up onto a pallet and use one of those regular round bale feeders which opens in half so I just pull it round and secure - its the type with the bottom half filled in so its safer. Both work well.

 

[Fiona]

But it will be in the all weather turnout mm, so potentially if weather is reasonable it won't be used for a fortnight, then used every other day, then maybe not for another week.

Would that not be a waste of a big bale sitting out not used?

Fiona

 

[JillA]

Jill A were your horses shod when you used hay balls. One of my mares is a serial self harmer and not the sharpest pixie in the forest

Fiona

A few have been shod, most were not, and a whole variety of both sane and insane horses have used them without mishap.

 

[chaps89]

We used a hay hutch last winter. Tbh it was a pain in the bum. The lid was very fiddly and constantly blew off (was in a fairly exposed field mind you) and we had to put a bucket inside it to push hay towards the edge. Ground became poached around it but on the plus side it was easier to move than a round feeder. Found ponies would just pull hay out then eat it off the floor due to the design too. Personally I'd go with a wooden crate type thing where they can eat from the top or nets

 

[Clodagh]

First thing is to get some hard core or planings down on the hay area, not expensive and save a lot of mess. We just used an old hay rack XC jump, but it would be easy to make one, it held one small single bale and if stood at right angles to the wall it means even Bully couldn't stop Bullied from eating it.

 

[Fiona]

Thanks chaps89...

Sounds ideal clodagh. Have you any pics? We have lots of spare wood at the moment. ..

Fiona

 

[albeg]

I made a hay box out of pallets last year and worked a treat. Made it by myself just a saw, screws and drill required I also then used nets as well secured at the bottom of it so took them longer to eat and saved on wastage. It was just the right size for 1 small bale.

Livery yard my gelding is on did the same. Will see can I find you a picture Fiona.

 

[Bilbo_Baggins]

I usually either pop in piles on the ground or use a haynet. I may have another horse wintering with him this year so I might just put a large bale out for them to eat and save myself the hassle. I saw a big bag bale tidy that looked quite good and seemed to really keep down waste that I might invest in and use

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks chaps89...

Sounds ideal clodagh. Have you any pics? We have lots of spare wood at the moment. ..

Fiona

Will try to remember to take a pic tomorrow.

 

[Clodagh]

It looks like this:
http://smileswoodcraft.co.uk/equestrian/89-cross-country-horse-jump-hay-rack-size-1.html
It is the same length as a small bale of hay. We tie it to the fence so they can't knock it over.

 

[Fiona]

Thanks clodagh... Will show pic to OH.

FIona