Big bale net to use in field - anyone tried them?

[soloequestrian]

After my recent mysterious disaster with the haylage feeder I'm wondering about these big bale nets https://www.robinsonsequestrian.co.uk/elico-wild-boar-big-bale-net/p2327 - has anyone tried them? They give me the heebie jeebies because all I can imagine is them wrapped around legs and feet - what stops that happening? I presume the holes are quite small but what about the bit that tightens the whole thing around the bale?

 

[Poingsettia]

I think they work better in a ring feeder otherwise the horses can just trample on them when the bale gets low. We found a lot of hay got wasted in mud unless you sat it on a pallet or hard standing.

 

[only_me]

I tested one in stable yard with a large hay bale, it was on a pallet.

As above, it became very baggy and loose once the hay was eaten down and I found 2 hoof imprints (could have been the donkeys or the horse tbh) once it was at a point to stand on.
it was difficult to keep tight around the bale

i think the best option would be to be able to tie the top end rope up on a beam/ceiling/roof ls then you could tighten it up and keep it from collapsing/getting baggy!

 

[GinaGeo]

I use a Tricklenet in conjunction with a Hay Bell. The holes in that one are small enough to not need to worry about hooves getting caught and mine aren’t shod.

I have had them shod with it in the past - and didn’t get any drama - but I did keep a close eye on the net not getting too empty so it could be dragged out the bell.

It works really well for mine. And we’ve just gone into the third year of using it ?

 

[millikins]

I used one inside a ring feeder and it was successful for a long time. Now however one of them seems to have worked out how to bite holes in it so hay doesn't last any longer and I have a potential hazard (It's been discarded.)

 

[tda]

I wouldn't use a net over a round bale without a metal feeder, you would lose so much in waste. I had an elico net at first but they soon chewed thru it. Invested in some trickle nets which has paid off.
I know you are worried about the horses having another issue with the metal feeder, but as long as there is a bale in it, it should be fine.

 

[Winters100]

I use one inside this https://jfcagri.com/equine/horse-haybell/

I also use bailer twine to tie the top circumference of the net to the hole on the top of the haybell, so that as they eat the hay they are not able to pull the net out. Not sure if I have described that very well, but it works.

 

[Sleipnir]

These work well, but, from my experience, I would recommend setting the netted bale onto a tractor tire or a pallet, or in a simple box feeder, and also tie the top part to a pole/tree, so that it prevents the net collapsing once most of the hay has been eaten. Otherwise, they just collapse and get trampled in the mud.

 

[rabatsa]

The Elico nets I have bought soon got chewed into holes. The last ones were like mini skirts on the bales and I needed to put two on to cover the whole bale. Non have lasted more than 4 months.

I then bought two of these https://www.ropeseller.co.uk/giant-round-bale-slow-feeder-net-up-to-6ft-diam-bales-1356-p.asp and the first one is now into its third year of continuous use.

I use in a sheep ring feeder and when it gets to near to the end of the bale I undo the top and pull it down the sides of the ring feeder. I stand the bales on a pallet as well so no rising damp gets into the bale