Chaff for an oldie that doesn't have pellets?

katie_southwest

katie_southwest

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My ponies are currently fed fast fibre with a bit of happy hoof mixed in because they won't eat it on it's own.
My oldie tucks right in and loves his food but doesnt have great teeth and tends to drop the pellets out.
Can anyone recommend a chaff or something to put with his FF that doesn't have pellets?
 
I use Fast Fibre and mix it with unmolassed hay chaff.

He also gets a separate bucket of the chaff to browse on.

haytubandchaff2.jpg
 
I've seen far too many problems with feeding a dry chaff so I would suggest soaked grass pellets which are easily chewed and digested. It terrifies me to think of some horses left with a bucket of chaff, the chance for choke to happen is huge.
 
Maesfen said:
I've seen far too many problems with feeding a dry chaff so I would suggest soaked grass pellets which are easily chewed and digested. It terrifies me to think of some horses left with a bucket of chaff, the chance for choke to happen is huge.
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I'd only feed chaff soaked and to horses used to a hard feed. Certainly don't chuck them straight on it for risk of choke.

With grass pellets, we did this for a veteran and oiled when necessary... watch out though as although most go nicely, a few are coated in something and can sit in water all day and stay just as solid.

Pan
 
Wow Oberon thats a buffet fit for a king :)
Thanks guys, I did think maybe something like readi grass or similar, I just wanted something that doesn't have pellets in because he drops them out.
Out of interest how long roughly does it take to soak grass pellets into a mash? I only have access to cold water, although I could take a flask with hot water if it was quicker?
 
katie_southwest said:
Wow Oberon thats a buffet fit for a king :)
Thanks guys, I did think maybe something like readi grass or similar, I just wanted something that doesn't have pellets in because he drops them out.
Out of interest how long roughly does it take to soak grass pellets into a mash? I only have access to cold water, although I could take a flask with hot water if it was quicker?
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Depends what you get. I always use cold water.
Some will go almost instantly. Some can be soaked all day and never go.
 
Oberon said:
The red is his haylage and the pink is his chaff - in case he gets tired of chewing the haylage (he's 26 and has dodgy teeth).
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Yes mines 30 and also has dodgy/not many teeth :)

He will eat haylage BUT if theres grass / or feed he will much rather wander off and eat grass than the haylage.
Which make of chaff do you use?
 
katie_southwest said:
Yes mines 30 and also has dodgy/not many teeth :)

He will eat haylage BUT if theres grass / or feed he will much rather wander off and eat grass than the haylage.
Which make of chaff do you use?
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It's unbranded, unmolassed hay chaff. Just ask your local feed vendor to order it in - most can easily.

I don't feed alfalfa as our calcium is already high and alfalfa upsets the balance.

Chaff isn't really essential to his diet - but he likes it, so I'll buy it in. I don't rely on it as a nutritional factor though - more of a garnish :D.

It's the Fast Fibre that is essential to him - basically a mushy haynet in a bucket. It gives him the calories so that any haylage or grass he eats is a bonus.

I have been playing with the idea of some copra too at the moment as I'd like him to have some extra padding.....
 
Ah i see so its just a bog standard hay chaff :) I cant really find many companies that make them.
Yeah I just want something to mix a little in with his FF really as theyre really not keen on it on its own...fussy beggers :D
 
katie_southwest said:
Ah i see so its just a bog standard hay chaff :) I cant really find many companies that make them.
Yeah I just want something to mix a little in with his FF really as theyre really not keen on it on its own...fussy beggers :D
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I believe the Mollichop factory churns out a version.

It always comes in an unbranded hessian sack.

The feed vendors source it for me for mine and a chronic lami horse from our yard. £6 for a huge sack.

Otherwise you could look at Simple System's Timothy chop or Honeychop straw chop, Dengie Hi Fi molasssed free (if they're OK with alfalfa), or a Halley's version http://halleysfeeds.co.uk/ocart_halleysfeeds/index.php?route=product/category&path=72_74

I just find the hay chaff cheaper for what is essentially a garnish for him :)
 
Kate the grass pellets sold at Tavi take FOREVER to soak, I tried them for mine & even after soaking overnight there were still some that were solid in the middle.

Have a look at the Halleys website which I've only recently found, they do blocks which you can soak and they make a short chop. There are plenty of varieties but all are unmollassed etc. They also do the same varieties in bags of chaff if you prefer - I think there's oat straw, timothy, alfa, grass & a choice of some of them mixed ( eg, alfa & grass combined etc ).

All of mine really love the timothy & for Lulu to eat it when it's completely natural is a miracle :rolleyes:

Each block is equivalent to one slice of hay so you can soak it & split it between meals or alternatively buy the chaff.

They deliver really quickly & I've ordered a few times now & it's been really easy. If you want to come and have a look of the blocks & take one to try just pop over :)
 
Oh brill Ill have a look at that now :)

I just want something that hasnt got pellets in it that I can mix in because hes just dropping them on the floor, making a mess, and its just a waste really.
I let him off though :)

Wont bother with the grass pellets if they are rubbish to soak.
 
Dear of him, he can't help making a mess!

Mine also love TopChop Lite by TopSpec, it's unmollassed but it does have a coating of soya oil & mint - it really depends if you want to feed alfa but if you do that's easy to get hold of at Tavi.

If I remember correctly it's alfa & oat straw. I was going to get some for Todd but seeing as the Timothy blocks are going down so well I've decided to use those instead.
 
katie_southwest said:
God this is like heaven for a horse...Iv got visions of polo sat at a computer ' hmmm Ill have one of those, one of those.....' :)
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:D:D:D

I've fancied getting a couple of Halley's Timothy blocks for a while.

They seem pretty popular with the people who've tried them.

I need to spend less cash on improving HIS diet and more on my own and my family's though :rolleyes:
 
Oberon said:
:D:D:D

I've fancied getting a couple of Halley's Timothy blocks for a while.

They seem pretty popular with the people who've tried them.

I need to spend less cash on improving HIS diet and more on my own and my family's though :rolleyes:
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Same here, Iv just eaten Macdonalds and feel sick....:D
I see they do a plain oat straw chaff, that will do nicely :)
I dont really understand the blox, is it just like hay but already split into a certain amount?
 
Iv actually read it properly now, so its 12 x blocks of 1kg of hay basically.

He cant eat hay very well though so Id have to get the chop version. Dear of him, such a pain in the bum :D
 
Maesfen said:
I've seen far too many problems with feeding a dry chaff so I would suggest soaked grass pellets which are easily chewed and digested. It terrifies me to think of some horses left with a bucket of chaff, the chance for choke to happen is huge.
Click to expand...
Now we have found that our oldie chokes on soaked grassnuts, if she doesn't have enough chaff added. We use Graze-on, she also has a bucket of graze-on to supplement her forage. The dieter has oat straw chaff as a forage supplement, as she has had colic from eating long straw and I refuse to leave her with nothing to eat for hours overnight.
 
I have two oldies (36 yrs each) and one of them cannot eat chop or anything solid so i give him the Veteran Hay replacer which is
4lb dry sugar beet soaked
1 lb fibre cubes
Half a bucket of chaff or chop
Half a bucket of water and leave to soak for 2 hrs, mix well and serve. He also has a bucket of soaked grass nuts, feeds of soaked barley rings and sugar beet. he is looking good on this. The other old dear is on a large tub of reigrass and a tub of soaked grass nuts as well as his feeds. It depends on the horse what you give them
 
Maesfen said:
I've seen far too many problems with feeding a dry chaff so I would suggest soaked grass pellets which are easily chewed and digested. It terrifies me to think of some horses left with a bucket of chaff, the chance for choke to happen is huge.
Click to expand...

My mare did on a couple of handfuls of short hay picked up off the floor in a bucket.


Try simple systems - you soak it and it makes a thick porridge - the oldies on our yard love it. They do Lucie nuts which are alfalfa, pura beet (sugar beet) and grass nuts -probably others too.
 
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