DIY Hay Steamer, is it as simple as a ....

[Horsekaren]

Bin with a lid and a wall paper steamer? am i missing a trick? they are sooo expensive to buy does the bin and wall paper stripper method actually do the same job :O

I take it i just cut a hole in the bin and put the end of the steamer in there?

Has anyone tried this with a cheap plastic feed bin or would this melt?

 

[ester]

Fairly sure there has been some recent testing to show that no, it really doesn't as if the temperatures and timings are off you can make the hay worse from a spores point of view than not steaming at all.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We have done it and it worked. Perhaps it depends how much trouble the hay causes your horse.

 

[YorksG]

The other thing to keep in mind is the quality of the hay to start with, you can't make substandard hay into good enough by steaming it.

 

[DabDab]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

 

[Horsekaren]

The other thing to keep in mind is the quality of the hay to start with, you can't make substandard hay into good enough by steaming it.

Its great quality hay

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

This is interesting, did you use to leave the hay in there for long? was one kettle enough?

I may try that tonight to see if he is interesting in steamed hay, knowing my luck I will build a contraption and he wont like it :/

 

[ester]

I have been instructed to use the kettle method before, I was never sure how it was supposed to work (being a microbiologist/spores person) as the water was cold very quickly. Given the reason you need to do it is medical I would strongly encourage you to consider buying something fit for the job.

ah handily they did a kettle comparison yes (and yes the research was funded by haygain I think but no one else would have much interest in funding it)
Scroll to experiment 11 and 18

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1144/4268/files/All_Research_papers.pdf?13150131510427622394

 

[emfen1305]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

Someone did this at our yard all summer due to pony developing a cough - no idea if it worked but old school methods are still making the rounds so it seems!

 

[cobgoblin]

Bin with a lid and a wall paper steamer? am i missing a trick? they are sooo expensive to buy does the bin and wall paper stripper method actually do the same job :O

I take it i just cut a hole in the bin and put the end of the steamer in there?

Has anyone tried this with a cheap plastic feed bin or would this melt?

I tried this with a wheelie bin... It didn't melt and it did work but couldn't cope with very much hay at one time... About one smallish haynet worth or the steam couldn't penetrate. Might just have been a rubbish steamer though.

 

[Merlod]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

Worked for me last year haven't needed to do it this year though. Horse had minor cough and I got sick of wetting his hay so popped 2 slices in an old haylage bag, poured on 1 kettle per slice and covered the top with another haylage bag for about 20-30mins - worked a treat and smelt lovely!

 

[paddy555]

why not soak instead. All my hay is soaked, whatever the quality, to protect them from dust.

 

[Horsekaren]

Thanks, have just had a read, but as you say its their research trying to promote their own product.
the cheapest one to buy is this - https://www.steamneasy.co.uk/ now to me that looks like a wheely bin with a steamer attached?
I can understand why a kettle might not be the best idea as there is nothing to keep it steaming as the water goes cold.

I suppose you stick horse or equine in front of anything and the price rockets!
But as you have correctly sad this is for health purposes so I want to do it correctly. but £600 for a Hay Gain steamer seems a bit silly!

I have been instructed to use the kettle method before, I was never sure how it was supposed to work (being a microbiologist/spores person) as the water was cold very quickly. Given the reason you need to do it is medical I would strongly encourage you to consider buying something fit for the job.

ah handily they did a kettle comparison yes (and yes the research was funded by haygain I think but no one else would have much interest in funding it)
Scroll to experiment 11 and 18

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1144/4268/files/All_Research_papers.pdf?13150131510427622394

 

[Horsekaren]

why not soak instead. All my hay is soaked, whatever the quality, to protect them from dust.

I have tried soaking and he isn't a fan... nor am I
The vet has advised it is best for him to eat of the floor to help his breathing. When I soak it I end up with wet hay everywhere because he walks around.
It also seems quiet wasteful, he has half a bale in his stable at night, some nights he eats most of it, others he will leave 1/2. He is on Adlib hay so what ever wasn't eaten would need to be thrown away (I guess steamed hay would be the same?)

 

[ester]

Meh it doesn't seem silly to me if I had a horse with an issue and I knew it would do the job, at least unlike a lot of people they have taken the time to research and prove their product actually works, which gives them brownie points over the alternatives for me.

 

[Leo Walker]

Ulcers affect appetite. You will probably find once they are treated that he eats his hay up.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

why not soak instead. All my hay is soaked, whatever the quality, to protect them from dust.

Because soaking leaches the sugars out of the hay, which some people/horses don't need to lose.

 

[Horsekaren]

Yes true, I need a money tree !!! wonder if Santa would fancy bring me a Haygain ... one can dream!

Meh it doesn't seem silly to me if I had a horse with an issue and I knew it would do the job, at least unlike a lot of people they have taken the time to research and prove their product actually works, which gives them brownie points over the alternatives for me.

 

[paddy555]

Because soaking leaches the sugars out of the hay, which some people/horses don't need to lose.

5% reduction in WSC over a 20 mins soak, not that much of a problem.

 

[Antw23uk]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

I was talking about this with a friend the other day funnily enough. I wish i had a spare 60 quid in my bank account let alone a spare 600!!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I've been a confirmed hay soaker for yonks, however in freezing weather like now it's tricky for obvious reasons , and in hot weather the soaked hay quickly starts fermenting. Plus the effluent plays havoc with my drains.

I am delighted with my 'silly' Black Friday purchase of a Haygain steamer :rolleyes3:. Yes, it cost a lot, but it's easy to use and does the job very well. The steam is evenly distributed even through tightly packed hay. It's been hard in use here since last Friday when we first got the snow, as my normally live out 24/7 neds are currently stabled for much of the time.

 

[phizz4]

This is my post from several months ago. Buy a large wheelie bin (http://www.britishbins.co.uk/2-wheel-bins/) and a wallpaper steamer from a DIY store. You will also need a metal storage basket, like the ones in a freezer (try your local recycling centre). Add an extension lead and a timer switch. Drill a hole in the bottom side of the wheelie bin of the same diameter as the steamer hose and clamp it into place by attaching the large spreader plate that comes with the steamer. Place the basket upside down in the base of the wheelie bin so that the nets don't interfere with the steam outlet. Use the timer so that you don't boil the steamer dry (you will need to experiment with the timing). Make sure the timer is heavy duty as it can get quite warm. You can then go off and do other jobs without worrying about the water running out. We used this system and, if you by a large enough wheelie bin it will take two hay nets.

 

[DabDab]

I have been instructed to use the kettle method before, I was never sure how it was supposed to work (being a microbiologist/spores person) as the water was cold very quickly. Given the reason you need to do it is medical I would strongly encourage you to consider buying something fit for the job.

ah handily they did a kettle comparison yes (and yes the research was funded by haygain I think but no one else would have much interest in funding it)
Scroll to experiment 11 and 18

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1144/4268/files/All_Research_papers.pdf?13150131510427622394

Thank you
I'm actually quite impressed with that, it's a nice little summary... So kettle trick works, but only half as well as haygain (and I should think depends a lot on method)

Like you say, if it was necessary for health reasons then half a job is not ideal

 

[chocolategirl]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

I do this! Been doing it every winter for years, works a treat. One of mine is very sensitive to dust, so even good quality hay will still give him a cough. I put 2 to 3 slices in a net and pour 2 full kettles all over it, quickly put the lid on and voila! Sorted

 

[Orangehorse]

I have an Easy Steam or whatever they are called. I don't use it at the moment as our hay is very good this year.
The horses love the steamed hay, it smells so nice, but I did worry about how much electricity it was using, it is boiling a kettle for 40 odd minutes after all.

I also found that it was hardly large enough for a horse and a pony. I have often wondered if a "proper" haygain would be worth it but never been able to bring myself to do it due to the cost.

I also know someone who used a couple of kettles of water and a dustbin, but again quantitiy would be a problem. Mine eats a lot more than a couple of wedges a night.

 

[Cecile]

When I was younger we used to pour a kettle of boiling water over a hay net in a bin and put the lid on. I haven't seen anyone do that for donkeys years but was wondering the other day whether that was because there had been some research to say it didn't work or whether it had just gone out of fashion...?

Oh crickey I used to do that 20++ years ago ^^

 

[Tiddlypom]

A rough costing on running my baby Haygain is 20p per 60 min cycle, it has a 1.5kw steamer.

Ester, thanks for the link to research on steaming. It may have been wiser for me to read it before I shelled out on my new toy, but luckily it confirms my vote of confidence in it, phew :eek3:.

 

[Cecile]

I am also quite impressed with the Haygain although I'm not that taken with the drain hole in the bottom, not really that much water to drain but when I first used it I thought it had sprung a leak so it was dragged out of my tack room

What part of the country are you in HorseKaren as I have a haygain you could use for a month if your vet is recommending this - although its too big to put in the back of a small car

Other than that Horsehage make a pretty good product, it is in the blue bag

 

[ester]

what a lovely offer cecile .

I do think the penetration is probably part of the issue if you are having to pull hay off a round bale by the handful it is a lot less compressed than slices off a small bale.

Is haylage not an option?

 

[chocolategirl]

I have an Easy Steam or whatever they are called. I don't use it at the moment as our hay is very good this year.
The horses love the steamed hay, it smells so nice, but I did worry about how much electricity it was using, it is boiling a kettle for 40 odd minutes after all.

I also found that it was hardly large enough for a horse and a pony. I have often wondered if a "proper" haygain would be worth it but never been able to bring myself to do it due to the cost.

I also know someone who used a couple of kettles of water and a dustbin, but again quantitiy would be a problem. Mine eats a lot more than a couple of wedges a night.

Well just to be clear I only have 1 of 6 who has an issue and he has 2 nets every night steamed in this way, 1 when he comes in around 3.30 then another net at 9.30 so total depending on how cold it is (he is a good doer) is 4-6 slices per night. If I had to do this for more than 1 it might be a bit of a pain as I already have 2 kettles on the boil which seem to take ages! Luckily the others can be fed haylage, the dust sensitive one can’t. :-(

 

[case895]

I had one wallpaper steamer for two years and have recently going through 3 in a month. The latest is going back to B&Q when I can get out of the house.