Does anyone actually own a hay cube?

[poiuytrewq]

After a long winter of hay soaking, bad backs, wet legs and so on Ive really had enough and am seriously wanting to purchase one.
Has anyone got any actual first hand experience of one?

 

[MerrySherryRider]

No, but I'd like to have experience of one.
Unfortunately, OH does not want me to have experience of one.

Currently looking at getting a moulded plastic wheelbarrow for half the price instead. It has wheels but obviously can't be fed straight from the barrow. http://www.thehaysoaker.co.uk/other-products

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mm, that's my stumbling block too! He can't see how one can be worth the money and tbh if agree if I wasn't having to soak nets daily!
He made me a decent soaker by cutting down a wheelie bin but due to the way he cut it, it wasn't push able so is currently stationary and the tap he fitted keeps falling out etc! Was amazing at first as the tap was good and we added a hose to a drain so it stayed in the stable....now it floods!
I can't look at your link but will go google it.

 

[Feival]

I had a barrow like that. they are really low down and horrible to push, plus the wheel is solid so makes bumps and things impossible to wheel over

 

[Kokopelli]

My super dad made me one for about £30, we went to b&q bought a reinforced box on wheels then bought a tap for a couple of quid. It works really well and no more back breaking nets

 

[poiuytrewq]

Kokopelli, do you have a picture or link to the box you bought? I've looked and looked and just can't find anything suitable - I really want to just wheel it in and feed in it aswell

 

[Greentrees]

Hello, yes I own four!

I've got two horses so whilst they're using two there are two more cubes at the ready. Fantastic things! Whilst they're not cheap they've been worth every penny to me.

A cube takes about a quarter to a third of a traditional rectangular bale (depending on bale size). Screw on drain stopper, fill with water, leave to soak as long as you want then let out water. Wheel out to horses to eat. (on lottiepony post below about tipping last bit of water out - there are wholes by the handle so if you tip the cube on it's side the last bit of water comes out).

Any questions please do ask x

 

[lottiepony]

A lady on my yard gave in and bought one for last winter. She was a little disappointed as has a few design flaws including still being difficult to move when full - so have it in the right place before filling it! That and the tap is positioned too high so there is always some amount of water left in the bottom, which even when there's no hay in there is difficult to remove as the all the top edges have a lip so not as simple as just tipping it out! Works well though if you don't have to soak, they then put their horses on haylage so just uses it like a manger if that makes sense!

 

[Lottiedots]

Yes. I got one for this winter having broken my back hauling heavy hay nets out of buckets! I have to say I think its fab. A little pricey for a bit of plastic but well designed. I fill up with the tap near the drain as some one said its very heavy to move when it's full. I then drain the water out and when most has been emptied I tilt it up with a brick to get the last out. Just before giving the hay I then tip the cube over on its side to get the rest of the water out. I don't fix it to the wall in the stable , he has knocked it over on its side once but it's not easy to do. Cleaning is easy as I just pull out any waste with my hands and then rinse the cube out . It has a clever lip to catch the last of the water and you just tip it over and the waste water drains out of holes at the top of the cube. Thinking of getting another for my other horse next winter. I currently pull some out for him but it's not easy to get the hay out once its full. I get about 4 slices in at a time. Def. saved my back this winter and there was less mess.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ohh real owners!
Brilliant thank you, my questions were going to be how easy are they to push and drain. My yard is scalpings so uneven and a bit Stoney, would you anticipate a problem here?
I'm very tempted even if I have to fill it at the drainage site (bit of a pain as no where near the tap!)

 

[Greentrees]

Yea - real owners, lol!
My yard is concrete and I cannot wheel mine around when it's full of water, it's just too heavy and I think I'm quite strong! Pushing with just the wet hay (i.e. water drained) is fine.
I fill mine using a hosepipe so that the cubes are near to the drain.
Would you be able to get a hosepipe to reach?

 

[Houndman]

We use an old bathtub with the outlet over a gully. Costs nothing.

A friend has an IBC container with the top chopped off which can soak several small bales at a time, but you need a yard tractor with forks to lift them out as they get so heavy.

 

[LaurenBay]

I wouldnt be without mine! Love love love it!

I wheel mine to my hay shed, fill up and wheel outside my stable. Put the hose in and do rest of my jobs.
Pull the plug, tip on side and then voila!

I was lucky and managed to pick mine up second hand for £50. But I wouldn't hesitate to get a new one now I know how easy its made life.

 

[cjwalker444]

We use them at work and they're very convenient! Obviously it wasn't me that bought them though so I'm not sure how much they are? But they are very practical and a lot tidier/ less smelly than other methods for soaking hay!

 

[niagaraduval]

I need something like this !

However, It seems like a box with wheels on would do the trick ?!

 

[dalidaydream]

Here you go:-

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...90-How-do-you-soak-your-hay-(to-remove-sugar)

(3rd post)

 

[poiuytrewq]

Here you go:-

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...90-How-do-you-soak-your-hay-(to-remove-sugar)

(3rd post)

I like this, i get the whole idea, its very similar to my cut down wheelie bin im using now but with a tap which presumably wont leak or fall off!
A water butt looks quite high though to lift even a drained net out of?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I need something like this !


However, It seems like a box with wheels on would do the trick ?!

It would and this is what my partners argument is but seriously try finding one suitable! ...thats a challenge

 

[TPO]

My mum has two for her horse.

She loves them and wouldn't be without them now.

A lady at the yard bought one on mum's recommendation and also loves it

 

[Avellana]

Has anyone found a way to turn a Hay Cube into a slow feeder? I'm trying to avoid having to stuff hay nets because my back is bad.

I like the look of them but need some way to slow my pony down.

 

[dalidaydream]

I like this, i get the whole idea, its very similar to my cut down wheelie bin im using now but with a tap which presumably wont leak or fall off!
A water butt looks quite high though to lift even a drained net out of?

I suppose I've got used to it but I never have any problem because I leave it to drain before attempting to get it out. Much easier on the back than trying to get a net out of water in any size container I have the rounder, squad water butt which isn't as high as a lot of them.