Feeding hay without the wastage!

J

Jericho

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
2,568
Visit site
OK so what is the best way to feed hay or haylage in a field shelter without it being wasted. I am fed up of raking up so much of it which has trodden into mud and pooed on and throwing it on muckheap.

I tried haynets but worry about them getting feet caught. I have tried big tubs, tied to the wall but they get knocked over and the horses just pull all the hay out.

Are haybars any good? I ideally would like a manger type thing that goes onto the floor than I can throw the hay into. I have seen the hay hutch but not sure that they would work that well i.e the holes are quite small and not down to the floor so how do the horses get all the hay out? Also the horse is constantly twisting neck to pull hay out.
 
I do sympathise with you. I have about 50 horses here; all are fed adlib out of giant hay feeders. Last year I estimate the total loss of hay ran at around 1/3 of all hay wasted. This year, due to us making larger bales (6ft ones instead of 5ft ones (will never do that again!)), the wastage is running at a far higher percentage. I just live with it
crazy.gif
.
 
Thankfully mine are eating every bit at the moment provided I don't over do it and the hard ground is saving it being trodden in. I despair of finding a safe feeder that minimises waste but wonder what you think of this idea?

I have a couple of large plastic rectangular water troughs that would take a slice of large bale haylage apiece. I was thinking of getting a sort of heavy metal grid made that just sat on top of the haylage, sinking to the bottom as they ate their way through it, with smallish holes say 2" apart. A friend's husband makes stuff like this and don't think it would be too expensive.

The alternative I've seen is a sort of heavy metal 'star fish' thing that sits on top of the hay in a dust bin. It's too heavy to throw about and doubt theyd injure themselves on it. It's called a Hayledge and is about £35.
 
My two horses used to live out and use a field shelter and we put up hay racks at each end and a manger in the corner at each end and they lived like that for 15 years. Not much wastage at all.
 
Think haybar would be a good idea, but they sometimes pull quite a lot out while searching for yummier bits. I think there'd be less waste though. I have one in my boy's stable.
 
Haybars are good but they can still pull the hay out onto the floor, a friend of mine used a couple of old tall metal post trolleys she got from the royal mail and used to put the hay in them and the horses did not waste as much.
 
[ QUOTE ]

The alternative I've seen is a sort of heavy metal 'star fish' thing that sits on top of the hay in a dust bin. It's too heavy to throw about and doubt theyd injure themselves on it. It's called a Hayledge and is about £35.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooooh thanks for posting this
smile.gif
... I've been looking for one of those for ages and couldn't remember what they were called for the life of me! Do you know how big they are? I couldn't see any dimensions on their website.
 
i've got hayledges, they nearly fit across the top of a normal dustbin. i've found them best with the round blue bins, because my horses wrecked normal black dustbins. they're really good. postage is the same for a few as for 1, too, don't be put off by it.
i have also made a hay feeder from a heavy pallet on the floor with a solid wooden sheet on it (so no hay can drop through) and tied a big ring of small-holed mesh on top of it, a whole bale fits in and it's pretty secure, they prob waste about 10% of it, which isn't too bad.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would deffinatley check out www.hay-hutch.co.uk it is a new product and I could not live without it now. No wate, saves me money and you can buy it in 3 sizes. Its fantastic.

[/ QUOTE ]

At last a real life product report! I keep looking at them but not convinced that mine would not stick their feet through the holes or that they won't drag most of it onto the floor, is it really that good?
 
I wondered that too Custardsmum. Will be interested to hear more about them from WelshCobs. Not only re getting their feet in them, but can they easily be pulled over etc.
 
I have a Medium Hayhutch for my mare and works really well and very little waste. I did find after driving rain mine had about an inch of water in the base which sat there till I noticed as no drainage holes but that is the only negative I have found so far (have had it about two months now). Generally I'm very pleased with it though as at least I can put hay out the night before and not have it frosted by the time she goes out. Also it hold enough to keep her going for a few days, so when I'm on shift no one has to lug hay down the field for her, when they turn her out.

My friend has a large one for her four, but one of her mares tends to not let 2 of the others anywhere near it (only her gelding is brave enough to eat fom the Hayhutch when she is at it)!!! Hers also seem to still waste a far bit by pulling and onto the ground.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would deffinatley check out www.hay-hutch.co.uk it is a new product and I could not live without it now. No wate, saves me money and you can buy it in 3 sizes. Its fantastic.

[/ QUOTE ]

At last a real life product report! I keep looking at them but not convinced that mine would not stick their feet through the holes or that they won't drag most of it onto the floor, is it really that good?

[/ QUOTE ]
How weird, I have just come on here to put up a thread asking about this. Just seen it. This morning I raked up and chucked at least half a small bale from my lad's stable - all completely unsalvageable as totally mixed with shavings (so I'm losing money there too!).

I wondered how horse actually gets the last bits of hay out with the holes on the side - can he reach?? Was also concerned how heavy it would be once full but they say it can be lifted easily.

ETA: OMG have just seen the price of them!!!
shocked.gif
 
there is such an opportunity in the market for someone to come up with a cracking idea for something to feed hay in a stable for minimum waste!

Something which sits on or just above the floor so supports natural feeding position but with removeable bottom and /or drainage holes (even with a water reservoir for those feeding soaked hay). Movable but can be secured to the wall easily for safety. And something where hay cant be pulled out the top. The haybar is nearly there but expensive for what it is and hay still gets pulled out and trashed and cant be moved. The hayhutch looks good for the field but have concerns about how they get hay out of the bottom and unnatural feeding position and hay still getting pulled out. Maybe something like an open top super market trolley with a removeable rubber tray at bottom and a large hole (but not hoof size!!) mesh that sits ontop of the hay like the hayledge

any good engineers / carpenters out there ???
 
Have just replied to custardmum's thread on the same subject - I've been using a large Hayhutch this winter and wouldn't be without it now. I tease out the hay when filling it so the horses don't pull out large chunks, and I reckon the wastage is minimal. If rain does get in (which it can do occasionally) it's a simple matter to tip the hutch up - it's quite light when empty. The horses do twist their necks to reach the hay but pulling hay from a net or rack also twists the neck. IMO the Hayhutch is well worth the money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top