Feeding soaked hay on bigger scale

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MagicMelon

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I used to give my 2 a big round bale in their field, worked great all winter as they just helped themselves. Now one needs soaked hay. Ive tried separating them with tape so my oldie can have time a day with a big bale but he jumps out / stresses so he'll just have to have soaked hay in with the one who needs it. They live out 24/7 on not a big field. Theres still grass but theyre already wolfing down 4 soaked haynets daily. Im worrying about how to cope with this in depths of winter like when theres snow covering the grass and all they have is hay. Ill be out every hour filling and soaking nets!

I struggle with really big nets as they dont fit in my big tubtrug to soak and my back goes lifting them out.

Is there something like a big box/container I could use somehow? I just need the most practical but efficient way of feeding it.
 
I have one of these which soaks one small bale at a time. My 3 have a bale soaked during the day in winter (split into separate feeders) and then we soak 3 nets for them for overnight. To drain the soaked hay we tip the hay saver on its side, let most of the water run out, then tip fully to get the hay out.

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The Hay-Saver Green is a safe plastic slow feeder manufactured in the UK. Designed for outdoor use to minimise hay wastage and promote
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Years ago at my first riding school we had a huge bath/container to soak hay and used a long handled pitch fork to help lever it out, all went in loose.
Maybe see if you can get an IBC tank? To help and maybe rig up a pulls system above to help get nets out?
The tank even cut down slightly would fit alot of hay in and a pulley system above would save your back.
 
We used to use a bath. A full conventional bale fits in a normal size bath. You can leave in soaking over night (or through the day) and then pull the plug to drain. It weighs a lot less when drained rather than lifting soaking haynets out of trugs. Stuff your haynets in a wheelbarrow next to the bath (saves bending down) and straight to where you feed.

Edited to add - as the bale is still compact it stays damp for a few hours after you pull the plug out to drain.
 
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I have one of these, much easier than nets. Just let the water drain away, quick rinse and wheel to the stable / field / wherever. You’d probably need a few in rotation however so a bit of a costly solution.
 
Another vote for a wheelie bin - I drilled two holes in the bottom of the front and use rubber bungs to close them and then fill the bin with water a a couple of nets. pull the bungs to drain and the then the bin is easy to tip or wheel somewhere.

I also have one of the Hay Savers above - again with a hole, which you can put a bung in or I think you can buy them with a water but tap pre fitted in the hole. Or DIY.

But also as above... given the rain, will the dust/dryness of the hay be a problem...?
 
As above wheelie bin with hole drilled near bottom. Will fit a couple of big nets in or a small bale. Pull plug, drain water, wheel to where required. Simples :)
 
I use a big plastic tub that’s about 4ft x 3ft. Really strong heavy duty.
It came from Morrisons as they use them for moving large frozen foods I believe. My friend works there.
They ditch them now and then and replace with new.
Really heavy duty and I just drilled a hole in the bottom and put a water butt tap in. Works a treat.
I fill the nets the night before and drain it first thing. Rinse off good to go. Then do the same as soon as it’s empty for the evening hay. Then again and again 🙈. The cycle continues!
I actually don’t soak as much as I used to as now have very low sugar hay anyway.
 
twiggy2 said:
We used to use baths, soak a bale and pull the plug to drain, as mentioned above leaving them to drain means they are a lot lighter before you try to move them
Click to expand...
This is what I do then either take out what you need or I used to barrow the whole bale out to the field
 
I've got 2 200L water butt's with taps at the bottom they take 2 big nets in each and i just stand on my mounting block to lift them out.

You have to get water buts with the wide top though or you won't get the nets out I will try and fine what I have.
 
I used a big storage box that I got from b&q . It was black with yellow handles and on wheels- about £20 but honestly is such a faff . Is it for weight loss or dust because if it is dust I also would go with haylage. Winter is hard enough without having to lug wet hay around
 
I would go with haylage too
Hay soaking is horrible at the best of times but when your tap and your hands are frozen and the ground is sodden so the water won't soak away it's many times worse
 
I have the answer!! 😂 OH did it for me and I was so impressed.
Old water IBC. Cut the cage and plastic inner down with an angle grinder, fill with hay nets.
It would take a while to fill with a regular hose- I was lucky to have a sprayer tank to fill it from.
Then just turn the tap and it empties rapidly.
If you tilt it with low stones one end it will drain completely out of the nets as well then I turfed them into a garden trolley thing and hung on the gate/fences
 
I only soak the hay they have in the stable now and that seems to be enough for Louis as his not coughed.

I used to get some wrapped hay some years ago and it was like a very light haylage and never dusty but not sticky like haylage and it didn't go off once opened either.

Maybe see if you can source something similar.
 
Ime big bale haylage doesn't go off anywhere near as fast as the small bags that are sold in feedstock. Our 2 x16hh eat a big bale in approx 10 days and it is only ever in the hottest weather that we have waste.
 
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