Feeding straw to fatties

[shadowboy]

So have been doing this for 3 days now. 1 third straw the rest hay. Realised however today that the straw is wheat straw. Can't get any other type. So should I revert back to full hay?
I can't do soaked hay for a couple of reasons.

 

[unbalanced]

The vet just told me off for bedding my greedy pony on straw as she has seen a number of impaction colics caused by eating straw. We will be switching back to shavings and mats this weekend (pony will be sad; she has had a whale of a time). So personally, no, I wouldn't actively encourage them to eat straw. Can't you double net it and increase exercise if you can't soak it? Even spending some time standing without eating would be better than colic.

 

[Alphamare]

I only feed barley or oat straw to my horses as I believe wheat straw is had for them to digest.

 

[shadowboy]

Already double netted. Can't exercise as only a youngster. Was recommended straw from this forum last week. Only just realised it was wheat. Sadly can't get any other type.

 

[Alfiem]

I feed barley or oat straw as the quality is far superior to wheat. BUT when I had my greedy welsh types on wheat straw beds they ate loads of the stuff with no ill effect, they also ate a gorse bush......as long as they drink enough I tend not to worry.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

My donks are fed exclusively on oat straw, and it has never caused any problems, was vet approved. They are also known to eat their wheat straw bed in their shelter upon occasion, again, no problems. If its reasonable quality you will be okay with a 2/1 ratio, but if its poor quality I would reduce it to 3/1. But I would look round everywhere for barley or oat straw (oat is better, but barley is easier to get) and then you can do more of a 1.5/1 ratio.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I would feed it as a minority ration in a net, but not bed on it. Same with oat and barley.

Ive been lucky as I managed to find a supplier for some oat straw for lami prone girlie and as it's oat she has about 2/3 oat and 1/3 hay as in the winter up here in the Cairngorms we often cant soak the hay for weeks/months on end as it just instantly freezes and even lo cal haylage is too much for her.

Also depends on general disgestive health, she is like an ox, whereas my old chap I wouldnt get anywhere near straw as he is colic prone and doesnt drink enough

 

[shadowboy]

It is quite good quality and reasonably soft. I'll ensure its no more than one third of the ration, to stay safe.
I can't soak hay as I only go up once a day on weekdays; one of the girls does mine, and then I bring hers in at night. I'm also on shavings and the dripping of the net wrecked my shavings bed and I ended up using 2 bales a week to keep it dry.