Feeding straw

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Highflinger

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Hello All
I have a couple of very good doer natives out 24/7. They are on a 4 acre field but grass is now going and I am starting to feed a little hay ( about a small bale between them per week to very mean rations!) as they are just standing around looking hungry but are still too fat. I was wondering would I be better feeding some straw or a combination of - I am looking to ensure they have plenty of fibre and keep them occupied but would like them to loose some weight.
If so is it oat straw I should feed?
Thanks
 
I feed hay and barley straw mixed, and they are on straw bedding so can always have a nibble (which they do). It's better to have something out for them than leave them with nothing at all, even if they are fat. Mine don't like oat straw.
 
Are they standing around looking hungry, which I would be surprised if they were on that amount of land, or just standing around because they are chilled, mine are all still out and getting some hay but still leave a little, mooch off and stand around on and off during the day, my interpretation is that they are fine and just enjoying the dry weather that is rare at this time of year, if they do not have time to stand around that is more likely a sign they are having to keep trying to find food.
 
Oat straw is supposed to be easier to digest - but because it breaks down so easily most farmers just plough it in for fertiliser so it's hard to come by.

Barley is then next and wheat is what most bedding is and many many horses pick at their beds to no ill effect.
 
Mine won't touch barley straw, and would go for wheat first overall, though they'll eat oat straw if it's all that's on offer.
 
Mine is another who won't touch oat straw, I tried to bulk out his haynets when he was on box-rest and all that did was leave him standing looking miserable after pulling it all out to get to the hay. Some straw and hay spread out across the land (as much as you can) might be an idea but second bp's suggestion that if they are standing around they are probably not hungry or they would be looking for grass!
 
My first year of experimenting with oat straw, going really well. feed one flap of soaked hay and then leave a full haynet of oat straw. She picks at it through the night and is far more settled. We have not dropped a dress size yet but working on it !
 
I feed large bales of barley straw from a ring feeder 24/7 with small nets of hay twice a day. I have found using a large bale net for the straw saves a lot of wastage. My greedy things eat the whole bale but it is under cover and stood on a concrete base so it is not affected by any wet.
 
I couldn't get oat straw, so am mixing haylage with barley straw, working okay so far. They get mixed nets, but also a few tied up straight straw. They do eat it if it's well mixed in x least I know I'd they are properly hungry they have something to pick at
 
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