Getting Ruby to actually eat her new feed!

[lisan]

Have been on Calm and Condition, top spec balancer, handful of herbal chaff.

We now have the Simple systems Lucie Nuts and Total eclipse - also bought a bag of pura beet.

I have tried giving her a small amount of the new feed while cutting down the old one, mixing it together, leaving her with just the new feed and her haylage last night, and still she leaves it all

Tried differnet consistancies, but no, just turns her nose up.

Can't afford her not to have anything unless she eats it as she is a skinny minny as it is and can not have her dropping weight just going into winter!

Ideas please!

 

[Chico Mio]

Dried mint? Fruit or vegetable juice of some kind?

 

[lisan]

hmmm, will nip to Asda at lunch and get some mint, and maybe some carrot juice?? she does'nt like apples!

 

[HollyP]

stick with your old feed?

 

[lisan]

Would'nt that have been easier!! Only changing her as its meant to be better for her and although maintaining her weight was not putting any on!

 

[Bosworth]

Leave out the total eclipse - I have found some horses really don't like it at first. You also have to remember you are moving from feeding a sweets diet to a savoury diet - the herbal chaff has molasses in it, as does the calm and condition so it will take her a while to eat it. But just ignore - keep giving it to her every night and she will eat it. I have 16 horses on it now - and every one eats it up cleanly. And they all moved from conventional feeds to it. Some loved it straight away and some not so keen initially but they all love it now. Try giving her a few dry lucinuts as a treat - just one at a time. See how she likes them. Give her her haylage one night and no hard feed then the next night give her the simple systems and stop the chaff and calm and condition immediately. There is really no need to introduce it too slowly as it is only grass. You don't have to give the full amount. Persevere - imagine if you were trying to move a kid away from crisps and sweets to a salad and veg diet!

 

[lisan]

Thanks bosworth, will see what she think of the lucie nuts dry. But will also try what you said!