Happy Horse Hay Steamer - a question or two (sorry quite rambly)

[Ludi-doodi]

Sorry this thread goes on a bit and uses some odd words (like rambly - pretty bad considering I'm a communications officer )

The YO has very generously recently bought a large happy horse haysteamer for the yard to use. I'm extremely lucky in that its me and possibly one or two others that use it regularly - which on a yard of almost 50 horses ain't bad! However, I'm not convinced it works that well and would like the opinions of other users please!

In the bottom of the steamer, there are two yellow 'plates' (for want of a better word) and the steam 'jets' (again can't quite think of the right word) stick through these plates, the hay sits on top of the jets/plate combo. Is that right? It strikes me that the hay nets will be blocking the jets and the steam won't be able to fully circulate around/through the chamber where the nets sit.

I have to empty the steam chamber (the bit where the hay sits) of water regularly - about twice a week. It's below the yellow plates but there does seem to be quite a lot. Is this normal It's used at least twice a day 7 days per week.

How long would you expect it to fully and properly steam two large haynets? I pack my nets quite full (the other user's net isn't quite so big, but a decent size). My night net is particularly big. Even after an hour and 10 mins (on a timer!) the hay doesn't always feel that hot all the way through or I'm not convinced the steam has penetrated all the way through.

Woud you expect a little steam to escape from the cap where the steamer is filled with water? Not necessarily a lot but some?

Have you ever noticed whether the water in the steamer (the mechanical, heating bit not the chamber) goes brown? I top it up with water every day and check it after ever use. Sometimes I empty it out completely and the stuff that comes out can be a cruddy brown colour.

Before this steamer, I had built my own out of a large water butt and a wallpaper steamer. In the bottom I had half a breeze block for the net to sit on. Even with the same large night net I felt that my home made steamer did a better job in a shorter period - an hour was more than enough. I hardly ever had to empty it of water and when I did, it was only a trickle. The commercial version seems to gather a LOT of water. Sadly my home made verison was involved in a 'tractor V breeze block wall' arguement and neither the wall or the steamer survived !!

Thoughts, opinions and ideas most welcome!

Ps just to reiterate - I'm very grateful that the YO has bought this - I know they aren't cheap but I'd like to know whether it's working properly before I raise any issues with the YO and/or Happy Horse!

 

[DougalJ]

Where I keep my horses the YO bought a very expensive hay steamer on the advice from her vet as her cob has COPD. Its sounds very similar to your one with the bottom yellow plates etc. The first steamer turned up was a heap of **** with the seals broken, door wouldnt shut properly, temperature gage broken, so after alot of hassle they exchanged it. The new one leaks now when steaming (it hasn't been overfilled) and general opinion its a very glorified and expensive (£900+) kettle. The water is particularly that discoloured and we steam two large tighly packed haynets for nearly an hour. Its also a bit of a faff to steam the hay before the horses come in as got to remember to go and turn it on an hour or so before as I believe you can't leave a steamed haynet for too long after? (This could be a myth). I think soaking is probably better and the much cheaper option. More rubbish seems to come out of the hay doing this and a friend who has a lammy horse ( just had another bout this winter!!) has been told by her vet that steaming is not sufficient but to well soak. Sorry to be a bit rambly but that my views on steamers! LOL

 

[Ludi-doodi]

Thanks DougalJ. Get a timer! Having the hay ready and good to when you want it takes the pain out of remembering to switch it on! Certainly for lamanitics I think spoaking would be better, steaming won't reduce the calories like soaking, but as I steam for breathing issues, it's better for me. It does sound like there might be a few common issues with this brand of steamer.

 

[flyingfeet]

I have a haygain, as after looking at both I didn't like the happy horse even though it was cheap - also with the grid in the bottom how on earth do you clean it?

My haygain - the steam generator does accumulate limestone due to our water, so needs shaking out about every fortnight otherwise it doesn't use as much water. I also do a vinegar descale about twice a year.

The unit itself has large metal spikes which the steam comes out of , so in my case I do bales and spikes are in the middle of the bale. However they patented these, so happy horse cannot do the same!

Hardly any water ever left in the unit and I just use a pair of gloves to remove any hay left so its nice and clean. Then I may tip on its side and rinse out with a hose, but again probably about twice a year!

 

[algeredge]

My boy developed a cough related to dusty hay, so we made a steamer from a water butt with a wall paper stripper attached to the tap at the bottom of the water butt. I put an old BBQ metal rack in the bottom to give some clearance inside and I have never had a problem. I steam 2 nets at a time in 30 minutes. They are piping hot all the way through and I just have to keep an eye on any water build up or loose hay at the bottom and empty it every now and again.
Horse doesnt cough any more and it only cost me £50! Think its works ok if you only have 1 or 2 horses to feed though.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

My home made one cost less than £7! The water butt I already had and M-in-L donated the wallpaper steamer. Only had to buy a timer and an adapter to fit the timer to the socket! Sadly it was an innocent third party that came off the worse in the Wall Vs Tractor argument!