hay from the field - ideas and please post your pics!

cob&onion

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Heard a few people use tractor tyres, wheelie bins :p, crates and various other bits and bobs to feed hay from in the winter.
I did start a thread before but should have down it separate to the TB thread!
So can i see some photos of how you feed your hay for inspiration for my feeding-hay-from-the-field-without-wasting-it idea! :P
Thanks
 
I haven't a picture at the moment, so you will have to use your imagination!
My 13.1 pony has electric fencing so cant hang a haynet. If you put it on the floor he wees on it (charming! And thats his name, actually!)
So I came up with this - fill a small hole haynet, tie it tight and tuck the loose ends inside. Then take an old tyre and weigh it down, I can get four old house bricks inside mine, turn the haynet over so that the tied end is underneath, then sit it on top of the tyre, like an egg in an egg cup. Next you need some of those elastic luggage ties, and you put them round the tyre and through the haynet, and fasten them underneath the tyre and voila! It works a treat for my pony and theres no dangerous loose ends.
Must say he doesn't wear shoes so there's nothing for him to get caught up on. Not sure if I would do it if he wore shoes as there might be a slight chance he could get caught up.
He eats it all up, it lasts longer, and theres absolutely no waste at all, and it's dead cheap to do, I had everything except the luggage ties already, and I nicked those off my OHs golf bag!
 
Paddock pillows!!! Google them. I made them for mine and they are brilliant and super easy to make with plastic garden trellis and cable ties. I tie my opening end with thin rope but could use baling twine.
 
I find that hungry horses eat all the hay you put out - down to the last few strands. If you put out a bit too much, then it's left - just like when they're stabled. I space it out half a small slice at a time, so lots of piles - and it's always gone by the next feeding. We don't feed hay until the grass isn't enough and they're hungry though, and feed enough so they maintain their weight, but there's none left over.
 
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