Hay hutch or simular

our yard has just got them and have to say they are brilliant! No spillage at all, we added a section or two a day during the snow. The roof ensures it stays dry and doesn't go moldy in the rain with only a few of them eating it! They are light and moveable enough to ensure you can shift them to prevent muddy patches. I've become a convert! Old yard had cattle round feeders but they are expensive too.
 
Someone on here (can't remember who and can't be bothered to do a search for you, forgive me I am tired) made a hay hutch out of a compost bin.
If you do a search on hay hutch you will surely find the thread.
 
We're using round water tanks, about the size of a hay hutch although without a lid, easy to move around and they are fab! We have hardly any wastage this year at all and no poaching. Brilliant!
 
Thanks I will look for that, I am sure we can make something. Anyone know the dimentions of the medium? I think thats the size we would need for a 16.1 and a 15.2 sharing
 
taken from the hayhutch website ;)

Medium Hay Hutch
The unit is approximately 900mm diameter at the base, 650mm diameter at the lid and 750mm tall.

The feed apertures are approximately 292mm (11.5") in diameter.

It is conical so that, should it get knocked over, it should not roll away.

Weight 13kg
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Feeling less tired and more helpful today. :)

Originally Posted by hrhmika
1. Compost bin - love the idea of a Hay hutch but cannot afford one, use a compost bin! works a treat, and whats even better, you can get them free or dirt cheap from council at this adress http://www.getcomposting.com/. i then secure them using large ground pegs and string though small holes i made in the bottom so the little beasts cannot play footbal with them
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That looks great, do they not pull loads of hay out at one time though? Hard to tell how big the hole is, has anyone managed to cut a second hole? I dont want fighting :)
 
At my last yard I used to use what I think was a builders crate. It was about 120 square with short legs and lots of holes in the bottom. It was ideal, the rain went through the holes and so did any dust from the hay.

Also it made a big target if I was launching slices from the other side of the fence in the Dark!

Nothing was wasted and it was easy to move around the field.

I had a shallow one which was fine for both my 2 year olds but you can get deep ones which will discourage horses from putting their foot in it (or through it). It was used as a toy occasionally when it was empty but they're very robust.

Here's a link to a picture of the kind I used to use. They have holes in the bottom and another leg in the middle. No idea where you buy them from.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-1377900/stock-photo-vegetable-crates
 
I left a message on another thread re feeding hay, I use a medium compost bin, secured with 3 fence posts in a triangle, then roped round to secure. I also use 2 tyres, lashed together with a rubber feed bucket inside, and then tied to the fence post. feeding station complete, she cant tip anything an d her hay stays where I want it til she eats it! Cost was minimal compared to hay hutch and works justas well.
 
hi, i use a small compost bin for my daughters 15;1. we have drilled holes at the bottom and near the top and use baler twine to secure it to fence post, it is very windy in our field and was unsure whether it would move in wind? it has not yet and is working a treat. cost £17 with bottom, was going to use a wheelie bin as easier to secure but could not find one cheaper then £45. You could always buy two compost bins if you didn"t want to cut another hole! Was also looking at hay hutch but what a price.
 
I have just seen this on another thread:

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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=509229

I like the wheelie bin idea, easy to move around.

Around here it is very common to see the large plastic barrels tied to fenceposts with a hole cut in them, a bit like a large and solid haybag;)
 
My dad made a hay feeder for me using a 2 sided pallet, some other planks from another pallet, bit of chainlink fencing and a grid we found in the park! It is based on a pallet so is a good 6"off the ground (my main criteria as ponies won't eat hay that has been wet from the floor up), the chainlink fencing is tight on the bottom to keep hay in but let dust etc out, and the grid has a wooden frame round it and sits on top of the hay so they can't pull it all out at once. At the moment the grid is about 4"holes, but as the babies get older I can make that smaller so it turns into a slow feeder for them.

It was completely free, we even used the nails from the dismantled crate to put it together, but is less useful if the main purpose is to keep the hay/lage perfectly dry. The top layer does get damp in the rain but I leave the hay in sections and generally they eat it before it gets too wet so always have a dry supply to hand.

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