Hay Hutch - thoughts

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

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Anyone used one - I'm considering the small version to go in the field to put hay in daily when the weather is bad. We live on a windy hill though so wanted to get some opinions of it first.

We can't put a huge ring feeder out as no vehicle to put the large round bales out, and at the moment I chuck a large armful out daily but its getting trashed.

Thanks in advance.
 
I have one and it was fab. You get some hay round the sides of it but I found the mess is far less than putting a haynet out. I was on the side of a hill and I had to use the nut/bolt that came with it because my horse found it a game to take the lid off. I got fed up and used the nut/bolt after the lid ended up 2 fields away on a dark, windy morning.

One pony was great and would simply stand and eat. The other (same as above) is a joker and she would toss the hutch on its side and roll it in circles in the middle of the field. I put 2 breezeblocks in to stop this.

The other thing I like with the hutch is that they are easy to move about the field, so horses aren't standing in one muddy spot.

I moved livery and horses now have a hayring as big bales are put out as and when required BUT I've kept my hutches as they are invaluable. I've one medium and one small and now use them in the stable.
 
I've got them and think they're great. If you can afford it then I'd say get a medium as the small ones are little. I've got a medium and two small ones and wouldn't be without them.
I did manage to get the little ones on eBayso that saved a fair bit of cash too
 
I'm interested in these, but think our horses would take great delight in rolling them down the hill. Currently have 3 large tractor tyres, and am about to install a hay rack and hay bar in opposite ends of our field shelter - I'm sick of seeing wasted hay!
 
I have two of them and use them without the lids because I found that they could not get to the last bits of haylage through the holes in the sides. Also, they make far less mess with the lids off as they chew the haylage over the top of the hay hutch and so it drops right back in, rather than them dragging it out to the sides.
 
Wagtail said:
I have two of them and use them without the lids because I found that they could not get to the last bits of haylage through the holes in the sides. Also, they make far less mess with the lids off as they chew the haylage over the top of the hay hutch and so it drops right back in, rather than them dragging it out to the sides.
Click to expand...

Which ones do you have? Do you have large horses?
Can't see that will make much difference but mine managed to empty the hay hutch completely of hay. But then, maybe mine are just little piggies. Two 14.2hh are what I've got and I found they could empty the small and the medium hutches.

I couldn't keep the lid off because highland would stand guard over it and new forest got nothing. Eating from the sides, they would share. My idea of 2 hutches a small distance apart so each pony had one didn't work as new forest wanted to be at the same one as the highland. Contracry beasties :p
 
Saw an add for these last week and am really interested in them. Shall follow this thread with interest.

I would be thinking of getting a small one for two horses to share while they are out for a few hours during the day - would a medium size be better as a third horse will be added in the not too distant future?
 
I have a large one (oops for the donkeys!!).

I like the fact that I can put out a couple of days forgage out at once, it means it is possible to plan for a day out if necessary.

However, with the big ones I definitely wouldn't leave the lid off as the structure does crack eventually if subjected to continual pressure.

The big ones are fine to roll around the field, but if I want to move it a long way on the trailer I need help.
 
I have 2 medium ones for 4 horses and they work fairly well. One horse manages to get the lids of though and rolls them. I put wood in them to weight them down as with our weather they were in danger of being blown away otherwise. They are good to use in the field as you can keep moving them so ground doesn't get so churned up. Now I have hard core round the stables I tend to just put hay out there in piles on the ground.
 
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