Hay in fields, need some help keeping it in one place please! ...

C

cameronD26

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 October 2007
Messages
95
Visit site
I was recently in Europe and saw these 'hay holders' as I'd like to call them in the field. They looked like what I'd describe as a steel or some such material (although shiney) troughs but had like a turet style edge so the horses popped their head through (not at all sharpe or dangerous just clever). There wasn't much hay dragged all round the fields like in mine and thought this a wonderful idea. Does anyone have any really good ideas for keeping the hay together in the fields like this or know where I can get something similar? No good me trying to find buy them abroad as they'd be too heavy to have shipped over.

Don't want to resort to the round bales. I like to put fresh out really and just need something to stop it getting trod in and blown away?
 
i think what you're describing is called a tombstone feeder, some of the big farm stores sell them.
i use a long piece of very close-mesh wire, the stuff that's welded at every join, not sheep wire. i fold it in half so it's about 2' high, make it into a ring with about 3' diameter, wire the ends together neatly, and fix it to 3 short wooden fence posts driven into the ground. lasts about a year before they squash it to pieces, and haven't had one hurt themselves with it yet.
 
Or you could get an old tractor tyre, place it in the middle of the field, and put the hay inside. Its free (most farmers are only too happy not to have to pay to dispose of it) and horse safe.
 
Yes that's exactly what it is. I just googled that and found one nearly £400!! OMG.


Did do the job and it would last a lifetime but think that's a tad on the expensive side for keeping my hay tidy! tomestone trough
 
If your thinking about using a ring feeder (Cattle / sheep hay ring) try a farm sale. Do you have a local auction centre that holds farm or machinery sales you can usually pick them up there for less than £100.00 granted they may not be brand spanking new but usually in reasonable condition. Alternatively contact your local farmer they may have the odd one unused around the yard.
IMO the only problem with this option is that if you have a number of horses and ponies grazing together someone usually gets pushed out and can be the root of some nasty bullying. Never had any problems with small numbers of horses using this method though (few enough to all get around the ring together)
 
thank you for this, I do know a few farmers. My boys are 'usually' very nice to each other. When they are not nice it's usually only a grumpy look or two and then they get over it. They are in 2 paddocks and 2 together in each so I'd need a couple and hence the shock at the price.
 
You should have no problems then, weve always used them and not had any incidents (Touch wood), although it makes a mess of the grass underneath so maybe dont move it too often.
PS. Ring feeders for horned cattle are usually best as they dont have a bar running around the top, prevents trapped heads.
 
If you are going to get a cattle feeder, I just wanted to warn you that I've seen a horse break his neck in one before.
frown.gif
He was quietly eating with his head in it when one of the other horses decided to chase him off. He panicked, got his head stuck, fell over and was dead instantly. It was one of those feeders with the arched gaps and no bar over the top btw
frown.gif
Probably a freak accident, but just thought you should know those feeders are not 100% safe.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you are going to get a cattle feeder, I just wanted to warn you that I've seen a horse break his neck in one before.
frown.gif
He was quietly eating with his head in it when one of the other horses decided to chase him off. He panicked, got his head stuck, fell over and was dead instantly. It was one of those feeders with the arched gaps and no bar over the top btw
frown.gif
Probably a freak accident, but just thought you should know those feeders are not 100% safe.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have known a horse break his leg in one
 
Make one!

Bang posts into the ground, and nail planks to it, we used old fence posts and old rails, cost was negligible.......you can make it whatever size/height you like, maybe long and narrow for small bales. Ok, so it isn't movable but you can dismantle it, fill the holes in and move it elsewhere at the end of winter. My 6'x6' is great for round bales, I got fed up with the horses nesting in loose bales.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top