Hay steamer

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Jazz18

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Can I have recommendations for a hay steamer. I don’t want to make one. Hay gain looks a good one but expensive . Any experience of the cheaper ones? Ascot?
 
Why do you need one?

I have been put off making my own by reviews of the steamer units, which appear to be generic, as being unreliable to useless for their intended purpose.

A friend bought a very expensive ready-made set-up which is basically a wheelie bin with drain-tap and inner grid, steamer unit and timers for A LOT OF MONEY.

I'd only use one on good clean hay and find a dustbin and kettle quite adequate.
 
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I've only had a Haygain but highly recommend it.

I think it's the only one that reaches the required temperatures to have the proper affect.

They have just launched new versions so you might find some second hand older styles popping up.

As an aside their customer service is excellent and they couldnt be more helpful.
 
The issue with people making their own steamers/cheaper versions is that spores are heat activated and will subsequently germinate and start growing when you actually want them to be dead :p. The temperature has to be high enough for long enough to inactivate them instead.

I would always ask to see the heat profiles of any steamer before purchase.

Ester, PhD microbiology specialising in Clostridia species (and their spores :p) ;)
 
Mine got a haygain for Christmas and I am very pleased with it. He's normally on haylage over winter and wasn't coping well with dry hay and being stabled more, this seems much better. I've had friends with home made wallpaper steamer and wheelie bin affairs, but this definitely beats that. No, they're not cheap but he steamer unit in particular seems really robust, and that's where the majority of the cost is.
 
Jazz18 said:
Can I have recommendations for a hay steamer. I don’t want to make one. Hay gain looks a good one but expensive . Any experience of the cheaper ones? Ascot?
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Did you invest in a steamer OP? I'm in the market for one (no interest in a home made/DIY job) and I'm drawn to the Ascot as they claim to use food grade plastic which appeals to me. If you got one how is it going, would you recommend?

Any other recommendations welcome. I'm looking to steam for a metabolically challenged veteran, in buying poorer hay for weight management I've introduced a persistent cough. Soaking isn't an option unless I want to lug soaked hay in car daily which I don't hence wanting to invest.
 
i've got a haygain... the 660 model and i bought it second hand. The company were very helpful when one of the steam jets broke (new one was £5 i think) and it's recently split in a few places so they told me which sealant to use from Amazon.... I can steam a huge net, big enough for my 17hh Irish Draught in one go and then put another net straight in without needing to add more water. can definitely recommend.
 
The Ascot hay steamer makes a big thing in the blurb of the hay chamber being made from food grade plastic, but gives no evidence at all about the temperature in the chamber reached during steaming, and no evidence of manifold spikes to assist steam penetration of the hay.

Currently it still seems to be only Haygain who sell hay steamers that can actually do the job properly.

I have had a Haygain One for over 3 years, it’s sturdy and reliable. Worth every penny.
 
Tiddlypom said:
The Ascot hay steamer makes a big thing in the blurb of the hay chamber being made from food grade plastic, but gives no evidence at all about the temperature in the chamber reached during steaming, and no evidence of manifold spikes to assist steam penetration of the hay.

Currently it still seems to be only Haygain who sell hay steamers that can actually do the job properly.

I have had a Haygain One for over 3 years, it’s sturdy and reliable. Worth every penny.
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Sometime last year I was considering a hay steamer and contacted ascot regarding their claims about the plastic - I asked what recycling number was stamped on it to show what sort of plastic it was made from - they were not willing to provide me with any information to substantiate their claims about the plastic unless I bought one first! and were rather huffy with me.

I am interested though in the whether plastic is leached at high temperature and the health implications.
 
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