HealthyHorses
New User
Does anyone have any constructive feedback on these products before I purchase? Pros and cons.
HayCube and HayGain
- Thread starter HealthyHorses
- Start date
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
They are very different products 
.
Why are you thinking of buying either (or both) of them?
.Why are you thinking of buying either (or both) of them?
HealthyHorses
New User
Looking at an alternative to soaking haynets - thank you for the replyThey are very different products
Why are you thinking of buying either (or both) of them?
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Why are you soaking the hay?
HealthyHorses
New User
Manage weight and dust
Flamenco
Well-Known Member
I love my hay cube and so does my horse. Its far quicker and less effort than lugging heavy wet haynets about. Everyone who sees it wants one.
The only downsides are you need a fast flowing drain with a tap near it. The nearest drain can't cope so I have to drag it through mud rather than straight across concrete like I'd hoped. Plus it only comes with one key which is the perfect size to go down the drain or get lost so its worth ordering a spare.
The only downsides are you need a fast flowing drain with a tap near it. The nearest drain can't cope so I have to drag it through mud rather than straight across concrete like I'd hoped. Plus it only comes with one key which is the perfect size to go down the drain or get lost so its worth ordering a spare.
tatty_v
Well-Known Member
My fellow livery has a hay cube. It’s not ideal, the main cons I find are:
- still have to stuff a haynet if you want to really drain the hay (I know some people pop it in loose but her horse won’t eat it when it’s been soaked like that)
- the screw at the back is flush to the cube (presumably so it can go up against a wall) which is a PITA to undo to let the water out (we use a handy stone!)
- it needs cleaning fairly regularly as the water doesn’t completely drain (eg some dips where the feet are that you can’t drain without tipping it upside down)
That said, it’s still loads better than soaking nets in a water butt like we used to!
If we had the money I think we’d go for the steamer, but that would only be ok as we are not soaking for weight loss but for dust.
- still have to stuff a haynet if you want to really drain the hay (I know some people pop it in loose but her horse won’t eat it when it’s been soaked like that)
- the screw at the back is flush to the cube (presumably so it can go up against a wall) which is a PITA to undo to let the water out (we use a handy stone!)
- it needs cleaning fairly regularly as the water doesn’t completely drain (eg some dips where the feet are that you can’t drain without tipping it upside down)
That said, it’s still loads better than soaking nets in a water butt like we used to!
If we had the money I think we’d go for the steamer, but that would only be ok as we are not soaking for weight loss but for dust.
TPO
🤠🏴
I have both and love them.
I've had haycubes since they came out as there was roo much wastage with haybars.
When the new design came out I bought that version for the newest horses. I still have one original versions and two new ones; there are pros and cons with both. Overall the new version is better because its taller so not back breaking to work with.
I have a haygain for a horse with mild asthma and its brilliant too. Excellent to help warm up frozen hands in winter too!
I'm just about to advertise my haygain HG600 if it's of any interest to you
I've had haycubes since they came out as there was roo much wastage with haybars.
When the new design came out I bought that version for the newest horses. I still have one original versions and two new ones; there are pros and cons with both. Overall the new version is better because its taller so not back breaking to work with.
I have a haygain for a horse with mild asthma and its brilliant too. Excellent to help warm up frozen hands in winter too!
I'm just about to advertise my haygain HG600 if it's of any interest to you
TPO
🤠🏴
That sounds like the older version as the new one has a screw cap.
I dont have any problem with drainage and dont use a net. However I do always tip it back as that's why there are drainage holes at the top.
The holes/dips because of the feet are deeper in the new version which is one of its cons IMO. The new version also has gaps either side of the wheel casing within the cube and the only solution I've found to keep it clean is an old toothbrush. Not ideal and the older version was better in this regard IMO.
However the new version is taller and that makes all the difference to me. The original version is shorter and I find it back breaking wheeling it around.
Fat cob gets soaked hay but the other two get steamed as like you said steaming doesnt reduce calories or remove any goodness from the hay.
PurBee
Well-Known Member
I used to steam hay but not with a haygain.
I had a barrel with lid with steamer jet at the bottom.
When I put in dry nets to steam i noticed that the steam favoured the route of least resistance and so didnt evenly steam the nets, which were squashed in tight, but not densely packed like a bale. I steamed for an hour and found just the middle piping hot.
I then wetted nets and then steamed them without squashing them in tight, and found the nets to be piping hot throughout - rather than just at the area where the steam jet was.
I was happy with this result, as it meant all spores were killed in dustier hay.
With haygain being a coffin shape box for a whole bale - and considering how densely packed a bale is - unless there’s many nozzles all along the bottom, i cant see how that would steam through the whole bale evenly. I would expect it to steam the outer 3 inches of the whole bale while inside the flakes are dry and cold.
It would be worth seeing a demonstration before committing to the purchase price and electric bill of a haygain.
I had a barrel with lid with steamer jet at the bottom.
When I put in dry nets to steam i noticed that the steam favoured the route of least resistance and so didnt evenly steam the nets, which were squashed in tight, but not densely packed like a bale. I steamed for an hour and found just the middle piping hot.
I then wetted nets and then steamed them without squashing them in tight, and found the nets to be piping hot throughout - rather than just at the area where the steam jet was.
I was happy with this result, as it meant all spores were killed in dustier hay.
With haygain being a coffin shape box for a whole bale - and considering how densely packed a bale is - unless there’s many nozzles all along the bottom, i cant see how that would steam through the whole bale evenly. I would expect it to steam the outer 3 inches of the whole bale while inside the flakes are dry and cold.
It would be worth seeing a demonstration before committing to the purchase price and electric bill of a haygain.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Perhaps do your research properly before you condemn a product
. You are wrong. Haygains have protruding metal manifold spikes which penetrate the hay and allow the steam to permeate throughout the chamber, ensuring that it reaches a sufficiently high temperature to sterilise the hay.
PurBee
Well-Known Member
Tiddlypom, i wasn’t condeming haygain, i was questioning the efficacy of the design being able to penetrate very densely baled hay. Im curious to know if it really works. I would imagine some serious steam pressure would need to be forced out of the jets to penetrate a dense full bale of hay.
tatty_v
Well-Known Member
I think we have the new one but sounds like we might be missing the key/handle to the screw cap? When it’s in and screwed tight enough to prevent water leakage it’s really hard to undo as there’s nothing to get a grip on!
TPO
🤠🏴
That's the original version.
The new version has protruding thread and a cap that screws over the end.
TPO
🤠🏴
Haygain is the only steamer proven to reach and maintain the necessary temperatures to properly steam. Homemade/some other models dont/cant reach the same temps and are therefore not effective.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
I don't have one but I know people who do, but I have also seen the haygain demoed at loads of big horsey events. It's a serious bit if kit.
I'm pleased with my hay cube, I don't have to soak hay at the moment so just use it as a feeder but in the past I had a very dust sensitive horse and it just took all thr pain out of the process.
I'm pleased with my hay cube, I don't have to soak hay at the moment so just use it as a feeder but in the past I had a very dust sensitive horse and it just took all thr pain out of the process.
Flamenco
Well-Known Member
The key was sellotaped to the bracket which holds it to the wall when it arrived. If you aren't planning to attach it to the wall you wouldn't look at the bracket or see it as it looks more like a metal plaque than a key. That's my excuse for taking ages to find it anyway! I couldn't get it undone without it either. When you take the screw plug out you get a flood of water which drains it in a few mins. They sell spare keys on their website.
claret09
Well-Known Member
we made our own version using a wheelie bin and a wallpaper steamer. a friend of mine built it for me and it worked brilliantly well. We had small holes in the bottom of the bin, a mesh piece to put the net on and the steamer sitting on a shelf near the bottom and the pipe feeding into the bottom of the bin.
i was able to steam the first net in about three quarters of an hour and the second in just over 15 mins. i made a massive difference to my boy's breathing - i have since moved yards to one which has an outdoor school rather than a dusty indoor and have not needed to use it. the only problem i found was that the steamers gave up the ghost after about three months or so - however, keep your receipt and take them back - they will generally exchange for a new one as usually have 12 month guarantee.
i was able to steam the first net in about three quarters of an hour and the second in just over 15 mins. i made a massive difference to my boy's breathing - i have since moved yards to one which has an outdoor school rather than a dusty indoor and have not needed to use it. the only problem i found was that the steamers gave up the ghost after about three months or so - however, keep your receipt and take them back - they will generally exchange for a new one as usually have 12 month guarantee.
TPO
🤠🏴
A hoof pick does the job too if you've lost the key for the original version ?
palterwell
Well-Known Member
I though the hay cube was great until my horse climbed in with both front feet ! It had to be cut apart to get him out .