Haylage, hay, steamer etc

[Sandstone1]

I think I have asked about this before but with winter not far off I need to make some choices.
My cob has asthma . Its fairly mild and he has a flexineb.
My issue is what to feed this winter. I have him and a small pony.
They refuse point blank to eat soaked hay.
Although the breathing issue seems to be mostly pollen related I dont want to feed dry hay this winter.
They are both good doers so not really happy about feeding haylage. Also the small bales work out very expensive. Big bales I worry I will get through quick enough with just two.
Steaming is a possibility but proper steamers are expensive and a bit out of my price range at the moment and I have read about home made ones but not sure if they get hot enough.
I know soaking would probably be best but I have tried and they really will not eat it.
Any good ideas? Do home made steamers work? help!

 

[Tiddlypom]

No one on here who has made a home made steamer has been able to confirm that the hay is heated hot enough to be safe. It might smell lovely, but it’s not safe - they’ve created a perfect medium for the wrong sort of bugs to thrive in the hay.

Indeed, someone was stating that their home steamed hay soon goes rancid in hot weather. Haygain steamed hay lasts for 24 hours even in a heatwave post steaming. That is both according to the blurb and my experience IRL - there is your answer. Sorry.

 

[Sandstone1]

I think its going to come down to either haylage or steamed hay really. I have looked at some of the cheaper hay steamers advertised but not sure they are any better than homemade.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No one on here who has made a home made steamer has been able to confirm that the hay is heated hot enough to be safe. It might smell lovely, but it’s not safe - they’ve created a perfect medium for the wrong sort of bugs to thrive in the hay.

Indeed, someone was stating that their home steamed hay soon goes rancid in hot weather. Haygain steamed hay lasts for 24 hours even in a heatwave post steaming. That is both according to the blurb and my experience IRL - there is your answer. Sorry.

Totally agree. Having tried a variety of home made steamers over the years, struggled with soaking throughout hot or cold weather I’m going second hand haygain. (As per my thread!)
I know two horses who have their hay steamed by putting it in a bit, pouring a kettle over and leaving over night. Hello botulism! It stinks like vinegar and I have to wash my hands after hanging nets

 

[Sandstone1]

Totally agree. Having tried a variety of home made steamers over the years, struggled with soaking throughout hot or cold weather I’m going second hand haygain. (As per my thread!)
I know two horses who have their hay steamed by putting it in a bit, pouring a kettle over and leaving over night. Hello botulism! It stinks like vinegar and I have to wash my hands after hanging nets

Yes, That is my worry. I think possibly haylage is going to have to be my way. I can get 150kg bales but would a 15hh and a 11hh get through it before it goes off??

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes, That is my worry. I think possibly haylage is going to have to be my way. I can get 150kg bales but would a 15hh and a 11hh get through it before it goes off??

Years ago a friend and I at a yard found some fairly dry round baled meadow haylage and in winter we were able to share a bale between us for two ponies without it going bad. It didn't work in warmer weather though

 

[Sandstone1]

Its a problem! Im just thinking of ways round it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Its a problem! Im just thinking of ways round it.

You're not wrong! It's really hard work. We lost our old horse who had terrible dust allergies two winters ago and since then life has seemed so much easier. Just being able to grab dry hay and throw it at horses without thinking or pre planning is heaven!
I've now got one here that has a cough on dry hay though so am back at it! I can't bear the thought of winter soaking again after doing one without!

 

[Hallo2012]

i literally pour a kettle of boiling water over my hay and that stops mine coughing (caveat he doesn't have asthma just doesn't get on with dry hay but it deffo works)

 

[TPO]

You can get diet/light haylage in small bales if that helps?

Quite spendy, in the long run might be cheaper with a second hand Haygain.

I have one with mild asthma too. He is easily managed on low dose ventipulmin and surprisingly hasn't built up a resistance after all this time.

I have a haygain, try to keep him out as much as weather permits and use dust extracted bedding. Our shed is quite dusty, despite ventilated cladding, so keeping external doors open to allow airflow helps. Outside stables would better but sadly no lottery win!

 

[Surbie]

How long did you soak it for?

I do my nets for max 20 minutes, just to remove dust and my horse gobbles it up. If I leave it much longer it's labelled as food of the devil and left untouched.

The lighter haylages seem to be quite variable in palatability. Mine loves Marksway timothy and the blue rye when timothy runs out, but thinks the (cheaper) Burleybale pink is disgusting. He obviously has expensive tastes!

 

[setterlover]

We make our own haylege from our own unfertilised meadow grass.
It is baled into smaller round bakes ( farmer says equivalent to 8/10 small hay bales.)
That in the winter lasts my 2 good doers about 6 days .
I open the bales and then spread it out well shaking it thoroughly and I find as long as I keep it well shaken out it doesn't go off ( it goes off less quickly in the winter than the summer)
Each day when I fill the wheel barrow for putting out the evening haylege,I fork up and shake out what's left through shaking it out .
Mine are 15 .1 and 15.3 extremely good doers .The 15.1 has COPD and like yours point blank refuses to eat soaked hay believe me I've tried.
The haylege we make is on the dry side more like wrapped hay but I have never had a problem with him coughing on it.
See if you can source smaller round bales that are drier haylege.

 

[nutjob]

Large bale haylage lasted my 2 16h horses 7/8 days. They were big eaters and in winter there's no grass at all really. I wouldn't like to keep it much longer so I think there would be wastage with a cob and a small pony. There are some places like Somerford park and Baillie which do medium sized bales but you need to look at the cost of delivery and whether you want to buy in bulk.

 

[Sandstone1]

Out of interest I rang petplan to see if they cover hay steamers. They do not. its not classed as treatment. I understand why but was worth a ask! I am trying to find some small bale low cal haylage at the moment .

 

[Parksmum3]

I’m another who just ‘wet’ my horses hay rather than soak it. I submerge their nets in a big tub of water for about 10mins then leave to drain. It’s wet all the way through but not soaked. I’ve done this now for the last 4 years. Before this I used to soak my old boys hay for a good few hours and he used to just turn his nose up at it. Worth a try, failing that I’d try them on haylage and just see how you get on with it

 

[tda]

Yes, That is my worry. I think possibly haylage is going to have to be my way. I can get 150kg bales but would a 15hh and a 11hh get through it before it goes off??

In winter , yes

 

[dorsetladette]

i literally pour a kettle of boiling water over my hay and that stops mine coughing (caveat he doesn't have asthma just doesn't get on with dry hay but it deffo works)

My old Welsh Stallion had COPD. He lived out to avoid the dust of being stabled. Hay was fed from the floor and I did similar to the above.

mollichaff bag of hay and a camping kettle of hot water. Tie the top shut and leave for a few mins (usually enough time to poo pick his paddock) then pull the hay out into a pile in the field. don't tip it out as the gunk/wet dust sits in the bottom so you do need to rise the bag out after use. You could probably do the same in a big storage container too.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

I agree that Haygains are the best and kept my COPD boy hunting into his 20s. I love the smell of hot hay.

 

[nutjob]

I am trying to find some small bale low cal haylage at the moment .

Mole Valley deliver a whole pallet of their Hi Fibre haylage for about £7.50 a bale. If you're going to do this I would try a couple first before ordering a whole pallet.

 

[Jambarissa]

Do try just a 5 min soak, mine hates soaked but doesn't notice if it's just been dunked. I agree dealing with wet hay is not fun though.

I'd work out whether it'd be cheaper to use small bale haylage or large assuming each one will only last you 2 weeks and you bin the rest.

 

[sollimum]

I tried small bale haylage but it was costing a fortune. I managed to find a second haygain and it has paid for itself.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I think I have asked about this before but with winter not far off I need to make some choices.
My cob has asthma . Its fairly mild and he has a flexineb.
My issue is what to feed this winter. I have him and a small pony.
They refuse point blank to eat soaked hay.
Although the breathing issue seems to be mostly pollen related I dont want to feed dry hay this winter.
They are both good doers so not really happy about feeding haylage. Also the small bales work out very expensive. Big bales I worry I will get through quick enough with just two.
Steaming is a possibility but proper steamers are expensive and a bit out of my price range at the moment and I have read about home made ones but not sure if they get hot enough.
I know soaking would probably be best but I have tried and they really will not eat it.
Any good ideas? Do home made steamers work? help!

I bought a home made steamer and it did work, used a paint stripper machine going into a trunk, the only thing once the steamer gave up the ghost, the second one did not work so well. Yes my mare did enjoy it but not sure iff steamed enough. My mare has EAD and I think it is tree pollen, as inhalers did nothing, her breathing is really bad at the moment, out of breath and wheezing. She is on aubiose and haylage. I will buy some more airways plus powder and i give E America tincture for before riding. Soaking hay made not difference she still coughed. Haylage is the only way to go IMO.
Personally I would not buy a haygain too much money and soaking hay doesn't work or steaming and not prepared to buy one knowing my mare.

I use Devon haylage 20 k or Yeomans haylage 30kilo bags

 

[Sandstone1]

I bought a home made steamer and it did work, used a paint stripper machine going into a trunk, the only thing once the steamer gave up the ghost, the second one did not work so well. Yes my mare did enjoy it but not sure iff steamed enough. My mare has EAD and I think it is tree pollen, as inhalers did nothing, her breathing is really bad at the moment, out of breath and wheezing. She is on aubiose and haylage. I will buy some more airways plus powder and i give E America tincture for before riding. Soaking hay made not difference she still coughed. Haylage is the only way to go IMO>

I think you are probably right

 

[dixie]

I’ve bought a hay steamer which I think is this one. relatively cheap and works really well. The horses love it.

HAY STEAMER- Affordable, Easy To Use, Great Reviews. | eBay

Fits 2 standard sized nets or a small bale of hay under 90cm. The bottom has a grid and a pipe to allow even steam distribution. On wheels so it’s easy to move around the yard, Now includes a large plastic handle allowing you to pull around the yard when detached from the steam generator.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Sandstone1]

I’ve bought a hay steamer which I think is this one. relatively cheap and works really well. The horses love it.

HAY STEAMER- Affordable, Easy To Use, Great Reviews. | eBay

Fits 2 standard sized nets or a small bale of hay under 90cm. The bottom has a grid and a pipe to allow even steam distribution. On wheels so it’s easy to move around the yard, Now includes a large plastic handle allowing you to pull around the yard when detached from the steam generator.

www.ebay.co.uk

yes, i have looked at those. I think they are pretty much like the home made ones.

 

[Borderreiver]

We have a pony with asthma too. I was rather sceptical about steaming hay for four who live out. However it is working very well and steaming is a simple routine to follow. Ours is a Nuveq summit, a big capacity and we have our own round bales. We have a little carty thing with a builders bag inside to transport the steamed hay to the field where it goes into a pair of round plastic feeders. Just beware of the socket overheating. We have solved this by a handy person installing a new and better rated socket.

 

[Sandstone1]

I managed to get some small bale haylage to try. Its quite dry and smells nice. They are eating it but just a bit as still out 24/7 at moment and there is still grass about at moment. They are not hungry yet! Will continue to try it and see how we go. My next issue will be bedding, they are out 24/7 at moment but will come in at night at some stage once it gets too wet.
I have used in the past straw, shavings, wood pellets. All to some extent dusty. What have people found to be best bedding for horses with asthma ? Something a reasonable price if possible.

 

[Peglo]

I put one of mine on Aubiose last year as she is bothered by dust. I liked it and it was much better than shavings but I don’t think it made any difference compared to straw. If the straw is decent I will put her back on it. She seemed happier on straw.

 

[HuskyFluff]

I use equisorb for my horse with asthma plus a haygain steamer which seems to work.

 

[Time for Tea]

I use a cheap Simply Steam steamer. It has a little temperature gauge on the top, mine has rusted up now but used to reach 100. I didn’t like the plastic pipes it came with so I used different connectors and metal reinforced pipe that luckily came with another cheap dustbin steamer I had bought previously, which split really quickly. But the old one’s connecting pipe work was excellent quality! The hay smells lovely and the ponies like it, and nobody has ever coughed. If there is any left over I always chuck it, I reckon its shelf life is 12 hours or so, or overnight from a late afternoon start. I top up with haylage if they need a bit more.