Conniemara1
Well-Known Member
The hay looks as green as the day it came off the fields! It is January though so it has been left for a good few months! Any problems with feeding it?
Help! Can you feed green hay?
- Thread starter Conniemara1
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Spring Feather
Well-Known Member
No problem feeding it. We only make green hay as we bring all our hay into the barn the moment it is baled.
swilliam
Well-Known Member
Shouldn't be = provided your horse(s) will eat it. Most if mine don't like green hay, but a couple will tuck in happily
Conniemara1
Well-Known Member
Good!!! Thank you 
Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
Isn't green hay the best? (Assuming all other things are equal!).
Full of vitamins that haven't been bleached out by sun and rain?
Why would it not be?
Maybe rained on hay has less sugar, other than that, I can't see why it would not be better than yellow or brown hay.
But I am always willing to learn.
Full of vitamins that haven't been bleached out by sun and rain?
Why would it not be?
Maybe rained on hay has less sugar, other than that, I can't see why it would not be better than yellow or brown hay.
But I am always willing to learn.Conniemara1
Well-Known Member
Me too!!!! I dont know if its better or just not bleached? i could do without it being super good but that's what soakings for! I was worried about colic really wondered if it should be left to "calm down" a bit!
Spring Feather
Well-Known Member
No, it doesn't need to calm down 
Green hay is higher quality than sunbleached hay. So if you have a good doer then yes you'll should probably soak it.
Green hay is higher quality than sunbleached hay. So if you have a good doer then yes you'll should probably soak it.1stclassalan
Well-Known Member
My old mate up the lane should be answering you as he's won the South Bucks haymaking competition more times than I can remember!
A good sample of seeds hay often stays green for a long time - in fact - I have a goose egg (blown) that has sat on a handful of fine hay for forty five years ( in a box ) and it's still green and smells sweet.
The colour depends on how many leaves are left on the grass plants - these tend to be smashed off by the machinery the more times it is tedded ( conditioned ) in the field and in what weather - this is the skill in doing it!!
It doesn't affect the feed value that much though - I used to know all about metabolised energy and dry matter content - but I'm afraid my memory has damaged areas!
A good sample of seeds hay often stays green for a long time - in fact - I have a goose egg (blown) that has sat on a handful of fine hay for forty five years ( in a box ) and it's still green and smells sweet.
The colour depends on how many leaves are left on the grass plants - these tend to be smashed off by the machinery the more times it is tedded ( conditioned ) in the field and in what weather - this is the skill in doing it!!
It doesn't affect the feed value that much though - I used to know all about metabolised energy and dry matter content - but I'm afraid my memory has damaged areas!
JillA
Well-Known Member
Make sure you introduce it gradually though - more likelihood of colic if you haven't given the gut flora chance to acclimatise to it (apologies if it as granny/suck/eggs)
Conniemara1
Well-Known Member
I'm doing 50:50 for a couple of days - thank you!