Help - feeding hay in a windy field!

H

Harriettie

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 July 2010
Messages
85
Location
Bedfordshire
Visit site
As we have no grass (due to no rain) I am STILL feeding my chap hay in the field twice every day. But its always windy and some of it gets 'lost'. I am lucky that I have a concrete pad in the field so there is no issue of churning the ground up in the winter when he just has a small brekkie net when turned out each AM. Also lucky to have individual turn out.

How can I feed hay in the wind without using a hay net? I absolutely will not do this due to the potential hazards associated with this practice - I really cringe when I see other folk doing it; but also I think he should eat from near to or from the ground (as far as possible).

So.....any tips or marvellous appliances that I could buy / make?

No prizes, I'm afraid. Just eternal gratitude. :)
 
I'm feeding hay to one of mine at the moment and I soak it for a few minutes, not because it needs it but to stop it blowing away. Works for me but then I am only feeding enough as a top up not loads.
 
With my sensible natives, I put hay into small holed haylage nets, tie the top up tightly, then thread the excess string through the small holes so there is nothing hanging loose. Put in field, it stays where it is and also slows them down eating. They don't get tangled up as I only use nets that have tiny holes, and where the top bits of the net - where the string goes, also doesn;t have big gaps.

I don;t use this method with the accident prone TB.
 
Thanks all.

I've heard about this Brandy - known as hay pillows! - do they still blow around as the amount of hay diminishes?

A large tyre seems a good idea as well, thank you Mon.

But.....so far, the non-prize goes to Perissa. Wetting the hay might work.
 
I had the same problem last year. I managed to obtain a wooden crate which had been used to deliver patio stone flags. It is similar to a box of pallets, was about 2'9" deep and about a metre square, very strongly made.
I put uprights in the corners and put a frame for a roof on top covered with some cheap offcut of wood panel effect cushionfloor. Then I wrapped a roll of garden willow wind break around three sides and hey presto, I had a mini shelter where I could tie in some small holes haynets and put his feed bucket in and it served as a shelter from the rain/snow in winter and flies/sun in the summer. Look in my photo album and you can see it in action!:D
 
Harriettie said:
Thanks all.

I've heard about this Brandy - known as hay pillows! - do they still blow around as the amount of hay diminishes?

A large tyre seems a good idea as well, thank you Mon. This seems a popular solution, did you see that recent photo of the unfortunate pony in germany that had to be cut out of one? ...At least I think it was for real and not a photoshopping scam

But.....so far, the non-prize goes to Perissa. Wetting the hay might work.
Click to expand...

Hay pillows, I made this one out of snow fencing, huge PITA, just did it as an experiment, hated it, but as you can see, it will work. This pony is 32", he has tiny wee feet.

248bd458.jpg
 
Appreciate your thoughts there Enfys RE the pony that had to be cut out of a tyre, however freak accidents can occur everywhere in life.
I used big tyres with accident prone TB and if she survived them then I'm sure the OP's horse can!
Cute picture of Charlie!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top