Help with feeding an underweight 2year old, please.

Jojo_Pea4

Jojo_Pea4

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I have just taken on a 2year old and he is thin, want to get some weight on him before winter comes. We are gradually moving him to a lush grass. He is fed Dodson and Horrell mare and youngstock.

Many thanks
 
When I went to my local feedstore after buying my 3yr old that was also on the thin side, they recommended Dodson and Horrell mare and youngstock and I found this brought her weight up VERY quickly that I dropped her feed amount after ONE bag. She got one scoop of mix, half a a scoop of apple chaff and I dampened it.

I've now got her on chaff, sugar beet and a vit+min supplement.
 
Thank you, We started him on it the other day and gradually building it up as he wasnt on a hard feed and his grass was poor. I know it will take time. Did you rug yours? as he has a very fluffy coat and is warm to touch.
 
Please be careful. If you try to put on the weight quickly you'll be asking for problems such as OCD and the like, especially at that age. Adlib hay or haylage (good quality) and a mineral lick. I've rescued quite a few and have found this to be the best way in the end. Used to do the whole feed up thing but colics numerous so learned the hard way. Good luck.
 
lots of good roughage and mineral licks are good :)
also as its getting cold at night but your horse is warm maybe just a fleece dont over rug gradually add another as it gets colder
good luck :)
 
I increased it over a week to one scoop a day. She put weight on to where i was happier and then I decreased it.
She is unrugged.

ETA - SHe's the bay in my siggy.
 
Our 2 yo and his 2yo half brother, who belongs to my friend who we share a yard with, both look fab on top spec balancer (not the full amount) dengie mollasses free and nothing else. They have 24 hour access to fairly good grass and almost ad lib hay. If they need more this winter they will have speedibeet. They are rugged in freezing or very wet weather.

Incidentally our 2 veterans are also doing really nicely on exactly the same treatment.
 
Jojo_Pea4 said:
I have just taken on a 2year old and he is thin, want to get some weight on him before winter comes. We are gradually moving him to a lush grass. He is fed Dodson and Horrell mare and youngstock.

Many thanks
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You haven't said what breed or type he is. We would give you totally different replies for a TB or a Welsh Section A.
TBH, lush grazing won't do a lot of good if he's thin, it will go straight through him at first.
Let us know his details, we can give you a better idea but I do agree with not stuffing food in, you'll get a great deal of problems if you do.
 
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