Home made slow hay feeder?

[SpotsandBays]

Has anybody managed to successfully make a horse safe slow hay feeder for the stable?
Along the lines of the hay gain forager etc… but without the hefty price tag!
I’m looking at other options that aren’t haynets for the postural benefit, however feeding directly on the floor creates waste with my lot (one poops on it. The other drags half of it round the stable) and I’d like something with some sort of grill or other- to help slow them down a bit and stop them from pulling chunks out of the top that they might then drop on the floor.
Anybody managed to bodge something up similar??

 

[ponynutz]

Not one for on the ground but I used to triple net their hay and then tie it up in the middle of the stable so they couldn't pin it against the wall to make it easier.

If you really want/need it to be on the ground could you triple net and then place it in a corner hay feeder (and secure it to the ground/side of the hay feeder)?

https://polyjumps.com/products/hay-feeder
Sure you could find one of these for second hand and then put the triple netted haynet in it?

 

[SpotsandBays]

Not one for on the ground but I used to triple net their hay and then tie it up in the middle of the stable so they couldn't pin it against the wall to make it easier.

If you really want/need it to be on the ground could you triple net and then place it in a corner hay feeder (and secure it to the ground/side of the hay feeder)?

https://polyjumps.com/products/hay-feeder
Sure you could find one of these for second hand and then put the triple netted haynet in it?

Trying to avoid haynets all together really, but thanks.
I saw the corner mangers but I think my lot will still make a mess with them!

 

[ycbm]

Wheely dustbin with a hole cut at the bottom. Works really well as long as the hay is not packed in too tight to drop. You need to strap the bin to the wall/fence.
.

 

[Highmileagecob]

The wheely bin idea came to mind. I remember seeing an idea on line where someone had a wooden box with a mesh grill on top, and there was some sort of weight arrangement on the mesh that allowed it to stay in contact with the forage and drop down as the horse demolished the contents. A sturdy box firmly fastened to the wall with net tied and clipped to the base of the box was about the limit of my skills I'm afraid.

 

[webble]

I have a large wooden crate with a removable base for cleaning. It has holes each end and I tie a hay net inside it. I know it's still a net but it would work.

I've seen similar with a wooden frame inside with heavy duty mesh over that lowers as the hay goes down

 

[SpotsandBays]

Thanks guys!
I like the wheely bin idea!

I’m fine with still using nets, (I was only really ruling them out as I hadn’t even thought about being able to have them low down!) it’s just the having them up high that Id like to get away from, so tying them down in a box is definitely something I’d be willing to try!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I've seen some ideas on Pinterest, I like this model where you slide in the grid from the side:

There's also models where the grid is tied down to the bottom:

Two screenshots from a YouTube video about slow feeders that wasn't as much about how to build them as I thought, but where she for a few seconds showed that she'd made this homemade grid with sisal rope attached to a frame. Note, she said that if she made a new one, she would make the squares a bit smaller:

Here's some other slow feeder design ideas posted on YouTube:

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

This was origionally a caged water tank . My OH cut the top third off and the larger bottom bit was origionally used as a water trough but is now used for feeding straw which they will chuck all over the place if I put it in loose . I bought an elasticated large holed cargo net off ebay ( @ £10 ) took the hooks off and fixed it to the frame of the trough with baler twine . It drops down as they eat but can't be pulled over the side .
The top third section has a hole in for filling , so not suitable for water , but rather than throw it away Mr F welded the top bit of the cage back on , smoothed all the edges off and it works brilliantly as a hay trough ( they don't chuck that round so much ! ) . The containers are very light when empty so we put a paving stone in the base to stop it getting blown away/shunted round the yard .
The plastic tank itself is strong and rigid and sits really snugly inside the cage so no danger of horses smashing it or putting their feet through the sides as there is no ' give ' .
You see a lot of these tanks just sitting around farms , buildings sites , yards etc having been discarded because they've developed a leak ,so are no longer of use . We were given ours for free even though it was still watertight , just because they wanted to get rid of it . It must be at least 15 years old by now .

 

[SpotsandBays]

@FinnishLapphund wow I love those ideas!!!

 

[SpotsandBays]

thanks @thefarsideofthefield ! Definitely could get hold of one of those tanks easy enough!