Homemade outdoor hay feeder.

HaffiesRock

HaffiesRock

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 August 2011
Messages
4,531
Visit site
I know there will be people on here who are mega talented and resourceful and will have made one of these :)

Pony lives out 24/7. He gets hayed all year round as we don't have a lot of grass.

I'd like to build something that would take a small bale of hay, keep it off the ground and slow down the consumption too (all while being safe obviously) I would probably put it on a rubber mat to avoid mud too.

Any suggestions, links, pictures gratefully received!
 
I was going to mention the pallet idea. A guy who used to share a field with my sister made on quite easily with very little DIY skills. Basically take 8 pallets of the same size, tie them together in twos to create four sides, then tie the fours sides together. I'm not sure if he put a bottom in but it was basically done with some strong rope. Ok, so a little bit on the rough and ready side but it lasted years!
 
I would not use pallets, they tend to be flimsy and break easily, they are held together with nails. I just think what's a bit of wasted hay compared to vet bills.
 
Hi

Normally a lurker but saw this so will watch with interest. We were thinking of getting some big tyres from maybe a 4x4 and stacking two together, tying with the obligatory bale twin and using as hay feeders. Easy to move with two of us and can be hosed out easily if need be !
 
So my thinking is. Build a box out of deckboards roughly the size of a hay bale, and then buy a grid to go on top that is slightly smaller than the box so it moves down with the hay?

Sounds simple enough... *runs to OH waving my arms with my plan for him to build*
 
I have a hay box made from pallets. In winter I tie hay nets into it, secured with baler twine so the nets don't come out. Works a treat and saves me loads as no hay wasted. I use small holes nets so it takes longer to eat.
 
Nightmares on 4 legs !

Still think tyres are worth exploring - kinder than pallets providing they don't get themselves wedged that is !!
 
Last edited:
Hay is so expensive these days so any way of saving it and I'm game! Said pony has also been caught weeing on his hay too... He did then eat it all, but that's just gross!
 
So long as it isn't on wet sloppy mud, I use hay nets with the tie string securely tied up with no loops for feet to get caught in (someone I know removes the tie string and replaces it with a carabiner) so they are hay balls and can be fed away from fences etc. Hours of enjoyment not only eating the hay but playing with the balls - unless you are my horse who regularly rolls them under the fence and then stands looking hungry! Works well with small holed nets, wouldn't like to use it with the larger holed ones, too many feet traps.
 
Hi I've considered these but I've not seen one in the flesh, so not sure how safe or viable one would be, just an idea, sorry ipad picture fail, just a mo.
 
Last edited:
extra large haynets over rigid plastic storage boxes for mine slows them down and holds about 3 sections of hay enough for mine anyway
They are virtually unbreakable mad from the same stuff as lego bricks and they are also suitable as they move when the ponies itch on them so they dont take chunks of skin off them
 
I've had hay hutches, tractor tyres, home made mangers on the fence and all have failed in that the horses just pull the hay out and throw it around!

What worked for me is hard standing in all the winter paddocks, put the hay on that and it doesn't get trampled in the mud but I know not everyone can do that.
 
We us a compost bin. I tie it to a fence post usually with bale twine to sop it lowing away, it took a few days for them to eat the hay from it as they were a bit wary but are fin with it now.
 
HaffiesRock said:
So my thinking is. Build a box out of deckboards roughly the size of a hay bale, and then buy a grid to go on top that is slightly smaller than the box so it moves down with the hay?

Sounds simple enough... *runs to OH waving my arms with my plan for him to build*
Click to expand...

Love the idea, but the grid will have to have some weights attached to it so that it doesn't get stuck at a weird angle when the horses eat only the right side of the bale or something and so that they can't lift it up? I should think a brick attached in each corner will do the job nicely :)
 
I second the hard standing idea. I don't want anything with nails in my paddocks, ever. Tyres are a potential nightmare. I would far rather lose a bit of hay than have an injury and horses are very good at finding new ways to damage themselves. I don't know of any safe container that I would put hay in.
 
Faracat said:
I'm sure they's manage to get their heads stuck somehow! :p ;)

Honestly - horses are nearly as bad as sheep with their lack of self preservation.
Click to expand...


Those tyre photos are shocking!

Funny you should say that about sheep. I got back from a ride the other day to see a sheep with one of the tyres from a XC fence around its middle as though it was off swimming! By the time I'd untacked and gone for the camera it had got it off again!
 
hayinamanger said:
I would not use pallets, they tend to be flimsy and break easily, they are held together with nails. I just think what's a bit of wasted hay compared to vet bills.
Click to expand...

Ours were glued together as you could see excess dried glue at the sides. I never thought about nails in different types. Oops! Sorry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top