Long soaked hay more palatable, adding herbal tea bad idea?

PollyP99

PollyP99

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 October 2010
Messages
1,060
Visit site
I have been feeding 12 hour plus soaked hay for a few weeks but recently my mare has stopped eating it. The last two days she's eaten literally none of it.

Looking for inspiration today I tried rinsing in Apple and camomile tea, brewed for about 5 mins so not strong, she seemed to like it, will know later for sure as had to leave but is this something that anyone else has tried? Can it do any harm? I also have nettle and mint tea (health kick for me that I never followed through on) which I thought she might like...
 
I'm no use but would be interested in any answers if anyone has tried this as my boy won't eat soaked hay either, and seeing as i'm trying to get some weight off of him it's not great!
 
Is the water heating due to the warm weather causing the hay to taste strange, making it ferment more than it should.
 
I give it to mine in winter mixed in with their Fast Fibre so I can't see why they wouldn't like it added to soaked hay, although I think because of the water content even after draining, the flavour would be quite weak.
Mine enjoy Camomile and Nettle/fennel teas. I may try the peppermint, liquorice and Rosehip teas next. (Mine love dried Rosehips)
 
PollyP99 said:
I have been feeding 12 hour plus soaked hay for a few weeks but recently my mare has stopped eating it. The last two days she's eaten literally none of it.

Looking for inspiration today I tried rinsing in Apple and camomile tea, brewed for about 5 mins so not strong, she seemed to like it, will know later for sure as had to leave but is this something that anyone else has tried? Can it do any harm? I also have nettle and mint tea (health kick for me that I never followed through on) which I thought she might like...
Click to expand...

Have you tried buying hay from another feed merchant to tempt her with??? alternate it so she is not having the same every day.

Maybe rinse it through with clean water till the draining water runs clear then use hot water prior to feeding
 
Thanks all, well she was last seen head deep in her haycube so I'm hoping this has done the trick. It really isn't strong but you can smell the difference. I can't change hay supplier as it's the yard hay and all her buddies are happy on it. Think I will try rinsing better too.

Will let you know how much she ate later when she goes out.
 
If she is also getting grass part of the time I think that may be the reason especially if you have had sunny weather. That's assuming nothing else has changed such as batch of hay.
 
amandap said:
If she is also getting grass part of the time I think that may be the reason especially if you have had sunny weather. That's assuming nothing else has changed such as batch of hay.
Click to expand...

She's out about 15 hours overnight on a fatty paddock which is not tiny but grazed very low but you're right it's been warm and sometimes damp so the grass is likely flushing meaning not hungry perhaps. I guess I want to avoid her going out there starving and therefore seeking out every blade of grass would prefer she filled up on long soaked hay calorie wise.
 
My boy's hay I leave soaking for 24 hours and although he went off it initially when there was a bite of green grass on his paddock, he now finishes his soaked net.

I do make sure that it's rinsed off thoroughly, as this recent weather has been warming the soaking water up and so I've been meticulous in making sure it's rinsed off with nice cold water for around 5 mins or so and indeed until the water runs clear through the net.

I think my boy just went off it previously because he was quite happy having Dr Green and holding out for more of that, but as he's been eating the paddock down, there is less of the green stuff, so he's decided he'll finish his net off now!!

I wouldn't be too concerned as if they're hungry enough, they'll eat it and my boy obviously wasn't hungry enough to want to eat his soaked net for a couple of weeks.....but he is now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top