Making Haylage nets in advance

[ChelseaFilly]

Dear all,

Coming into winter, I usually make all my feeds and haynets in advance on a Sunday for the week. Obviously long evenings in the dark and cold, I like to have as much riding time as possible.

However, I now have a horse that cannot have hay, only haylage. I know that haylage needs to be kept covered and everything but has anyone ever made there nets in advance and then covered them?

I was thinking of making all my nets and covering them in all in a plastic type of wrapping (similar to the bag they come in) to stop them drying out and going icky. The fact that my hay shed is freezing should help stop the haylage going off anyway.

Has anyone tried and tested this? Or do any of you have any other methods on how I could save time with haylage nets? They take even longer to make than haynets cos you can never get it out of the bloody bag!!

THANK YOU!

 

[Dusty85]

Could you avoid the use for nets entirely, and either feed from the floor or use a hay bar?
No need to make them in the first place, and better for your horse.

I don't have a haybar, (they seem to take up a fair bit of room..) so instead I have a large plastic drum that Ive cut in half with some very large blocks in the bottom to stop it moving/being turned over, and I feed the hay from that instead.

 

[kal40]

I use haylage and fill my nets on a Sunday for the following week. When I had two horses it would be up to 30 nets at a time. Never had any problems with it. I didn't cover them up either Just filled the nets and either hung them in the empty stable next door or piled them up on a pallet. I use big bales of haylage. Worked for me.

 

[ChelseaFilly]

I tried feeding from the floor and it was a disaster lol! I do have a hugeeeeeeee bucket that I could use though! will try that - thank you

 

[ChelseaFilly]

Ah perfect, thank you!!

I've always had it drummed into me that it needs to be kept covered! This is very good news lol

 

[whizzer]

We use big bale, don't keep it covered & I often make up loads of nets in advance. Done this for years & never had any problems at all.