Making Not So Tasty Hay More Appealing - Suggestions?

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Ok so the extra rain this winter managed to ruin all the hay bales stacked up in the barn so we've had to source some elsewhere.

The new hay we have I personally think is rather nice, however all the horses (apart from 1) have turned their noses up at it. Some of them have kept the protest going for a couple of days but my boy (a usually very greedy Welsh D) hasn't eaten his night net for almost 6 days I'm worried, he'd rather eat his straw so at least he's eating seething but I need ways to make this new hay more appealing - we don't have any choice other than to use it.

Yesterday I soaked it and then poured watered down apple juice all over it and he ate a full small net, however today he's seen through my tactics and he's back to not eating.

Soaking it doesn't make any difference. I know he will eat eventually but his weight will dip and it's not great that he will have no energy.

Any suggestions please?

 

[AdorableAlice]

My first thoughts are that it is tainted, probably by cats or rats. It is unlikely the horses will eat it regardless of what you do to it.

 

[Maisy]

We had the same, with a massive 8 stringed bale, the other week....we've just accepted that they clearly don't like it for whatever reason, and have had another delivered! Other one will go to cattle or goats or something less fussy!

 

[tallyho!]

It's only because they are not used to it I expect. We get this protest every year. They soon come around when they're bellies say so.

 

[putasocinit]

its tainted, horses are not stupid, cant the supplier take it back and give you different bales, horses can get sick from rat pee, in fact they can die,

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

It's been covered, came in black wrapping that I assume was wrapped when it was cut? Don't think it's been weed on by rats :/

 

[Mike007]

I would guess that it is not last years hay. We have had problems (us in the hay merchanting business)with hay in drought years. Randomly horses wont eat it for love nor money/starvation /threats /blackmail/ or a punch on the snout!I have come to the conclusion that it is due to too high a nitrate level (Common in the USA)Nothing you can do will get them to eat it , sorry ,but thats the fact. Bin it , move on , try to go for a seed hay rather than a meadow hay .

 

[smellsofhorse]

You could try steaming it.

That ususally helps with a fussy eater.

But id be worried that my horse knew something i didnt!
Is there something wrong with it?
Does it smell musty?
Is it dusty?
Could someone have peed on it?!

 

[smellsofhorse]

It's been covered, came in black wrapping that I assume was wrapped when it was cut? Don't think it's been weed on by rats :/

Is it haylage then not hay if it was wrapped?

Is in fermenting?
Does it have fungus or a white mould on it?

Horses know when they shouldnt eat something!

 

[LovesCobs]

I steam hay as have one who needs it. They love it, this may work. Not if it's Haylage though

 

[Serephin]

We are having this issue at our yard at the moment - hay fro same supplier, but is different to last batch (last batch was very dusty but horses all ate it) - this batch is soft, smells nice, looks good, but horses won't eat it!

My horse, who is a food orientated cob, is only eating half a net of it overnight, which is very unusual for him, albeit great for his waistline! I was worried it was tainted or something, but a girl from another yard down the road has the same stuff and commented on how her horses were eating it like it was going out of fashion!

Confused.

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

We are having this issue at our yard at the moment - hay fro same supplier, but is different to last batch (last batch was very dusty but horses all ate it) - this batch is soft, smells nice, looks good, but horses won't eat it!

My horse, who is a food orientated cob, is only eating half a net of it overnight, which is very unusual for him, albeit great for his waistline! I was worried it was tainted or something, but a girl from another yard down the road has the same stuff and commented on how her horses were eating it like it was going out of fashion!

Confused.

Same here - this is nice hay, it was wrapped but it's 100% hay not hay ledge.
I'm pulling my hair out wondering what's up with it. He eats bits of it and then leaves it. The hay is even organic! No chemicals or anything, it's from a very good supplier who deals in quality products, never had a complaint before and my friend on a neighbouring yard has the same stuff and her horse loves it.

Boy-o seems to be putting up quite a protect but I'm worries now incase he loses weight. don't know how much longer to leave it.

 

[el_Snowflakes]

Correct me if Im wrong but usually its haylage that is wrapped?

Id listen to the horses- if they don't eat it, it may be stale etc. My horse wont eat any hay- only haylage. Very tricky as I have to mix the two....might give your diluted apple juice tip!!

 

[putasocinit]

if only they could talk,,,,,then we might listen

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Correct me if Im wrong but usually its haylage that is wrapped?

Id listen to the horses- if they don't eat it, it may be stale etc. My horse wont eat any hay- only haylage. Very tricky as I have to mix the two....might give your diluted apple juice tip!!

Usually but this is wrapped because of the way it's stored. It's left to dry out and then wrapped, unlike hayledge that's damp when wrapped so it ferments.

The apple juice really works!

 

[pippixox]

i'd be worried if he still is not eating it is he out grazing on much grass in the day? my guys had a new bale they did not like much- same supplier but he gets hay from lots of areas. the first night they barely touched it, but now they eat most of it, just a bit less keen then on their last lot of hay. took them a few days- but even then they still ate some, along with some of their straw bed! nothing wrong with it- fresh, just a bit more long and stalkey

 

[pippixox]

also- i decided to let their straw bed run quite low and kept it a bit dirty to put them off eating the straw, so they kept their appetite for the hay

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Thanks for your replies - just an update: the farmer kindly offered to swap my lovely smelling, nice textured organic hay for his dusty, dry and musty hay he had for the cows and my pony has eaten the lot! Ah well, as long as he's happy and he likes it then I'm happy too