Mixing hay with straw?

[Hugo-Boy]

Is that ok?
My horses live out 24/7, we still have some grass left but it’s not very much. We’re feeding them hay and it now looks like they’re preferring the hay to the grass.

I’m not too experienced with keeping horses and I’m terrified they haven’t got enough to eat. I know they can’t go for long without eating otherwise they might colic - but obviously I don’t want to stuff them with hay either!

I was thinking of mixing some straw in their hay, probably one bale of straw per two bales of hay.

Can I do that or would that be really bad for them? We’ve got two ridden ones that also get hard feed after being ridden, and two companions that only occasionally get hard feed.

Thank you!

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

It depends on the horse and on the straw. I have happily fed barley straw or oat straw. Wheat straw is less desirable as it is too woody. However, some horses tolerate straw less well than others if their digestive systems are a bit sensitive. I'd probably give it a go, but introduce the straw slowly and keep an eye out for issues.

If there's some grass left so the horses can still trickle feed I wouldn't be worrying too much about colic from too little to eat.

 

[Mr Punch]

I'd only ever mix straw if I had a very over weight horse.

I wouldn't be worried about stuffing them full of hay. Mine always has adlib. If you're not very experienced it would probably help if you had someone experienced on hand to help you get the basics right until you've got more experience yourself.

 

[Shay]

You can't always feed ad lib. Some horses self regulate and some gorge. If the horse has or is at risk from cushings or EMS feed intake needs to be controlled. But you do need to feed enough - and in enough piles - that the dominant horse can't crowd out the lowest in the pecking order.

Yes you can mix good quality straw but introduce it slowly. You might find though that the horses pick out the hay and leave the straw to a trampled mess. Or - for that matter - that they prefer the straw. Some do.

 

[Hugo-Boy]

Thank you all for your comments. Sounds like my idea wasn't that great after all. I've done a google search for the recommended straws but couldn't really find anything in my area.

I'm going to play safe and keep feeding them hay only.

 

[Supertrooper]

You could feed a oat straw chaff, I use TopChop Zero to supplement other forage xx

 

[Leo Walker]

I did it with ordinary straw. He picked at the straw and ate the hay. Kept him full and entertained. He also got big buckets of oat chaff. But he was on a bare paddock. He'd have been getting nothing if he was out on grass

 

[honetpot]

If there is no grass I give them a large bale of straw netted, this means they have to work a bit to get at it. If there is really no grass they get a round bale of hay netted as well, or it you just need to top up they get hay in nets
You never want to let them get hungry, just in case they binge. if you have never fed straw and are worried, I would soak it and hang in a net next to their hay net, if they are hungry they will pick at it, sometimes they just like a different taste.
In 20 years I have never had a problem, as long as you start when there is a bit of green about they will transition naturally.
I think buying chaff is just buying cheap straw, I have seen some of the bales that are used that have been black, and then they add cheap sugar and charge a fortune. Clean bright straw bought from the farm is much better value and are not paying for added sugar.

 

[Leo Walker]

The straw chaff is just straw, nothing else added. Well the one I used was. I did look to see if I could find a chaff cutter or fashion one but it wasnt worth the hassle in the end.

 

[Birker2020]

I would never feed straw with hay. In some horses it can cause an impaction as its not as easy to digest as hay, although I think it can be 'diluted' by feeding hay with it. Probably Oat Straw is best. I give some to my horse very occasionally as she really likes it very much but only a handful probably once every couple of months.