restricting hay

[Stinkbomb]

I have always fed Inky and Ty out of a hayrack. I have reduced the holes with netting so that it takes them longer to eat the hay thus not being left for long periods of time without. I cannot feed ad lib as they would really gorge and find this works best. however i am aware that feeding from hayracks isnt best for them and that ideally they should be fed from the floor.

If i did feed from the floor the hay would be gone in no time so im trying the think of a way to feed off the floor but restict what they are getting.

Struggling to come up with any ideas.... anybody any ideas of anything i could make???

 

[Tia]

Could you fix the hayracks so that they are resting on the floor? Then attach a wooden lid to them which locks closed?

 

[Stinkbomb]

I have tried to think of how to do this but cant!!!!

One solution i did think of was to make a small box ( in the idea of a haybar but smaller and square ) and place a wire mesh over the top so when they ate the hay it moved down with the hay till it hit the floor but still restricted the amount they could put in their tiny little mouths all at once!! But not sure whether this would work??

 

[itsme123]

I would make a hay bar in the corner, but instead of using wood for the sides would use mesh sheets.

like the hay stations you can buy... but with mesh sides instead of steel bars.

A bit like this: but home made

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/Productdetail.asp?ProductCode=42640

 

[Stinkbomb]

Would they still not have to turn their heads to get the hay??? Was thinking this might be bad for the wearing of their teeth if their heads are turned to pull the hay??? Might be way off on that one though!!

 

[Daisy11]

do you like using haynets because putting one hay net inside the other one with make smaller holes which will make it last longer or compact the hay in there tightly

 

[Stinkbomb]

Sorry no i dont, Inky would definalty end up stuck in one as he tries to sh*g them whenever he sees one!!! LOL!!!

Sorry my post was more about how to restrict hay AND feed from the floor but thanks anyway

 

[merlinsquest]

Could you not feed in a sqare receptical (sp) and make a heavy wooden frame with a mesh grill over it that would rest on the hay and squash it down as well as restrict them getting too much???

I am thinking about the old style tea chests/packing cases which could be protected round the edges with rubber matting and the grid dropped on top.

You may have to make them lower though as yours are such little things

 

[Happytohack]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry no i dont, Inky would definalty end up stuck in one as he tries to sh*g them whenever he sees one!!! LOL!!!



[/ QUOTE ]

LOL
Luckily Charlie, our mini, is very fussy and only picks at his hay, and is good with his mini-net.

 

[Stinkbomb]

He He, my minis have the same rug as yours!!!

 

[Stinkbomb]

Yes thats similar to what i was thinking!!