round bales of hay , how long ...

[AMW]

...... do they last?
2 weeks ago we got snow and I got a round bale of hay put in. The ponies have munched away but there is still some (not a great amount) left. We havent had any rain other than some last night. The hay still seems nice and not foosty or smelly, if it was in a ring feeder it would still be there. They dont pee or poo on it.
So would you still leave it out after 2 weeks?
We have very little grass they can get as although it has thawed a little we now have ice although they do try
Im at the field twice a day but not there constant to see what theyre up to

 

[Dolcé]

we haven't had any rain to speak of, I am sure it will be fine, you have done well, we have 4 little ones on one bale and 3 slightly bigger ponies on another and they are lasting a week, although they have no grass to speak of at the moment.

 

[missyme10]

Wow there is some left after 2 weeks?

I've 2 in a paddock of 4 and the ground has been totally covered in snow, they have been going through a bale every 4/5 days, so no chance for it to go bad
I wish mine ate as little as yours, they are out 24/7 though and we're in Scotland, so its really cold on a night time.

I'm sure it will be fine still, they just wont touch it if its not edible

 

[AMW]

Im in Scotland too & yes its ffffreezing. Glad we missed the snow today.
I have 2 out 24/7 and 2 foals out during the day who would rather play than eat
This is the 2 out 24/7, pic taken at weekend, snow has gone slightly but not much.

 

[Toffee44]

Well they had it ab lib over the snow (its snowing again ) and it lasted just over the week.

Cobs now gone to Sussex so have two fatty welshies in the field and they have taken just over a week to get through it. Next bale at the weekend is getting haynetted the fat booogers!!! will last me just about 3 weeks being haynetted twice a day.

 

[lizzie_liz]

Another Scottish person here who has a horse out 24/7. She shares a large round bale with a 8 month old foal (foal comes in at night) and the bale lasts about 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[Fahrenheit]

My 7 mares that are living out are getting 3 round bales a week, and they have just a small bit left at the end of each week... they get very excited when the farmer comes down the road on Sunday with their new bales, gallop around bucking like giant pregnant goons!

 

[Daisy11]

God ur lucky I put a real out when it snowed and within 3-4 days it was all gone and that was between a 16.1 2yr , 14.3 1yr and a 14.2 1yr
If it smells ok still and no black bits it should be ok

 

[Arabelle]

I have a round bale in the field shelter for 3 ponies (13.3, 12.2 & shetland, the 2 bigger ones are poor doers). I usually expect a round bale to last 2 weeks but in the current weather (I am in Scotland as well) it is more like 10-12 days.