Round field feeders

[Mare Stare]

Found a cheap one on ebay near me. Tempted to get it as sick of wasted hay but have heard bad things about them.

They used to use them at a riding school I used to go to, and I don't remember any horses being injured from using them.

Opinons please.

One like this^

 

[Enfys]

My opinion ? No, no, no, no, NO Don't even go there! Lots of lovely little gaps for silly equines to thread body parts through

Personally, I wouldn't touch a metal ring feeder, tombstone or otherwise with a bargepole. Most of the horses here are not mine, if one got injured with something i had put in the field I'd probably get the pants sued off me.



Yes they are useful, and yes, the majority of the time they appear to be safe, but when there is an accident every single one I have ever seen or heard about has caused major, major, injuries. My friends tb somehow almost ripped his leg off on one only a month or so ago... bang!

 

[Mare Stare]

Yes but they are marketed towards cattle.

 

[No1_in_particular]

I use ring feeders in all my fields and my large barn (for foals).
Personally I wouldn't use the one pictured above as horses can get their heads stuck in cattle feeders. I would recommend you get a 'sheep feeder' as they are smaller spaces between the bars and horses and ponies can get their heads over rather than try to put their heads between the bars.
They do save a lot of waste and are not used for horses bedding when they wreck the bales.

 

[sandi_84]

I use ring feeders in all my fields and my large barn (for foals).
Personally I wouldn't use the one pictured above as horses can get their heads stuck in cattle feeders. I would recommend you get a 'sheep feeder' as they are smaller spaces between the bars and horses and ponies can get their heads over rather than try to put their heads between the bars.
They do save a lot of waste and are not used for horses bedding when they wreck the bales.

Can you put a pic of yours up please? Near had heart failure thinking about the horror story above! We have them in our fields but they don't look like the one pictured above and was wondering if we have the sheep feeder.

 

[caberston]

depends on which sort you get i suppose. they're good for keeping all your haylage in one place, especially handy if your field gets massively muddy because your hay still doesn't get trampled into the ground.
i would say that tombstone feeders are probably safer and more suitable for horses because its harder to get various body parts stuck:

http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/shop...ID=362&zenid=248478bbde809ebdef48d4fb96df2897

 

[MiCsarah]

How about one of these? http://hay-hutch.oxatis.com/Default.asp

 

[rsc]

I use 3 Big Bale Buddies !

Basically large plastic bags for your hay, they come with a 1 year guarantee and I am really pleased with mine. Once you have got the hang of getting them in the bags they are easy to move around the field so you dont poach any areas as well.

Just do a google search and you will find them. (use the .co.uk site)

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have a sheep feeder. However, I have added strong mesh to the inside of it, which stops the horses from putting their legs through the gaps that normally the sheep would put their heads through. You should be able to see the mesh on the above photo.

 

[Bethie]

I've had to deal with 2 cows in the past that have got stuck in ring feeders and been lucky to be rescued in time, there is no way on earth I would have one near my horses!

 

[No1_in_particular]

I can't seem to find a photo just now... anyway I use the same ones as Meowy Catmas, although without the mesh, I have never had a problem with them and have used them for years... I take the pins out that hold them together and tie together just incase anyone gets their headcollars stuck.
I've had cattle stuck in cattle feeders but they don't tend to be as flighty as horses and have been relatively easy to remove.... I would imagine if a horse was stuck there wouldn't be much left of them or the feeder...
I'll try to dig out a photo of them all muchning around a feeder!

 

[No1_in_particular]

Finally found a photo!
Hope this works!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

i wouldnt use a metal feeder. the bale buddies works well. i would rather lose some hay being trampled than a vets bill for a stuck horse or injured horse from a ring feeder.

 

[Ibblebibble]

I've used a ring feeder for my lot and they got on fine, they were always eating over the top of it rather than putting their heads through the gaps whenever i watched them. Haven't got one this year as i borrow it from the farmer and he managed to wreck it with the tractor when he took it back earlier in the year told him it would be easier for me to run it over the field like a giant hamster wheel the same way i got it in the field but he insisted on 'helping'

 

[RutlandH2O]

I have a sheep feeder. However, I have added strong mesh to the inside of it, which stops the horses from putting their legs through the gaps that normally the sheep would put their heads through. You should be able to see the mesh on the above photo.

I have been trying to have one of these made. I went to the feed store and took a look at one similar to yours, but it was 5'3" in diameter. It's just too big for my purposes. I over-winter my Shires in a massive pole barn. My 2 young geldings share a section of the barn and I thought one like yours would be perfect. I'm trying to have one of the cattle/sheep feeder manufacturers make one for me that is 4 feet in diameter and 32 inches high, with 3 inch mess welded around like yours. Next time you are out in the field, could you measure the diameter of your feeder? Perhaps a smaller one is already made.

 

[Spottyappy]

We use old tractor tyres. My neighbour was delighted to get rid of the tyres and delvered them. They hold huge amounts of hay,the horses can't get stuck,stops waste and as they're so big,they don't tend to chase each other abut too much.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Get it! They're fab, no waste, easily moved too. Ours is ancient, and I'm sure many would consider it in poor nick but I've never had an injury - the filly sticks her head through it and lifts it off the ground to scratch her neck!

A couple of years ago...

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have been trying to have one of these made. I went to the feed store and took a look at one similar to yours, but it was 5'3" in diameter. It's just too big for my purposes. I over-winter my Shires in a massive pole barn. My 2 young geldings share a section of the barn and I thought one like yours would be perfect. I'm trying to have one of the cattle/sheep feeder manufacturers make one for me that is 4 feet in diameter and 32 inches high, with 3 inch mess welded around like yours. Next time you are out in the field, could you measure the diameter of your feeder? Perhaps a smaller one is already made.

I'll measure it tomorrow.

 

[RutlandH2O]

Meowy Catmas: Thanks ever so much. The rep, from one of the round feeder manufacturers,
thought they might be able to make a one-off. We keep missing each other's calls. Then I saw yours. Do you know who made yours?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I bought it from here http://www.coedydinas.co.uk/country-store/ but I don't know the make. My filly - at the time that the photo was taken - was about 14.3hh, if that helps.

 

[Mare Stare]

Thankyou peeps.

Will look into getting a sheep one.

Meowy Christmas, did you do the mesh yourself? If so what kind of mesh is it?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Yes, we did it ourselves using some mesh from a dog-run (we don't have a dog so we took it apart) and some cable ties. It's very strong, stiff mesh in a square pattern and I thought that it would do the job better than chicken wire.

 

[Oliver12]

I have a sheep feeder. However, I have added strong mesh to the inside of it, which stops the horses from putting their legs through the gaps that normally the sheep would put their heads through. You should be able to see the mesh on the above photo.

I've done exactly the same. They dragged the haylage through the gaps last year and wasted so much. I've soon put a stop to that. You can get a roll of heavy duty plastic meshing from Wickes for £9.99 which fits exactly.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I've done exactly the same. They dragged the haylage through the gaps last year and wasted so much. I've soon put a stop to that. You can get a roll of heavy duty plastic meshing from Wickes for £9.99 which fits exactly.

Naughty neddies! If mine try that trick, I'll have a look at the plastic mesh you mention.

OK, I've measured the sheep feeder and it is 5ft wide and 3ft high. It will take a round bale but I use small square ones.

ETA. The mesh on my feeder is 3 inch 'square' metal mesh.

 

[flashmans]

We use old tractor tyres. My neighbour was delighted to get rid of the tyres and delvered them. They hold huge amounts of hay,the horses can't get stuck,stops waste and as they're so big,they don't tend to chase each other abut too much.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/309120.html It's possible!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

 

[Tinypony]

I've recently induldged in a bit of DIY using big plant pots used for trees, some bungee cord, blue pipe, clips cut off un-used leg straps and old leadropes and vandalised hay nets. They are slow hay feeders, this is the smaller version, that takes about half a bale of hay. I've got the makings of larger ones that will take a whole bale ready to go!
An alternative maybe for those who don't have the facilities to use round bales.

Hopefully the photos are self-explanatory. The bungee cords aren't equidistant, two are slightly closer together and tied off, one has a clip. This means you unclip that side and flip the "lid" over to fill.

 

[RutlandH2O]

Meowy Catmas: Thanks so much for the measurements. Your feeder is only 3 inches less in diameter than the one I saw at the feed merchant. That one was massive. Yours looks just right. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Tinypony: Quite ingenious!

 

[Tinypony]

If you Google slow hay feeder and also look on You Tube there are loads of useful ideas. This is going to save me a fortune in wasted hay this winter, and also give peace of mind if it takes me longer to get to the field in snow. I'll know they have more than 24hrs of eating out there!

 

[flashmans]

I've recently induldged in a bit of DIY using big plant pots used for trees, some bungee cord, blue pipe, clips cut off un-used leg straps and old leadropes and vandalised hay nets. They are slow hay feeders, this is the smaller version, that takes about half a bale of hay. I've got the makings of larger ones that will take a whole bale ready to go!
An alternative maybe for those who don't have the facilities to use round bales.

Hopefully the photos are self-explanatory. The bungee cords aren't equidistant, two are slightly closer together and tied off, one has a clip. This means you unclip that side and flip the "lid" over to fill.

This seems a very good idea, will have to try it out!
Do the bungie cords come from the bottom of the pot/tub? So the 'lid' goes down as hay goes down (to get hay at bottom)? If that makes sense!