should i be worried?

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L&M

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I am a little concerned about a new cob I have recently bought, as this morning he had not finished his haylage, had only done 1 poo, hadn't drunk much overnight, and only ate a little of his breakfast. Normally everything would have been eaten and drunk, and around 4 droppings, but I may have been given too much forage to compensate for no grass.

He is not displaying any signs of colic and was happily munching some haylage in the field, and I left a bucket of warm water out for him. When I went to get him in the water was half drunk and there were several droppings in the field, but as turned him out with another, may not have been his.

He has come in now and again is happily munching his haylage but still not done a dropping in his stable.

Could this be a pre-cursor to colic or could it be the change in diet since they can't get access to any grass because of the snow?

Any ideas gratefully appreciated!
 
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Is he drinking enough? When it gets cold they can sometimes stop drinking enough which can lead to things getting bunged up. Can you soak his hay or at least chuck a couple of kettles of hot water on it before he gets it so it is at least damp. Also, is his water ice free and always available?
 
I am putting in buckets of luke warm water in the stable as his automatic feeder is frozen over....

He has haylage but am loath to soak it in case it freezes but am giving him sloppy feeds, again with warm water.
 
Has he been on haylege, or has he suddenly changed to it? Haylege does affect ours even if we carefully switch over. I would just keep a close eye on him. Especially as he is new to you it will take a while to get to know all his whims! If he seems bright in himself and is happily nibbling then I'm sure he is fine.
 
Thanks glosgirl - I have had him for just over a month, so long enough to know that what he has produced is not 'normal' for him, but with the weather and his routine changing, nothing is 'normal' at the moment!
As far as I am aware, he has always been fed haylage, and certainly has been since being with me - in fact his poo was quite sloppy when he first arrived as was also eating nice lush autumn grass too.
Am about to go out to the yard to do their tea so hopefully has finished his food and 'produced' to keep my mind at rest. (Can't believe I am discussing poo consistency on here - lol!)
 
at the moment most horses are eating a lot of hay/haylage so need access to plenty water (a cream cracker diet) if you are worried that they are not drinking enough make sure any bucket food is well wetted, and add electrolytes. as the cold snap is only forecasted to get worse reduce hard feed and keep on a fibre based diet.
 
Speedibeet is good too for getting water into them. Made to a sloppy consistency ensures getting water into their system and is a good source of fibre.
 
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