Small bales, how much to feed...

[Toffee44]

I have always used rounds and just grabbed a handfull per a horse and chucked it out in the field along with a handful of oat straw as well.

Or when I had just two I used to just leave a round out there in a feeder.

I now have one of mine on livery. So using small bales. How much should I put in a net, I am currently putting a slice in a net and soaking it (shes a fatty). I am thinking that come winter when she will be in longer I can mix it with some oat straw. Do you think I can get a week out of a bale??

Thoughts? Shes a 14.1hh pony.


Had horses for years but not used this stable lark, you should have seen how long it took to muck out this morning lol

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Years ago ( I was 12 at the time ) I had a 14hh fell x and he used to have two sections of hay in two hayledge nets (one over the top of the other) for overnight.

You could mix one section with straw, but I wouldn't want to give a pony only one section to last them overnight. This could be because my chestnut used to have four sections per night, so I'm not used to fatties anymore.

 

[skyejosh]

i would feed at least 2 slices overnight, as long as they're good sized slices and if she's a bit of a piggy like one of the ponies i look after get her a nice small squared haylage net so she can't pig herself so much.

 

[Toffee44]

Years ago ( I was 12 at the time ) I had a 14hh fell x and he used to have two sections of hay in two hayledge nets (one over the top of the other) for overnight.

I have debated doing that but wasnt sure if I was really mean lol.

She does have haylage nets atm. They are cutting the oat straw now so wont be long.

 

[Wagtail]

I doubt you would need only one bale a week. I would expect to use around two a week for a good doer and 3 - 4 a week for a larger horse or not such a good doer.

 

[Trinity Fox]

Wow i must seriously overfeed mine, it depends how long you are willing to leave the horse without food. Our big ones get through nearly half a bale most nights if in and even the ponies can mange about a third of a bale if given it.

If feeding such a small amount i would mix in some straw so the horse at least has something going through its system.

 

[fizzer]

I have the big round hay bales and have 2 ponies that I am always watching what they eat. I bought a cheap luggage weigh thing( not sure of the proper name) and weigh out roughly 2kg then soak 24hrs. Both ponies are 13.2hh.