Soaking Haynets

J

JosieSmith

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 March 2009
Messages
1,236
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Visit site
I will be giving my horse hay not haylege this year and want to soak it. However, I usually muck out and do haynets before work, so if I soak it before work then leave it hanging up all day ready for her coming in at night, will it still be ok, or should I soak it when I bring her in at night instead?

Thanks
 
For what it's worth, my mare won't eat soaked hay that's hung in her stable all day, so I soak it after work so I can feed it straight away.

TBH she's still not too keen! I find it does smell a bit funny though if it's left hanging up all day after soaking. Know it suits others though :)

Are you soaking to remove WSC's, or dust? If it's for weight control, you could put in to soak in the morning, and then just drain & feed after work?

:)
 
Thanks

It's for dust etc as she tends to get a cough when she first comes in and tbh it's not the best quality, though I haven't looked at this bale yet. She's eating the yard haylege at the minute so I'm hoping she'll eat it when I switch to hay, though she's not a fussy eater really.

By soaking I mean running the hose over and in it for a while, not soaking it for a long time in a proper bucket or anything so I might not even be doing any good that way but at least I'm doing something.
 
For the benefits of those who don't know, you soak hay over a long period of time to get the sugar out of it, it has to be left for some time where as you spray hay to wash the dust and spores out of it. If dust and coughing is a problem, then I would switch to haylage (grass cut before it seeds and isn't as dried out) that is not supposed to have any spores or dust in it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top