Soaking or Steaming hay?

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Need some help please!!

We now need to soak large quantities of our hay, ie about 2-3 bales a day.

So what are your ideas or experiences relating to how to soak larger amounts and not use too much water, what type of containers really work and also don't look too unsightly (we have a picky landlord!)

Plus is it worth investing in one of the hay steamers etc, do they work??

Thanks in advance!
 
I told my old boss (a vet) I was steaming hay for my horse who had mild COPD - I wasn't quite sure if he was going to laugh or cry. The steamers don't get enough water into the dust particles so they don't expand and...(having a dim moment and can't think of the word so I think you'll get what I mean when I say) explode. At our yard we have a large container (similar to a bath) which has bricks around the outside so it doesn't look messy (all properly done by a brickie!!!!) which the bath sits into on a little bit of a base so that when you pull the out the plug it drains easily through and then through a couple of gaps in the bottom layer of the brick work - My YO too is very perticular!!!!
 
Thanks Hellspells. I take it from your description that steaming is pointless, so a soaking solution it will need to be.

We can't have anything permanent and our landlord doesn't like the what would probably be easiest solution - a bath, so any more suggestions?
 
We've got an IBC with the top cut off and a block and tackle to lift the soaked hay out with. Works well, doesn't look too bad and is easy to drain beacuse of the valve on the IBC.
 
Saoking is probably best from the research I've done (sure that others may want to question it though).
I have seen that the Met use one of those great big wheelie bins, they drill a hole in the bottom - plug it - and tada you can drain the hay without getting soaked pulling it out the hay soak!
If I have any more brain waves, I shall post
 
I have recently tried steaming hay for my by but his COPD kicked in loud and clear! I need to wet the hay (I just thoroughly wet it with the hose) and then leave it for 24 hours otherwise he coughs. I don't like having a tank of water as it seems to go off quickly, especially in summer and providing it is left for 24 hours after hosing it seems OK
 
Hi

I have to say that I have found steaming to be just as effective as soaking. I steam for a good hour and then leave the hay in the steamer until ready for use. If you take it and leave it out once it has steamed then it dries out too much- just take it out as you need to use it.
I love my steamer and would never go back to soaking wet hay... my 2 horses with COPD have done brilliantly using this method.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi

I have to say that I have found steaming to be just as effective as soaking. I steam for a good hour and then leave the hay in the steamer until ready for use. If you take it and leave it out once it has steamed then it dries out too much- just take it out as you need to use it.
I love my steamer and would never go back to soaking wet hay... my 2 horses with COPD have done brilliantly using this method.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it a home made steamer or one of the commercial ones?
 
Lots of people get on with steaming, but I just don't. It doesn't clean the hay the way soaking does, I like to see all the dirt at the bottom of the container, so I know I have really washed it!
 
i spray mine with the hose for about 5mins to wash it and it then hangs up over night and i spray it again before they have it.
has sorted out a cough the youngster had and my laminitics feet are fine.i may soak it for 12 hours in fresh water and rinse well before feeding once th grass comes up to gget rid of more of the sugars
 
I had an old boy with COPD and soaked his hay (also my mare's - who just preferred it thay way) in a black bin. Gets heavy but hey - the things you do for love x Friends of mine used a field trough, you know, they type with a cock (!) took a bale and a half of hay and had a plug in the bottom. You could leave it to fill on its own.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hi

I have to say that I have found steaming to be just as effective as soaking. I steam for a good hour and then leave the hay in the steamer until ready for use. If you take it and leave it out once it has steamed then it dries out too much- just take it out as you need to use it.
I love my steamer and would never go back to soaking wet hay... my 2 horses with COPD have done brilliantly using this method.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it a home made steamer or one of the commercial ones?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its a commercial one- it works really really well and the hay stays quite damp when I leave it in there.
 
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