Which is best???

[Stinkbomb]

I usually feed my minis hay from the floor as i believe its better for them. The problem i have is that they eat it so quickly. I cant give them ad lib hay as they really would eat till they popped.

So which is the better of two evils???

a. Still feed off the floor and if they eat it quickly so be it

or

b. feed from a small haynet and run the risk of them developing muscles in the wrong place or teeth problems??

 

[3Beasties]

What about using one of these?

http://www.saddlery.biz/pp/Stable_Equipment/Horse_Feeding_Equipment/Munch_Station.html

 

[pottamus]

Well I am a total convert to feeding hay off the ground...my lad was getting quite bad with mucus and coughing until I turned him out 24/7 and started feeding his hay off the floor. He is so much improved in only a few months it is un-true! My problem is that he too eats it quick but he can then wander off and pick at bits of grass in his fatties paddock. He wastes a lot by walking on it but I would rather that then the way he was before. I would always opt for eating off the floor now...without question.

 

[MrsMozart]

I fed my mare off the ground, but she kicked it around and weed on it

Proved quite expensive!

 

[Stinkbomb]

Hmm cant use the munch station unfortunatley. The manger is way to high and my minis are only 32" tall and would very easily get a hoof stuck in the bars

I dont have a problem with them wasting any, they have it in tubs and its always gone in the morning never any wasted!!!!

 

[nikki_07766]

Kerilli brough some weight thinks to put on top of the hay to weigh it down, pm her they may well help you out.

 

[angiebaby]

I've fed my three natives hay from small holed haynets for years and years, never had any problems whatsoever with muscles in neck!!
Much less waste and two slices keep mine going for 8 hours, if it was on the floor it would be gone in 8 minutes!!

 

[hollyandivy123]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-POP-UP-LIGHTWE...id=p3286.c0.m14

hope this works, any way its a pop up laundry basket with zip, cut holes in the side saw they can get the hay out but they can't walk on it and it they do it should bend and this allows you to feed from the ground

 

[rabatsa]

Feed straw as well as hay so that they have something to munch on when they have pigged all the tasty hay.

 

[merlinsquest]

Get your friendly local blacksmith to weld together some old horse shoes and make a kind of grid to go on top of the hay but in the tubs...... it will weigh it down and stop them bolting it......

Or a square box for the hay, with a mesh thing like a garden sieve on the top......

 

[Chumsmum]

My mini Shets are really messy and waste their hay - let me know what you decide to do.

Not trying to scare you but one of mine managed to get his hoof stuck in a small holed haynet hung at the correct height - not sure if it was because their feet are so small or if he is just an idiot