Youngsters eating straw!!!

SpottyTB

SpottyTB

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Hi all,

After some advice really, i've got two youngsters (a 9 month warmblood colt and a tb x lippizanner 18 month gelding).. they have the use of a shelter which is *as from yesterday* matted.. on top of the mat we put around 2/3 slices of straw done.. today we let them in and they had 2 HUGE hay nets to eat but went straight to the straw and munched down on that!!!

What can i do to stop them? We sprayed the straw with watered down disinfectant but that didn't stop them!!!

Any ideas?
 
No it wont do them any harm at all in fact it will slow down their weight gain as it has slightly fewer calories than hay. Best use barley or oat straw though as it is less likely to cause a problem and make sure they always have plenty to drink and damp to wet feed if you feed them
After all straw is what the bulk of hifi feeds are made of and most modern non alfalfa chaffs
A lot of native pony breeders and owners use straw ad lib instead of hay to control their fat ponies weight
 
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Captainmouse - I was just stating I have a worry about it..


They have around 1/2 to 3/4 bale of hay a day anyway (not my choice, my mil puts it down as hers is a poor doer, mine not so.) hence my worry. Mine is fed 1 cup of balancer a day.

Thanks wind and rain for some good advice. They always have there feed wet and have two trugs full of water available! :-)

:-)
 
If they're eating it, it's because they like it. :) It it possible that your straw is actually better quality than your hay, from their point of view. And, as stated above, they are actually getting less "bounce per ounce" from the straw so from the view of over feeding, it's probably better for them. I really would not worry.
 
I wouldn't worry about a horse eating oat straw if they like it and don't have choke or colic history. However do bear in mind ESP with a youngster nutritionally, that straw is very lacking in protein and some minerals. This is partly why a lot of chaff makers mix it with alfalfa as that is a good balancer nutritionally for the stuff that straw is low in.

So absolutely carry on letting them eat it but do limit the amount to not more than 50% of their forage intake, and make sure protein and minerals are boosted with whatever else they eat

Hope this helps
 
Thank you all for the advise! I actually think they are not liking the hay ATM, the next bale looks better so hoping they will regain there love of hay! Stupid when they are pushed out of shelter and left with a hay net on gate they munch until its empty (2 slices in net).. But when they have choice of hay or straw.. Straw seems to win hands down!

Mine is getting a cup of sure grow balancer which is full of vits and mins and we let them have a pasture lick at least once a week (they love it!).. 2 slices each of hay is offered.. But a good slice is usually poo'd on (little *******)!!!
 
fly spray!! it makes it very bitter and should leave it alone.

It is fine for them to lick as they clean themselves in the summer with it on.

spray some on the new areas of the bed, they wont touch the bits which have been near their mess.
 
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