Best and safest slow hay feeder

[Jjb]

Hi all. After many many years not having or being around horses I recently got a couple of ponies. One requires a slow feeder. So much has changed since I had been around horses.

I guess I have seen those nylon hay nets … But no one I knew used them . They seem dangerous to me.
Since one pony needs one … I got her one of the nylon sf at TS for now until I can figure out what is best for her.
it is pretty terrible. I did hang it too high ( just watched that chiro vid). I did so out of concern of her getting tangled.
Well last night she ripped it down … Broke the nylon in a couple of places.

what are the absolute best slow feeders? I would love to find a 1 inch but the only one I have seen are the nets.

Thank you.

[joiedevie99]

I use Nibble Nets. I find them quite safe, and easy to fill

[candyappy]

My horses pretty much chew through the hay nets. I just find it easier to put out an ample amount of hay and they have the night to go through it. Mine are fleshy enough as it is on this routine. If you have actual ponies they usually don’t need hay in front of them 24/7.

I used a bungie cord attached to the rafters to tie mine that way we had some play in the net, otherwise I found it down on some morning too. Quite frustrating and a pain to fill since I unwind round bales to feed. Square bale sized flakes would be so much easier.

[KittyinAus]

You could put the filled slow feeding net in a horse safe tub on the ground. That way it isn’t hanging.

[Jjb]

Do they make a 1 inch?

@joiedevie99

I use Nibble Nets. I find them quite safe, and easy to fill

[Simkie]

Best and safest and most indestructible? I’d be tempted to go this route: http://porta-grazer.com/

I’ve never been able to pull the trigger on that cost when I have nets that last for years that are ~$15, but those porta-grazer things sure are cool.

[Jjb]

OH wow … I really like that a lot. It really seems mimic natural grazing. It seems as though anything that hands … Even when hung low can possibly lead to health issues.

Do do you know anyone that has one? Really going to consider this one …
Thanks.

@Simkie

Best and safest and most indestructible? I’d be tempted to go this route: http://porta-grazer.com/

I’ve never been able to pull the trigger on that cost when I have nets that last for years that are ~$15, but those porta-grazer things sure are cool.

[Simkie]

@Jjb

OH wow … I really like that a lot. It really seems mimic natural grazing. It seems as though anything that hands … Even when hung low can possibly lead to health issues.

Do do you know anyone that has one? Really going to consider this one …
Thanks.

I don’t know anyone who has the porta-grazer things, no. There have been a few threads about them here, though

I’ve also been feeding my horses out of nets exclusively going on, oh…three years now. No health issues

[joiedevie99]

@Jjb The smallest is 1.25" - but it is quite small. I use a 1.5" with my chubby one, and a 2" for my regular horse.

http://www.thinaircanvas.com/nibblenet/picturesframe.htm

[Jjb]

When I say health issues mainly I am thinking of muscular skeletal. So far ponies both yank and toss their heads around trying to get the hay.

@Simkie

I don’t know anyone who has the porta-grazer things, no. There have been a few threads about them here, though

I’ve also been feeding my horses out of nets exclusively going on, oh…three years now. No health issues

[lifeishorsesarelove]

Unlike regular large hole hay nets, as long as your ponies are barefoot I would not worry so much about feeding with the nets on the ground. The holes are too small for them to get a foot in, especially if you’re using a 1-1.5" net. I have several friends who throw 3-4 flakes in several small hole nets and toss them around their paddocks in the winter. Spreads them out more like natural grazing and they aren’t standing around a round bale all day squabbling. Do make sure you inspect the nets daily to make sure they haven’t chewed holes in them that they could put a foot through.

If you are concerned, you can put the net in a tub, but they will likely figure out how to dump the net out of the tub unless you anchor it (perhaps a muck tub tied to a fence post, and the net also tied to the post?).

My horse is shod, but does not generally paw. In her stall she has a net to make sure she has hay as long as possible. I choose to hang her net off the ground, but below her withers. I would not put the net right one the ground with her shoes on. Outside, she has loose hay or a round bale to eat off of.

Without using nets, your options are limited to a basket like the porta-grazer, but those options need to have a spring-loaded base to bring the hay back up to the top as they eat it. I see lots of plans online for boxes and such that will hold a full square bale, but I’m not sure how the horses are supposed to eat the bottom two-thirds of the box contents when its out of reach.

In terms of tugging on the nets causing issues, if they figure out how to use the nets properly, they actually don’t need to try to rip chunks of hay out. If they’re having to pull hard, they are either biting hay & the net and just pulling, and unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to teach them to not do that. If they’re nibbling and still having to tug, your nets are too packed full, which actually makes them more difficult to use.

I also prefer nets on the ground where possible, or hung in a corner, because they don’t swing around and they don’t have to chase & tug on them as much.

[Second_Star_To_The_R]

I have nets with 2 inch holes. I hang them at a height where they bend their heads to reach and I have it secured rather than swinging for some of them. In the pasture I use a round bale net and never have problems. I also have a net that fits a full square bale for the paddocks.

I use the shires nets and have never had a hole except when it got hung on the tractor once.

[ChocoMare]

Long-time user of Hay Chix Nets, from square to round bale. SUPER tough and they have 1 inch holes for the super fluffy horse

[maunder]

I also love Nibble Nets. I have two varieties for my fattie mini. I have the Picnic, that holds one modest flake of hay and can be tossed on the ground, and the hanging version of the single flake net.

When I first got the Nibble Nets I was sure my minis would be able to destroy them - but nope! They look as good as new after several years.

[Tiffani_B]

@Simkie

Best and safest and most indestructible? I’d be tempted to go this route: http://porta-grazer.com/

I’ve never been able to pull the trigger on that cost when I have nets that last for years that are ~$15, but those porta-grazer things sure are cool.

I have these for my horses and will never use anything else. I even take them when I go to horse shows. They are easy to fill and clean, the horses eat with their heads down, they are safe, and virtually indestructible. Expensive but WELL worth it.

I had one horse eating out of a hay net and he developed major neck issues. My vet had me take him to Purdue for xrays - we thought he was developing arthritis! X rays were clear but the pain and stiffness didn’t go away. We did shockwave, ultrasound, bute - but two days of not using the hay net and it all cleared up and hasn’t returned now that he’s got a Porta Grazer. I HATE nets. Hate them.

[Simkie]

@Jjb

When I say health issues mainly I am thinking of muscular skeletal. So far ponies both yank and toss their heads around trying to get the hay.

Yup, I don’t have any issues there either

There are a whole lot of roads to Rome on this one, but if you have any desire, it might be worthwhile to pick up a couple high quality nets (Shires can be had for $15ish bucks or less) and give the ponies some time to adapt to net feeding. There’s certainly a learning curve to eating out of ANY of these things that contain the hay (from traditional nets to nibble nets to porta-grazer to whatever!) and the first few days may not be an indication at all of what it will look like in a week or two.

If no desire, hey, no worries. But really, don’t let a little video on the internet scare you away from nets. There are a whooooole lot of us out there that have been using them for a long time without those issues

Something else to consider, too: how about just muzzling the ponies? Then you can feed hay loose and have little to worry about. If you have grass, you’ll need muzzles anyway.

[trubandloki]

@Simkie

I’ve also been feeding my horses out of nets exclusively going on, oh…three years now. No health issues

More than three years here.

They are really tiny hole hay nets. Great things.

I agree with Simkie on the point of - use what you like. Give some things a try and find what works best for you and your animals. I personally hated my nibble net that I spent tons of money on. I ended up giving it to a friend. I think hay nets are much easier to fill.

[Jjb]

Thanks.
Muzzles are on the list.
Actually Morgan has one … but have not put it on yet.

Don’t know if all nets will be the same in that Morgan will tear it down and tear the holes and swallow threads.

I will try the corner though and see if that is better.
Thanks again

@Simkie

Yup, I don’t have any issues there either

There are a whole lot of roads to Rome on this one, but if you have any desire, it might be worthwhile to pick up a couple high quality nets (Shires can be had for $15ish bucks or less) and give the ponies some time to adapt to net feeding. There’s certainly a learning curve to eating out of ANY of these things that contain the hay (from traditional nets to nibble nets to porta-grazer to whatever!) and the first few days may not be an indication at all of what it will look like in a week or two.

If no desire, hey, no worries. But really, don’t let a little video on the internet scare you away from nets. There are a whooooole lot of us out there that have been using them for a long time without those issues

Something else to consider, too: how about just muzzling the ponies? Then you can feed hay loose and have little to worry about. If you have grass, you’ll need muzzles anyway.

[saultgirl]

www.slowfeeder.com NAGbags are great. Pretty pricey but super quality.

[mg]

I use the large Shires small-hole haynets, the red & black ones (https://www.jefferspet.com/products/slow-feed-haynet). I really like them, but I have a tall horse (all legs) on stall rest right now who boredom paws at the nets and kept getting his leg caught in the drawstring. I recently won a Haygain Hay Forager (https://www.haygain.us/products/haygain-forager) and I am in LOVE. It’s been in the stall rested horse’s stall for over a week now, secured by a bungee attached to eye hooks on the wall. He loves eating out of it and doesn’t try to paw at it. Yes the price is hefty, but the construction is fabulous and it won’t get worn out/chewed apart like the nets. I’ve spent hundred of dollars replacing nets over the years.