I’ve had really good luck with the Shires deluxe nets with the rings. I haven’t seen too much difference with color combos with those. I use the 40" ones and have the pink/turquoise and red/blue. Several are 4+ years old and have spent weeks outside.
I had to go look these ones up, couldn’t remember this option. Shires markets these ones as hay nets, instead of haylage nets. 5.5 cm holes instead of 5 cm. Can’t imagine that 0.5 makes much of a difference…the rings for the tie cord are a nice touch! Wish they came bigger. How much (in pounds or bale part?) are you able to get in one? The 40" regular single color haylage nets are definitely small, and maybe take a half a regular small bale.
I find that they’re easier to fill than the regular shires nets, but I can’t say that they’re much bigger. As for how much hay, it just depends on how tightly baled it is. 20lbs? Sometimes more? I just lost my big eater a week and a half ago to terrible colic an my senior isn’t eating much so he’s back to large hole nets so it’s just my mini using these and he…doesn’t exactly need his net filled all that much.
It was very frustrating and even more disappointing (than frustrating) since I had been recommending the company because of my first round bale net working out so well.
I have a bunch of the greedy feeder nets. LOVE them. Like the other nets, ever now and again I get one that just doesn’t last as well, but generally speaking they have held up great.
I have some of these too. I can put as much hay in these that I can shove into my muck bucket that I use for net filling. Probably a little more on top if I wanted to.
Trub admits to having a hay net problem… I have lots of hay nets. (I like to make hay bags once per week so I just have to grab a filled net to feed, not actually fill nets during the week when my time is more limited.)
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These are absolutely the best I have found. They are nearly indestructible.
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20% discount for Hay Chix:
Another happy nibblenet customer!
Does the Shires net have enough rope so that it is easy to add big square flakes (or half flakes)?
I have a bunch of small square bale Hay Chix nets and the relatively small opening makes it a struggle to stuff with big square flakes.
Yep. I used the 50" haylage net to feed flakes off of the big bales. They were…337, I think? About 700# bales. I could get a flake in there straight off the bale but it was easier to handle for hanging if I folded the flake in half before stuffing the net. Worked really well.
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^^^ THANKS!!
Another vote for Nibblenet. They are the best to work with on a daily basis- barn worker speaking here.
I have a combination of Shires, Tough 1, and a fabulous rope-goes-thru-rings version from Big D, all under $15/each - I feed in them daily, Nov thru March, and they are all between 3 & 4 years old. Hung on either stall walls or pipe & rail fencing. The one time I shelled out for some expensive ones, they were trashed in a few weeks.
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Just wanted to get an update on this thread! I just ordered a Nibblenet. I’ve been using a Tractor Supply 2" hole feeder and discovered I needed smaller holes. What is new that people are recommending?
Looks like HayChix was up for discussion when the thread was new, but count me part of the group that is a big fan of HC. I’ve purchased new & second hand, have the mini nets (which hold ~20-25#) in a bunch of different hole sizes. I have generally ordered the heavy duty nets. After 4 years of using one of the regular weight (not heavy duty) nets, 1 “link” in one net tore.
I did briefly try one of the strap type Nibblenets from a friend, but found it more difficult to load for my way of feeding (I tried the round bag). They do have different hole size options though which is nice.
I keep a feed-store generic brand cotton rope net with like 4” holes on my trailer, and replace them every 1-2 years (much less use). I’m not s fan of any nylon string nets. When they break, they fray. I don’t like the idea of my horses ingesting pieces of plastic when they inevitably start tearing hay out from the part of the net with newly formed hole.
I love Hay Burners. Soft feel, no knots and durable. I’ve compared a few now and only using their product. A soft net matters to teeth, lips and gums.
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Another long time Nibble Net fan here too!! Most of my horses use them and they are all over 5 years old. Some are looking a bit ratty, but have some horse who are really hard on them too!
My horses have been using nets with 1.5 inch openings for ten years and they tore lots of holes in them. When I switched to 2 inch openings, they stopped tearing them. I have also been patching the holes with zip ties for 10 years. I buy wide zip ties that are rated for really heavy weight. That way the horses know for sure it’s not something they’re supposed to eat.
I’m finally trying the 1.5" Nibble Net, and it’s working beautifully! Hoping it will last!
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Check out NagBags- I have found them indestructable!
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