Hay, or rather Hey! I need outside opinions on my hay feeding

[Libby2563]

I’m surprised how many people recommend feeders that are out in the open. Do you live in dry areas? I wish I could just throw a netted bale in a water trough but if hay gets rained on, my horses mostly won’t eat it. Then if temps get up to 40s/50s plus, the bottom layers of wet hay get moldy.

I try to time hay refills so that the feeders run low right before rain is expected. I clean out the dregs, hay in Shires nets in the shed during the rain, then fill the feeders when it’s dry again. I wish I didn’t have to do all this! I do have covered feeders but the roofs are high and if there’s any wind at all the rain blows in anyway. Sigh.

[SMF11]

I have found that Port A Grazers keep the hay drier than other kinds of feeders (nets, hay box). Meaning, it is quite dry, only the area where the holes are gets wrt, and there isn’t amuch if any water at the bottom.

[Scribbler]

@Libby2563

I’m surprised how many people recommend feeders that are out in the open. Do you live in dry areas? I wish I could just throw a netted bale in a water trough but if hay gets rained on, my horses mostly won’t eat it. Then if temps get up to 40s/50s plus, the bottom layers of wet hay get moldy.

I try to time hay refills so that the feeders run low right before rain is expected. I clean out the dregs, hay in Shires nets in the shed during the rain, then fill the feeders when it’s dry again. I wish I didn’t have to do all this! I do have covered feeders but the roofs are high and if there’s any wind at all the rain blows in anyway. Sigh.

I know. We get so much rain here. And the air is so damp that even sheltered hay can mold on the outside. You would need hay under some kind of roof.

[mmeqcenter]

Since there’s tons of on-the-fence options for feeding hay, I’m assuming you want the hay covered in case of rain and that’s why you put it in their sheds.
If the sheds aren’t movable, I’d personally build myself some of these, out of wood for cost effectiveness, at the fence line so you can still just throw a bale in over the fence.

Diller Flyers16.indd (dillerag.com)

[SmlHpy1]

What state do you live in? It sounds like a wonderful place to live. I’d love to experience more of the Amish life. They all seem so very nice and they do not shy away from hard work. You are very blessed to live there.

[Foxglove]

@SmlHpy1 —keep in mind that Amish are like everyone else --I am sure you’ve had great neighbors and some not so great neighbors. I have found Amish folks to be as diverse as any other group of people --some are nice, some are not. However, the Amish wear I live in Elkhart IN are generally not farmers --they work in the RV industry doing woodworking and manufacturing. In chatting with my farrier who lives near a community (and has Amish neighbors) the Amish who work in factories compared to the Amish who live near him are more receptive to English people --like me! After all, factory-working Amish have to work daily with English --the “cloistered” Amish who only see the members of their own community, are perhaps more insular. Or it could just be that I have four great neighbors --luck of the draw!

I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad Amish neighbor --just some more stand-offish than others —Mike --who does share a property line with me has only been over one time in 4 years to ask if he could hunt my property. And I’ve never spoken to his wife Alice. On the other hand, the three other Amish neighbors told me Mike “keeps to himself” --the others buy a load of hay together (semi) and help each other unload and stack on individual farms --one said that Mike, “isn’t interested” in doing that. So maybe Mike just likes his own company! FYI I don’t share hay as I feed alfalfa and the Amish feed grass hay. All good.

[SmlHpy1]

Oh I’m sure there is a variation. But the way in which you described your neighbors sounds really nice. Any neighbor can be standoffish - Amish or not. lol It’s really nice of your one neighbor to bring you dinners. That is so sweet and thoughtful.