Horses not eating round bale

[SugarCubes]

I’ve never fed round bales before, but decided to put one in the large field for my two horses yesterday. The guy I bought it from keeps them all stored in his barn, and the hay looks and smells good, no mold or dampness.

My two are used to some high end hay that is shipped in from out west and have become pretty picky. The round bale was delivered yesterday and they were out with it for maybe 4 hours yesterday and again this morning and haven’t touched it. They get their normal hay in their stalls at night and for breakfast, so they’re definitely not starving but I’m wondering how long to give them before I call the guy who delivered to pick it back up!

I’m sure it’s lower quality than what they’re used to, but they’re both in great weight and I was hoping it would save me a lot of work having to fill haynets for turnout every day! So, in your experience, will they give in and start eating it or is there possibly something off about it?

[NaturalSelection]

Are they interacting with it? Is it netted vs unnetted hay options? My guys will ‘play’ with unnetted roundbale even if they don’t eat much of it - generally pawing at it to make a giant hay mattress. I’d be surprised if your horses literally won’t touch it.

[JB]

It doesn’t even have to be “lower quality”, it’s just a different taste.

If they’re only with it for about 4 hours, and have plenty of hay in stalls, they may never touch it.

I’d be surprised if the guy will come take it back at this point, but I do also have the question of whether it’s loose, or in a hay feeder, or wrapped in an appropriate hay net, or still netted/stringed and if so that needs to come off.

[SugarCubes]

Never mind, I figured out their problem! I had it set back in the woods in a scary spot, as soon as I pushed it forward with the tractor they started inhaling it. To answer questions, it is loose, no netting or twine. I need to get a holder of sorts for it, but for now this will work. They’re out in the field for about 10 hours a day, with hay in their stalls at night.

[Libby2563]

BTDT and stopped buying roundbales because of it despite the convenience factor. I know they’re not necessarily lower quality than small bales but my horses have never eaten them as well as squares, and if you get a bad bale it’s extremely inconvenient to dispose of it. Last winter I had one out (in a large-hole net, under a Hay Hut) that my horses barely touched for two weeks despite having no other hay sources (just grass stubble). Since it was netted I managed to get it into a little landscaping trailer to donate to a nearby rescue that has some cows. That was the last straw!

ETA: We were posting at the same time. Glad you figured out what the problem was, yay!

[candyappy]

The initial quality of the hay in a round bale would be no different than any square bale. It all depends on when, where and the quality of the grass that was cut and baled.

You will have a lot of waste if they are allowed to get into it and no feeder is used. It does lose it’s quality value as it sits in the weather( opened or not) and gets rain, snow or sun on it, but if it is good quality they will eat the majority.

I feed round bales year round to all my animals, but mine are wrapped and we feed all hay loose, by hand so I can catch any that may not be up to snuff in spots( which can happen from time to time). They are just easier to put up for us.

Glad they are eating it OP. Funny they didn’t like where you put it.

[Jealoushe]

@Libby2563

Last winter I had one out (in a large-hole net, under a Hay Hut) that my horses barely touched for two weeks despite having no other hay sources (just grass stubble)

I have seen a lot of horses who won’t eat them when they are netted and in a feeder. None of my girls will. No net and in the feeder they eat them no issue.

[lenapesadie]

I fed round bales for years without a holder/feeder or net. There was of course a little (ok maybe a lot) of extra waste, but watching the horses paw out a nice soft bed and lay down was cute. Especially when they would lay down and snack at the same time.

At that time, my horses were outside 24/7 so I didn’t mind too much if they wanted to use the hay to make cozy beds.

[Libby2563]

@Jealoushe

@Libby2563

Last winter I had one out (in a large-hole net, under a Hay Hut) that my horses barely touched for two weeks despite having no other hay sources (just grass stubble)

I have seen a lot of horses who won’t eat them when they are netted and in a feeder. None of my girls will. No net and in the feeder they eat them no issue.

Thanks! Yeah I tried opening the net up but they weren’t into it. Not even the donkeys.