Slow Feed Hay Bags

[kdeventing]

About a month ago I bought 4 slow feed hay bags. I have been hanging them for the time being until I come up with a better solution. I want them to eat off the ground, but because they are shod need to put them in something/have something surrounding them. Any suggestions for what to use? Top concern is health and safety of the horses. I currently have one hag bag tied into a water trough such as this
http://www.tufftubs.com/htdocs/plinoval.htm which works, but it slides around quite a bit and the one horse ends up following it around his paddock.

Hay Bags: http://store.slowfeeder.com/hanging-nag-bag/

What else may work safely, but be heavier?

[dudleyc]

I have two horses that have had colic surgery and they need to eat hay slowly. For them I have nibblenet for the stalls and the pasture - I only feed hay in the winter months, otherwise they are on grass.

There are a few horses that make a mess of the hay if I put it on the floor of the stalls - wasting hay and making the stalls really tough to clean. For those guys, I use the cheap small hole hay nets although I replace the rope that cinches and hangs them up.

for the pastures
that the horses are turned out in groups I have these http://www.southernmetalsales.com/images/Fleenor_Horse_rnd_bale_feeder.jpg we through square bales into they work great, safe and minimal wasted hay

[FatCatFarm]

There are numerous slow feeder hay net configurations out there. I was impressed by the modified trash can system one bright someone came up with: http://www.horsenation.com/2015/05/22/5-diy-slow-feed-hay-feeders/

For shod horses where you want to be able to load and go with the nets and just toss them out like hay biscuits, the Nibble Nets should work nicely: http://www.thinaircanvas.com/nibblenet/picturesframe.htm and the canvas should not catch shoes like the nets.

I bought 9 of the cheap Shires nylon small weave nets 6 years ago for $9 a piece and they’ve held up phenomenally well for the price. http://www.statelinetack.com/item/slow-feed-hay-net/E006600%20PNK/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=CL_8iqqJlsoCFdgWgQod_PYGiQ&kwid=productads-plaid^96468564108-sku^306902-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^40184828028

I’ve tied them up horizontally in stalls and along fencelines, on gates and trees (for ponies and goats), in addition to hanging them vertically. Have also stuffed them with hay and tossed them out on the ground but none of my horses are shod. Also use them in the horse trailer and at shows too. Very handy and versatile.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8472152]

I bought 9 of the cheap Shires nylon small weave nets 6 years ago for $9 a piece and they’ve held up phenomenally well for the price. http://www.statelinetack.com/item/slow-feed-hay-net/E006600%20PNK/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=CL_8iqqJlsoCFdgWgQod_PYGiQ&kwid=productads-plaid^96468564108-sku^306902-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^40184828028

I’ve tied them up horizontally in stalls and along fencelines, on gates and trees (for ponies and goats), in addition to hanging them vertically. Have also stuffed them with hay and tossed them out on the ground but none of my horses are shod. Also use them in the horse trailer and at shows too. Very handy and versatile.[/QUOTE]

I have the same hay nets. Mine have been put through the ringer with goats (I try to keep them away), ponies, rehab horses, away shows, trailering. I have been very happy with my $10 hay nets and originally bought them because if they were destroyed I wouldn’t cry about it. I have 8 of them and 6 are in great shape. (I repaired 2 that the goat had knawed through). I’ve only had mine about 4 years.

[sassy45]

[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8472152]

For shod horses where you want to be able to load and go with the nets and just toss them out like hay biscuits, the Nibble Nets should work nicely: http://www.thinaircanvas.com/nibblenet/picturesframe.htm and the canvas should not catch shoes like the nets.

I bought 9 of the cheap Shires nylon small weave nets 6 years ago for $9 a piece and they’ve held up phenomenally well for the price. http://www.statelinetack.com/item/slow-feed-hay-net/E006600%20PNK/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=CL_8iqqJlsoCFdgWgQod_PYGiQ&kwid=productads-plaid^96468564108-sku^306902-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^40184828028

I’ve tied them up horizontally in stalls and along fencelines, on gates and trees (for ponies and goats), in addition to hanging them vertically. Have also stuffed them with hay and tossed them out on the ground but none of my horses are shod. Also use them in the horse trailer and at shows too. Very handy and versatile.[/QUOTE]

I’v tryed both the slow feed nets above my horse had them destroyed within days. Just got a new nibble net he’s already has a hole chewed in it.

[froglander]

I was feeding my horse in a nibblenet or small hole haynet at first (mostly to keep him from wasting hay), but the nibblenet was kind of a pain to fill and he was still wasting hay from what spilled on the ground anyway.

Hubby agreed to it so we decided to buy a Porta-Grazer. Yeah it wasn’t cheap, but that thing has been awesome. Only took my horse a couple days to figure out how to eat from it. Keeps him from wasting hay, is easy to fill, he eats with his head down in a normal grazing posture, and he can’t pull out huge mouthfuls. Definitely worth it. If we get another horse someday, plan to get another one.

[FatCatFarm]

[QUOTE=sassy45;8472942]
I’v tryed both the slow feed nets above my horse had them destroyed within days. Just got a new nibble net he’s already has a hole chewed in it.[/QUOTE]

WOW! I’m so glad I don’t have that problem. I’ve got 3 draft crosses, a POA, an ISH colt, 4 miniature horses, 2 miniature donkeys and 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats and these bags have been awesome for all and only a couple have a small hole in them after all of that use and abuse, so I consider them pretty indestructible.

[AmarachAcres]

We bought the cinch chix ones and they have held up for almost 3 years so far.

I’ve seen people sink a tall 4x4 and hang nets off of those in the pasture.

Ours hang down off of beams in their shelter.

I use those oval clips you spin to close at the end of a rope, The nets get easily clipped on or off of those.

[candico]

Nibble nets have been super for me as well. The Haflinger who had shredded every other kind of net still hasn’t damaged this one and it’s been more than a year. Maybe the kind with the seat belt material on both sides would be better? The material on the back does seem to be more prone to being chewed through - is that where your horse made the holes? Also find it super easy to load. I have mine on the wall though. No negative consequences so far from feeding that way.

My vet has a Porta Grazer. She really likes it, but has had to order a new top as her mare made the holes bigger.

[LibertyRun]

I also use the Shires nets as the main source but throw a couple flakes on the ground so they can eat head down. This way they love the hay on the ground and don’t waste it but when it’s gone they have the nets waiting for their hungry little mouths.

[SouthernYankee]

Here is my setup for feeding square bales

I use the large shire slow feed hay nets and clip them into the bottom of the feeders. It still mimics the horses natural grazing and reduces waste. The feeders are big enough that multiple horses can eat out of them at the same time without fighting. The initial investment was hefty but they are showing zero wear after years of outside only use.

Tarter gate makes them.

[sassy45]

[QUOTE=SouthernYankee;8473646]
Here is my setup for feeding square bales

I use the large shire slow feed hay nets and clip them into the bottom of the feeders. It still mimics the horses natural grazing and reduces waste. The feeders are big enough that multiple horses can eat out of them at the same time without fighting. The initial investment was hefty but they are showing zero wear after years of outside only use.

Tarter gate makes them. [/QUOTE]

Without hay being in a slow feed hay net, horses could easely flip hay out of that basket. Hay wouldn’t stay in that basket feeder 5 minutes with my horses, they would have it on the ground.

So honestly don’t see it saving on wasted hay, being the only feeder.

[beau159]

@FatCatFarm;8472152

I bought 9 of the cheap Shires nylon small weave nets 6 years ago for $9 a piece and they’ve held up phenomenally well for the price. http://www.statelinetack.com/item/slow-feed-hay-net/E006600%20PNK/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=CL_8iqqJlsoCFdgWgQod_PYGiQ&kwid=productads-plaid^96468564108-sku^306902-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^40184828028

I’ve got these exact same cheap nets and they really have held up great. I am impressed.

Certainly beats paying $40+ for one brand name hay bag!

[SouthernYankee]

[QUOTE=sassy45;8473772]
Without hay being in a slow feed hay net, horses could easely flip hay out of that basket. Hay wouldn’t stay in that basket feeder 5 minutes with my horses, they would have it on the ground.

So honestly don’t see it saving on wasted hay, being the only feeder.[/QUOTE]

It’ll depend on the horses. I don’t use hay nets often and mine don’t flip the hay out onto the ground. The baskets are huge and big enough for them to push the hay around rather than flip it out. if you look at the background you can see the hay that’s been wasted from just putting it in piles on the ground… these have helped me cut down on hay waste.

[sophie]

I love the idea of a tub with a slow-feed hay net clipped IN it for my mare’s stall. This way, natural grazing position, no waste, no risk that the horse might catch its shoe /hoof in the net.
Once my last 2 large hay bags (at $8 a piece, 4 bags last more than a year) are trashed, I will try that.

[Brian]

Here are a few of some I’ve made for our horses…

This one works well for small squares. We put the bales on end so the cut side faces towards the grate opening.

https://www.facebook.com/christinelambford/videos/1269112823114528/?theater

I made this one to see how the net would compare to the metal grates…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205973554641089&set=gm.10153401662378111&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205974123655314&set=p.10205974123655314&type=3&theater

These for the stalls…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ce90JMaDE

This is the same horse with a similar design feeder with a metal grate vs a net

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLhifQqU31k

I thought it was kind of interesting how this horse bit and pulled on the net vs how he ate from the metal grate. Ideally, we like the horses to eat with their heads down, but they seem to do just fine with the other wall feeders we’ve used for the past 18 years. They spend a fair amount of time with their heads down to clean up the chaff off the floor.

[Rondar]

I’ve been using the small mesh nets for several years. As hay has gone up to $8 a bale around here, I’m more aware of how much falls on the ground. I have just ordered a smaller mesh hay net (1" holes, as opposed to 2") and am curious if there will be less waste-- if they don’t find it too difficult and refuse to eat out of it at all.
I’m also on the lookout for a container to put the nets in, so that the part of the bite the falls on the ground is kept clean and can eventually get eaten. The large rubbermaid stock tanks seem ideal, but pricey. I saw a section of 3’ diameter sewer drain pipe once at a farm and thinking about that. I’m looking with interest at other thoughts for waste-reducing containers described and pictured here. Any other suggestions? I feed in open stalls which open on to a sandlot, or on the wall behind the barn on mats. Stall floors and outside mats get sandy especially in wet weather. Horses are barefoot so nets can be on or near ground.

[Hermein]

Wonderful thread!!! Thanks to all of you who contributed your great ideas!

[PNW_AMTS_Dealer]

I finally gave up on nets. I was tires of having to patch them with holes got chewed, also wanted to get them eating in the most natural position. I finally broke down and invested in Porta-Grazers. I love them and the horses are doing great with them.

[Tiffani_B]

[QUOTE=PNW AMTS Dealer;8476759]
I finally gave up on nets. I was tires of having to patch them with holes got chewed, also wanted to get them eating in the most natural position. I finally broke down and invested in Porta-Grazers. I love them and the horses are doing great with them.[/QUOTE]

Me too and I LOVE them. I am putting them in all of my stalls. The amount of hay that is saved is insane.