Slow Feed Net in Hay Rack?

[L00kAtMeN0w]

Hi all,

I have an easy keeper that likes to suck down her hay. The running joke in my barn is that if we put her in a paddock with a round bale, she would eat the whole thing in one sitting.

As a result, I think she would benefit from a slow net feeder. Our stalls already have hay racks in them, so I was wondering if anyone has ever lined a hay feeder with a slow feed net. Preferably, it would be open at the top so that no workers would have to worry about having to take down/open/fill/restuff into hay rack.

I tried googling this, but haven’t seen anything exactly how I want. Has anyone done this before or have any input before I attempt it?

Thank you!
L@MN

[arabiansrock]

I haven’t done it with an inside hay feeder (eg small) but both of my horses are in pasture with the typical double sided hay feeder and we have lined both with hay nets. tied the hay net to the top of the feeder all the way around so it is open and fixed in position. works like a charm, horse has to reach between bars to grab bites out of the net. However the typical stall feeders are awfully small so you would want to get the smallest hay net available to do this with.

[ambar]

The Cinch Chix Free-Up feeder may be the thing you want. http://www.haychix.com/Free-Up-Feeder-p/f.htm

[Zu_Zu]

Yes ~ drop slow feed net inside hay rack …

if a corner hay rack you will need TWO boards of little hooks ~

if a back wall hay rack you will need ONE board with mini hooks

• think hardward store … keys or belt racks … with many little hooks
  [B]
  Afix the hay net to the front bars of the hay rack with cable ties spaced down the bars

[/B]** also attach the front edge of the hay net to the front edge of the hay rack with cable ties

?adding it is beneficial for maintaining to be able to spot a loose edge = use a different color cable tie than the color of your hay net :yes:

the back of the slow feed hay net is hooked onto the hooks ( hook boards screwed to wall higher than front edge of the hay rack) on the hook boards … behind the hay rack

once your hay net is on the hooks … secure them with a piece of DUCT tape so the flying hay does not pull them off the hooks !

I throw my hay from the aisle into the racks … played college ball

think basketball hoop … opening remains for employees to pitch hay into rack ( lined with that slow hay feeder net)

**** this works though it reads clear as mud :lol:

takes a little fine tuning but works and no opening & closing hassles

again think basketball hoop with net !

[L00kAtMeN0w]

Thank you Zu Zu! This actually makes total sense!

I’ll post pictures of my attempt!

[Cindyg]

I vote no. In observing my horses eat, they need to push their nose into the net to get the hay to stick out where they can grab it. They won’t be able to do this with a solid rack between them and the small-mesh net.

If you try it, watch to make sure she can get hay, especially the last half of the hay.

[Zu_Zu]

Go ahead and vote No but it’s not a solid rack ! Still push and grab!

go ahead and vote No ! :lol:
however you are not comprehending the set up.

the slow feed net is lining a bar hay rack - bars are spaced four inches apart … There is nothing solid here !

the hay is pitched into the open top
the horse pushes its nose in and grabs the hay from the hay net inbetween the spaced bars -
AT A SLOWER RATE THAN JUST FROM PLAIN BAR HAY RACK.

again there is nothing solid !
the hay rack is on the wall - it is usually wrought iron painted barn colors — it has bars from top to bottom spaced inches apart for :eek:horse noses !

this works as a slow feed hay net just on the wall lining a hay rack held permanently open so I or someone else can pitch the hay into the net…without opening and closing repeatedly.

and the hay rack and net are placed high as to not allow accidents of a horse getting a shoe caught in the net !

I assure you

1. I have seen my horses eat hay.
2. I have seen my horses eat hay from a hay rack.
3. I have seen my horses eat from my self designed slow feed hay net lined hay rack.
4. My horses and ponies continue to eat and finish their hay out of this hay net lined hay rack.

Honestly my horses and ponies are not starving …because they can’t get their hay !

What in the world !?!?! :eek: Voting No ?! :lol:

[QUOTE=Cindyg;8213462]
I vote no. In observing my horses eat, they need to push their nose into the net to get the hay to stick out where they can grab it. They won’t be able to do this with a solid rack between them and the small-mesh net.

If you try it, watch to make sure she can get hay, especially the last half of the hay.[/QUOTE]

[sublimequine]

@Zu Zu;8213476

go ahead and vote No ! :lol:
however you are not comprehending the set up.

the slow feed net is lining a bar hay rack - bars are spaced four inches apart … There is nothing solid here !

the hay is pitched into the open top
the horse pushes its nose in and grabs the hay from the hay net inbetween the spaced bars -
AT A SLOWER RATE THAN JUST FROM PLAIN BAR HAY RACK.

again there is nothing solid !
the hay rack is on the wall - it is usually wrought iron painted barn colors — it has bars from top to bottom spaced inches apart for :eek:horse noses !

this works as a slow feed hay net just on the wall lining a hay rack held permanently open so I or someone else can pitch the hay into the net…without opening and closing repeatedly.

and the hay rack and net are placed high as to not allow accidents of a horse getting a shoe caught in the net !

I assure you

1. I have seen my horses eat hay.
2. I have seen my horses eat hay from a hay rack.
3. I have seen my horses eat from my self designed slow feed hay net lined hay rack.
4. My horses and ponies continue to eat and finish their hay out of this hay net lined hay rack.

Honestly my horses and ponies are not starving …because they can’t get their hay !

What in the world !?!?! :eek: Voting No ?! :lol:

Hey ZuZu - any chance we can get a photo of your setup? It sounds ingenious.