ways to crush/grind hay cubes

[2miniB]

The low NSC hay cubes I get are very, very hard which is typical for this manufacturer. Unfortunately, there aren’t any other low NSC hay cubes available here. And wet hay cubes is the only way to get my mini to eat her vit/min supplement.

I’ve been putting them between 2 feed pans and hit them with a hammer until they’re crushed. I have to crush them for several reasons.

-They’re very hard and won’t break apart when soaked if they’re not broken apart.

-They need to be wet so her vit/min supplement, flax and chia stick

I use chopped forage as a carrier for my other horses, but I can’t get the same just-damp-enough-for-powders-to-stick-but-not-too wet texture with that. I’ve tried beet pulp, which she won’t touch.

Any suggestions for something to chop, crush or grind these cubes before feeding? I’m in a pretty remote area and don’t have any other options for hay cubes. I have make a 2 hour round trip just to get these.

[Simkie]

I had a friend with this same issue (must be the same hay cubes?) and I think she wound up picking up an old hammer mill off of Craigslist. Made short work of the rock hard cubes.

[dazed]

One of our boarders uses a mini woodchipper to grind her hay cubes. It’s pretty quick and easy.

[LookmaNohands]

Drive over them with your car?

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8739127]
Drive over them with your car?[/QUOTE]

That should be a sig, completely taken out of context! :lol:

[Quelah]

Have you tried HOT water? A lot of things dissolve better with hot water.

[crosscreeksh]

I’ve used a hatchet with success…but soaking in hot water makes it easier on the feeder and the horse who has to chew them!!

[demidq]

Rubber mallet?

[saultgirl]

I don’t think anything is easier than soaking – can you set up the next meal at the current meal feeding time?

[HungarianHippo]

Try an ice crusher?

cheap but small (i haven’t fed hay cubes before, wasn’t sure what kind of volume per feeding you need? There are even smaller/cheaper ones you could buy just to test the concept) http://www.rabbitwine.com/retro-ice-crusher-162.html

larger capacity: https://www.amazon.com/Waring-IC70-Professional-Stainless-Large-Capacity/dp/B0009XAHG0

[2miniB]

[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8739127]
Drive over them with your car?[/QUOTE]

I thought about driving the 50hp tractor over them…then realized that might be overkill.

Unfortunately hot water doesn’t make a difference with the super hard ones. I’m not a fan of letting feed soak between feedings, since things can mold very fast here. I want to get away from pounding them with a rubber mallet, since its really hard on my wrists.

Thanks for the suggestions of a hammer mill, wood chipper and ice crusher. I’ll look into those.

[Equibrit]

Something like this ?
http://www.sears.com/search=homestyle%20corn%20and%20grain%20grinder

Lump crushers;
https://www.praterindustries.com/products/lump-breakers/lump-breaker/

You could probably find this type of equipment used, maybe at auctions/ebay.

Like this one;http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacobson-9x9-Crusher-/262435797738?hash=item3d1a647aea:g:ZIYAAOSwvU5XM5Mw

[cloudyandcallie]

Buy the great Seminole flash frozen hay cubes. I discovered them after buying those hard old Purina hay cubes in 2001. Seminole makes the best products. Although my horses cannot eat a lot of hay cubes due to being warmbloods.

Cubes are flaky, and you simply pull them apart. I love Seminole.

[Over_the_Hill]

I simply use a nut cracker…mine are the mini cubes, but I still break them up and soak them well.

[microbovine]

Dang, what a pain! They don’t sell low NSC pellets?