where to get a creep feeder that is shallow

[Krose]

I am a once and done for having bred my competition mare, who has turned out to be a wonderful mother as a maiden. My colt is 2 weeks old, and is eating some of his mom’s Purina Ultium Growth feed am and pm.

I went to order a creep feeder to be ready to really start giving him his own ration beginning in a couple weeks, and I can’t find anything online, except some blue one, don’t remember the brand, but it looks way too deep. And sure enough some of the reviews reflect that it’s so deep you have to widen the bars for the foal to get down in there, to the point then the mare could eat from it.

The same blue feeder shows up in the various equestrian related websites I’m guessing most of us use. Anyone have any suggestions on where to go? Or maybe I go with that feeder and have my husband build some kind of wood board that fits in the bottom to raise it up a bit so the feed is higher in the feeder?

[pony_grandma]

It’s deep because mom has a long tongue :winkgrin: There is a bar width that does work.

[Krose]

Ok, I’m going to order it then! thanks!

[sixpoundfarm]

There is another type of foal feeder that is white with two plates that you adjust for the width of the foals muzzle. They are around $50, and better than the other style.
https://www.sstack.com/product/creep-feeder-ii-/

[JB]

@Krose

I went to order a creep feeder to be ready to really start giving him his own ration beginning in a couple weeks

Until 3 months, he can’t digest anything that’s not milk-based. Don’t be too quick to give him his own feed. If he needs supplemental calories or nutrition (HIS need, not yours :winkgrin:) then a milk-based pellet, such as Progressive’s Foal’s First Starter and Creep, is good. Buckeye has one as well, but not many other companies do. He doesn’t need his own ration for a while.

Once he’s 4 months, he can be on his own feed IF needed, and a ration balancer is a good place to start. It’s a good idea to have them eating their own no-grain/low NSC food well by the time they are weaned (6+ months). Ration balancers are perfect for that. Make sure you read the directions on how much to feed at his various stages, which usually go in about 6 month increments.

[Krose]

My vet didn’t think I should wait that long. He wasn’t rushing about it, but said by about a month old he can start eating a little bit of his own. I don’t think he needs any extra in particular. He is a little ribby as I think they should be, but at least acts like he is eating grass with his mom outside! But she seems to be producing milk just fine. He put on 25 lbs or so in the first 2 weeks, which I believe is normal. I will talk thru it with my vet some more then.

[JB]

I would ask very specifically why your vet doesn’t want to wait. There is no reason he needs his own feed at this age since his weight and energy are normal. But if he were to need something, it NEEDS to be milk-based at this age.