New Hay Feeder

Jan 152012
 

I took advantage of a recent sunny day to build a hay feeder I had been wanting to do for a long time. It’s made from a piece of hockey barrier netting about 10′ x 12′, a few plastic coated cup hooks, three 2x4s and a sheet of exterior grade plywood. The posts had been put in my the barn owner in preparation for a shelter.

It is filled from the back without opening or closing anything. It will easily hold a small square bale, maybe even more. For now, I’m having them fed their usual meal of two to three flakes each. I may try going back to 24/7 free choice at some point. I’ll have to wait for the roof though, so the hay doesn’t spoil.

Lily eating from the new feeder

I had planned to split the net and have half hang to each side. That would make two separate feeding areas, so that a dominant horse wouldn’t monopolize the hay. I may still do that, but for now, Beau and Lily are sharing nicely.

I could see feeding stations like this in a couple of areas of a paddock paradise track, with an A frame roof off the two poles. It would provide a bit of a rain and wind break, along with a feeding station, without having to build a full shelter.

Prototype Hayfeeder – Part II

Dec 202008
 

Last week, I posted about my prototype hay feeder. I’m here to update you all on the results.

This is how it looked installed. I ended up moving the eye bolts that hold the bungie back into the corner farther, so that no pawing feet could be caught in it.

Complete, I thought.

Complete, I thought.

Cirro figured out the eating part in about 15 seconds.

Cirro figured out the eating part in about 15 seconds.


But he did paw at it for a while.

But he did paw at it. It didn't come fast enough for his taste!

I hung out for a while, watching the scene and making sure that no one go in too much trouble.

I wonder if hes remembering Wyoming?

I wonder if he's remembering Wyoming?

On a side note, Cirro was in the middle of everything. He’s even more interested in my tools than any horse I’ve had so far, especially the power drill. I had to keep the case closed every moment or he would have walked off with all the little things in there. It’s my husband’s, so I’ll have to clean off the beet pulp dribbles soon too! He’s tons of fun and I really look forward to working more with him next summer. I’ll have to study up on what tricks to start him with.

Happy Face

Happy Face

All seemed well, until I showed up the following evening …

Foiled!

Foiled!

I knew that the lid was the weak point and that was proven. I believe that this one was the culprit.

Who me??

Who me??

So for now, the lid has been removed and Lily is having a little extra, free choice hay. I don’t feel badly about it, since we have had below freezing temps. The extra hay is certainly helping her to stay warm. And that’s a good thing.

While this isn’t working quite how I envisioned, it does keep most of the hay out of Cirro’s poop pile. So part of my original problem is solved. I just didn’t intend to give free choice hay to my air fern….

I deserve ALL this hay.

"I deserve ALL this hay."

It might be a few weeks before I make V.2 of the barrel hay feeder with an improved lid. In the mean time, I think that I’ll move this one out of the corner by her side of the shelter….