Haynet update

May 052009
 

Loaded with a full bale

Loaded with a full bale

I have found that my hay nets will hold a full small square bale of hay. They are working great and I’ve gotten into a routine. Every 5-6 days, I empty out the dregs, about a flake or two of what they have picked through and left and spread it in the paddock for them to nibble on. The hay that I am feeding right now was cut from a local field that had not been really managed for horse hay, so it does have some stuff in it that they don’t care too much for. If it were nicer hay, there would likely be none left. Still, it is less waste than I had before using these nets. My stalls are easier to clean too.


Then I toss down a bale from the loft into each stall. I have two right now. I cut the strings and load the hay net in stacks, about 3-4 flakes at a time. Sometimes it is a little bit of a stretch to close the nets at first, but not too difficult.

Then I am worry free about their hay for the next few days! I love it.

Yes, it’s a new look!

Mar 122009
 

I am in the process of shifting to a new theme. Some customizing will be taking place in the next week, so bear with me… (I ended up back with the old theme anyway….)

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a few photos from last weekend of Lily and Vin test driving a haynet that fits an entire small bale of hay.


Vin and Lily eating from a full bale haynet.

Vin and Lily eating from a full bale haynet.

Closed with a bucket strap

Closed with a bucket strap

Munching....

Munching....

And Edward, also known as Spike. Isn't he cute??

And Edward, also known as Spike. Isn't he cute??


Hay Feeder – Take 3

Mar 042009
 

As some of you may know, I’ve tried been thinking about restricted, free access hay feeders for a while. Here is the first try and the update. So, I was still looking for an easy to use solution that worked for me, the horses and the barn staff.

I heard about using hockey netting for making large (and small) hay nets on an email list (a sister list to the EquineCushings yahoogroup). A link was posted to Arizona Sports Equipment. I went ahead and ordered eight linear feet of ten foot wide netting. It cost me under $30.

I meant to make two large nets for my horse’s stalls. The first one took me about thirty minutes, the next fifteen. I cut the net in two for pieces about 5′ x 8′. I hooked the short end to the stall bars with cheap aluminum carabiners from Target. Next was folding them in half and lacing up the sides with baling twine. I used bright red for one and blue for the other. I trimmed about two feet off one net, so that it wouldn’t drape on the floor when empty. The other I left alone. I wanted to see how each would work.

Yes, I need to trim the hay string off at the bottom. I couldn't find the scissors.

Yes, I need to trim the hay string off at the bottom. I couldn't find the scissors.

The nets are very easy to fill. I simply unclip one side from the middle few carabiners and stuff flakes in. I can fit nearly a full small bale. I am sure that a whole bale would fit if I took the net down and put it over the bale before removing the strings. Lily is really enjoying having hay available all the time. For now she does seem to be eating a little more than before. She was fed two flakes for breakfast and three for dinner. Though I am sure that varied due to who was feeding her. Now she always has hay. I think that she’s pretty happy about that!

She took about 30 seconds to be happily munching away.

She took about 30 seconds to be happily munching away.

I’ve been using these stall hay nets since February 25th and I’m quit happy with them. I fill them every 3 days or so. They have yet to be emptied. My horses are ready to go out earlier, not needing an hour plus to eat their morning hay.

Lily pawed at the net at first, but soon gave that up. She seems more contented now too. I ended up liking the shorter net better for the stall. I think that the larger net will work for a whole bale in the pasture. I’ll find out about that this weekend….