"Slow Down" Hay Feeder

Livin the horsey dream · 10-26-2009, 11:36 AM

So I am looking at getting peoples thoughts on this DIY slow down hay feeder I really like the idea of this feeder for my newest horses (the two of them are very chubby)

they have been just left on pasture for the past two years and they are now on a diet (which my farrier said must become effective asap) so back to the feeder. I really like the idea but I was wondering do you think that the net might be a bit of an accident waiting to happen if they chew through it? Maybe a steal mesh would be a better idea? any other ideas in regards to how to keep these two munching away while they are in their dry lot would be much appreciated . I am hoping to keep them on hay and hoffmans minerals which shouldn't pose a problem coming off of a just pasture diet. They will be turned out on pasture just long enough to stretch their legs for a few hours a day.
any ideas would be very helpful
Thanks guys

Pictures from http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeders#
they have some otehr interesting feeder ideas

EquineAlberta · 10-26-2009, 09:59 PM

That looks like a neat idea!

I guess I would be worried about the horse pawing at the net and getting a hoof caught...but then I am a worrier by nature. Might have hubby try making one for me to try out! It would be good for the isolation pen as the horses get bored in there by themselves.

Karen

Horselady44 · 10-26-2009, 11:14 PM

Looks like a neat idea...I would put the barrel up higher so the net is about 2-3 feet higher. That way no accidents happen

Just a idea

Dream Ponies · 10-27-2009, 07:28 AM

That looks like a great idea. Our pony devours hay like a vacuum cleaner so something like this would be helpful.

fishing_trex · 10-27-2009, 07:42 AM

Those photos look like the ones from Paddock Paradise -- they have all sorts of ideas for slow feeding hay:
http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeders

I just ordered hocky netting Friday so I can "line" my pasture feeder with the netting to slow down my easy keepers. I'll feed two in the pasture feeder and then I'm making one like this for my gelding's stall:
http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/3r...9186/GW320H232

These hay nets will be easy to fill and the people that I have talked to about them say they really slow the horses down and save hay.

If your horse is shod, having the net that low is a no-no. If you check out:
http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/...-Mesh+Hay+Nets
you'll see a couple photos where they make hocky net "hay pillows" that just are thrown lose on the ground. Those might be an issue for shod horses as well.

Texas Paints · 10-27-2009, 08:09 AM

My only concern with the lower ones would be my horse gettin tangled up in it.And with my bunch that would happen but I really really like the round bale one maybe help to cut down on colic making them slow down.......But again great idea I have some old plastic barrels at the barn I might try this but only hang them higher.....

BarnBum · 10-27-2009, 08:26 AM

The concept is good but with the net near the ground ; it would concern me w/ the horses getting their feet caught up in it. Also make sure you don't put hay in there and it goes bad b/4 they finish it up.

Clippity-Clop · 10-27-2009, 09:31 AM

Definitely a concern for getting feet tangled. But you could cut the size in half so the feeder itself isn't so tall and raise it up some. Then I'd put an actual hay net and connect it from inside rather than on the outside. It doesn't have to have such a big holding area for the hay to work well. I think it's a clever and workable idea.

Comfort · 10-27-2009, 09:43 AM

Is there a top to the outside one? It doesn't look like it from the pictures, I could be wrong. But I'm thinking if there is old/wet hay in there. How do you get it out?

Livin the horsey dream · 10-27-2009, 09:49 AM

thanks for all the ideas guys I am going to give er a go and see how it works but probably mounted higher and something with a lid just to keep the snow and rain out. I was thinking maybe buy some new garbage cans and hockey netting

I have my weekend project picked out

Candras · 10-27-2009, 08:56 PM

i know i am new and i have to say i LOVE your idea!!!would a basket ball net work the same?I know it is thicker and might be able to be strung together at the bottom.
But i think i am going to try and make 1 for my girl as she is a food hound.If she could talk she would tell me that she didn't get fat from looking at food!

I am going to look at the links too.
Thanks
C~

fishing_trex · 10-28-2009, 06:59 PM

Really, the feet don't get tangled -- the openings in that netting are 1" to 1.5".

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10-26-2009, 11:36 AM
Livin the horsey dream Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta Bound (balzac) Posts: 6	"Slow Down" Hay Feeder So I am looking at getting peoples thoughts on this DIY slow down hay feeder I really like the idea of this feeder for my newest horses (the two of them are very chubby) they have been just left on pasture for the past two years and they are now on a diet (which my farrier said must become effective asap) so back to the feeder. I really like the idea but I was wondering do you think that the net might be a bit of an accident waiting to happen if they chew through it? Maybe a steal mesh would be a better idea? any other ideas in regards to how to keep these two munching away while they are in their dry lot would be much appreciated . I am hoping to keep them on hay and hoffmans minerals which shouldn't pose a problem coming off of a just pasture diet. They will be turned out on pasture just long enough to stretch their legs for a few hours a day. any ideas would be very helpful Thanks guys Pictures from http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeders# they have some otehr interesting feeder ideas __________________ Just Living The Dream

10-26-2009, 09:59 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,418	That looks like a neat idea! I guess I would be worried about the horse pawing at the net and getting a hoof caught...but then I am a worrier by nature. Might have hubby try making one for me to try out! It would be good for the isolation pen as the horses get bored in there by themselves. Karen __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

10-26-2009, 11:14 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,550	Looks like a neat idea...I would put the barrel up higher so the net is about 2-3 feet higher. That way no accidents happen Just a idea __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

10-27-2009, 07:28 AM
Dream Ponies Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NY Posts: 827	That looks like a great idea. Our pony devours hay like a vacuum cleaner so something like this would be helpful.

10-27-2009, 07:42 AM
fishing_trex Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,769	Those photos look like the ones from Paddock Paradise -- they have all sorts of ideas for slow feeding hay: http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Slow+Feeders I just ordered hocky netting Friday so I can "line" my pasture feeder with the netting to slow down my easy keepers. I'll feed two in the pasture feeder and then I'm making one like this for my gelding's stall: http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/3r...9186/GW320H232 These hay nets will be easy to fill and the people that I have talked to about them say they really slow the horses down and save hay. If your horse is shod, having the net that low is a no-no. If you check out: http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/...-Mesh+Hay+Nets you'll see a couple photos where they make hocky net "hay pillows" that just are thrown lose on the ground. Those might be an issue for shod horses as well. __________________ -- There are two ways to slide easily through life -- to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways will save you from thinking.

10-27-2009, 08:09 AM
Texas Paints Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Granbury,Texas Posts: 114	My only concern with the lower ones would be my horse gettin tangled up in it.And with my bunch that would happen but I really really like the round bale one maybe help to cut down on colic making them slow down.......But again great idea I have some old plastic barrels at the barn I might try this but only hang them higher.....

10-27-2009, 08:26 AM
BarnBum Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 6,363	The concept is good but with the net near the ground ; it would concern me w/ the horses getting their feet caught up in it. Also make sure you don't put hay in there and it goes bad b/4 they finish it up. __________________ *Life is a coin, you can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.*

10-27-2009, 09:31 AM
Clippity-Clop Coming two Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,784	Definitely a concern for getting feet tangled. But you could cut the size in half so the feeder itself isn't so tall and raise it up some. Then I'd put an actual hay net and connect it from inside rather than on the outside. It doesn't have to have such a big holding area for the hay to work well. I think it's a clever and workable idea. __________________

10-27-2009, 09:43 AM
Comfort Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Zeiglerville, PA Posts: 129	Is there a top to the outside one? It doesn't look like it from the pictures, I could be wrong. But I'm thinking if there is old/wet hay in there. How do you get it out? __________________ Brandy and Southern Comfort. Never owned but always loved.

10-27-2009, 09:49 AM
Livin the horsey dream Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta Bound (balzac) Posts: 6	thanks for all the ideas guys I am going to give er a go and see how it works but probably mounted higher and something with a lid just to keep the snow and rain out. I was thinking maybe buy some new garbage cans and hockey netting I have my weekend project picked out __________________ Just Living The Dream

10-27-2009, 08:56 PM
Candras Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 4	ya know i know i am new and i have to say i LOVE your idea!!!would a basket ball net work the same?I know it is thicker and might be able to be strung together at the bottom. But i think i am going to try and make 1 for my girl as she is a food hound.If she could talk she would tell me that she didn't get fat from looking at food! I am going to look at the links too. Thanks C~

10-28-2009, 06:59 PM
fishing_trex Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,769	Really, the feet don't get tangled -- the openings in that netting are 1" to 1.5". __________________ -- There are two ways to slide easily through life -- to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways will save you from thinking.