Canvas Hay Bag or Hay Net?

Miichelle · 03-06-2007, 11:41 AM

I'm considering canvas hay bags for my horses (and Minis) instead of hay nets. I've never used a hay bag, do they work as well? Better? They sure look like they would be easier to use than a net...

miss leanne · 03-06-2007, 11:48 AM

I LOVE the hay bags. They also make some nylon mesh bags that are very sturdy and stand up to getting wet better than canvas. They're made of the same sort of material (kinda) as the mesh fly masks.

Hay nets, while CHEAPER by a long shot, can be dangerous. I've seen horses get feet and legs caught in hay nets. I've also seen horses that EAT the net.

But for everyday use, I'm all for feeders as close as possible to the ground. Horses are meant to eat and drink with their heads down. Once in a while it's fine (like in the trailer) for them to eat with their heads up, but I'm a firm believer that it can cause problems if you do it all the time. Just my .02, of course.

Miichelle · 03-06-2007, 11:55 AM

I'm only looking for hay bags for going to shows, tied to the trailer, etc. I feed our horses off the ground (for the above mentioned reasons). I had just heard that horses have trouble getting hay out of the bags...

I hate hay nets!

They are a pain to fill and I always worry about the horses getting caught in them, but sometimes you do what you have to do and if the bags didn't work well I wasn't going to spend the extra money for them.

jkbplay · 03-06-2007, 11:56 AM

We use the hay bags in lieu of hay nets, too. I agree with Miss Leeanne, they are safer and IMO easier to use.

miss leanne · 03-06-2007, 12:02 PM

the great thing about feeding horses in hay bags vs. nets: if it DOES take them longer to get the hay out, they are at least entertained for longer.

If they're busy trying to pull the hay out of the hay bag, they are likely not pawing, pulling back, neighing, pacing etc. etc. etc.

But honestly, I've never seen a horse that had too much of a problem getting the hay out of a hay bag.

Miichelle · 03-06-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss leanne

the great thing about feeding horses in hay bags vs. nets: if it DOES take them longer to get the hay out, they are at least entertained for longer.

If they're busy trying to pull the hay out of the hay bag, they are likely not pawing, pulling back, neighing, pacing etc. etc. etc.

But honestly, I've never seen a horse that had too much of a problem getting the hay out of a hay bag.

That does seem reasonable. Horses are very motivated when it comes to eating!

A J · 03-06-2007, 03:47 PM

Yup, hay bag over hay net anytime! I've seen horses get caught in hay nets, and it's scary - granted, I knew a gelding who managed to get his hoof into his hay bag, too, but at least the strap just broke and there wasn't much chance of him really hurting himself beyond getting scared of the bag...silly horses!

Lopin · 03-06-2007, 05:29 PM

Guess I'm the odd duck here...I only use haynets (not nylon tho!). I've tried the hay bags a couple times and both times, the horses flipped them around in the trailer and couldn't get any hay out.

Plus, we trailer long distances (3-6-9 hours) and I can cram tons of hay in the nets vs the little bit I can put in the bags.

I do have one that chews through the nets, so I keep a large supply on hand!

beth55051 · 03-06-2007, 08:51 PM

I use both. For the most part I use heavy duty nylon cordura hay bags. I've never had a horse that had a hard time getting the hay out of them. Some are quite good at flipping and spinning them.

But I have one mare who is extra aggresive and just tears them to pieces so she only gets a cotton rope hay net. She can completely destroy a brand new hay bag in less than an hour.

Slim Pikkens · 04-13-2007, 07:17 PM

To safely tie up a hay net, when the loop is pulled tight, run it back down thro the bottom ring, then back up thro the top where it's gathered. Now the loop will be quite short. Hang it high. As the horses pull on the hay, enough drops that they will eat with their heads down as well. When the net is empty it will still be higher than the horse's chest. I hang my a good stretch above my head.

recklesshoundog · 04-13-2007, 07:24 PM

Miichelle

Schneiders has mini sized canvas hay bags!!!! Plus all sorts of goodies for mini's.

www.sstack.com

03-06-2007, 11:41 AM
Miichelle Started Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central Idaho Posts: 2,590	Canvas Hay Bag or Hay Net? I'm considering canvas hay bags for my horses (and Minis) instead of hay nets. I've never used a hay bag, do they work as well? Better? They sure look like they would be easier to use than a net...

03-06-2007, 11:48 AM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,524	I LOVE the hay bags. They also make some nylon mesh bags that are very sturdy and stand up to getting wet better than canvas. They're made of the same sort of material (kinda) as the mesh fly masks. Hay nets, while CHEAPER by a long shot, can be dangerous. I've seen horses get feet and legs caught in hay nets. I've also seen horses that EAT the net. But for everyday use, I'm all for feeders as close as possible to the ground. Horses are meant to eat and drink with their heads down. Once in a while it's fine (like in the trailer) for them to eat with their heads up, but I'm a firm believer that it can cause problems if you do it all the time. Just my .02, of course.

03-06-2007, 11:55 AM
Miichelle Started Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central Idaho Posts: 2,590	I'm only looking for hay bags for going to shows, tied to the trailer, etc. I feed our horses off the ground (for the above mentioned reasons). I had just heard that horses have trouble getting hay out of the bags... I hate hay nets! They are a pain to fill and I always worry about the horses getting caught in them, but sometimes you do what you have to do and if the bags didn't work well I wasn't going to spend the extra money for them.

03-06-2007, 11:56 AM
jkbplay Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 759	We use the hay bags in lieu of hay nets, too. I agree with Miss Leeanne, they are safer and IMO easier to use. __________________ K- You grow up the day you have your first real laugh - at yourself. - Ethel Barrymore

03-06-2007, 12:02 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,524	the great thing about feeding horses in hay bags vs. nets: if it DOES take them longer to get the hay out, they are at least entertained for longer. If they're busy trying to pull the hay out of the hay bag, they are likely not pawing, pulling back, neighing, pacing etc. etc. etc. But honestly, I've never seen a horse that had too much of a problem getting the hay out of a hay bag.

03-06-2007, 03:47 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,856	Yup, hay bag over hay net anytime! I've seen horses get caught in hay nets, and it's scary - granted, I knew a gelding who managed to get his hoof into his hay bag, too, but at least the strap just broke and there wasn't much chance of him really hurting himself beyond getting scared of the bag...silly horses! __________________ Try not, do or do not. There is no try.

03-06-2007, 05:29 PM
Lopin Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Home of Brett Favre Posts: 1,751	Guess I'm the odd duck here...I only use haynets (not nylon tho!). I've tried the hay bags a couple times and both times, the horses flipped them around in the trailer and couldn't get any hay out. Plus, we trailer long distances (3-6-9 hours) and I can cram tons of hay in the nets vs the little bit I can put in the bags. I do have one that chews through the nets, so I keep a large supply on hand! __________________ RIP Buz 4/16/89 - 6/17/09 When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

03-06-2007, 08:51 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 8,058	I use both. For the most part I use heavy duty nylon cordura hay bags. I've never had a horse that had a hard time getting the hay out of them. Some are quite good at flipping and spinning them. But I have one mare who is extra aggresive and just tears them to pieces so she only gets a cotton rope hay net. She can completely destroy a brand new hay bag in less than an hour. __________________ *If at the end of the day, all you have left is your integrity and honor. Then hold your head up, because that's more than most have.*

04-13-2007, 07:17 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,447	To safely tie up a hay net, when the loop is pulled tight, run it back down thro the bottom ring, then back up thro the top where it's gathered. Now the loop will be quite short. Hang it high. As the horses pull on the hay, enough drops that they will eat with their heads down as well. When the net is empty it will still be higher than the horse's chest. I hang my a good stretch above my head.

04-13-2007, 07:24 PM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,176	Miichelle Schneiders has mini sized canvas hay bags!!!! Plus all sorts of goodies for mini's. www.sstack.com