HORSE HAY FEEDER WITH ROOF FULL
HORSE HAY FEEDER WITH ROOF FREE

HORSE HAY FEEDER WITH ROOF FULL

Keep the feeder reasonably full of hay so that horses are not tempted to overreach for their hay supply. Look for a horse feeder with a secure locking device or gate that will keep the bale of hay where it is put, and not come open with horse ‘houdini’ antics.Īlways remove halters from horses being fed from a feeder to prevent them becoming hung up on a corner of the feeder or hooked on any part of the feeder gate. A horse feeder will therefore offer some type of roof to keep the hay as dry as possible while a cow hay feeder will be open to the elements.

HORSE HAY FEEDER WITH ROOF FREE

Horses on the other hand need hay to be kept reasonably dry and free of mold to prevent colic. Horses that are trapped for extended periods of time may die as a result.Ĭows don’t mind wet hay. Horses can also roll in close proximity to feeders, and their legs can quickly become lodged in the feeding gaps on the outside of the low metal or plastic cow feeder. While photos posted on social media of horses standing in the center of an empty round bale feeder may seem funny, the reality is that the gaps in the feeder are large enough for equine hooves to become trapped and can result in catastrophic injury or even death. Cows and HorsesĬow feeders may be more readily available and cheaper than horse feeders, but does this make them a good option for use around equines? The answer is a resounding “No!”Ĭows necessarily are not as athletic as horses and certainly their legs are shorter and their activities generally more lethargic than our beloved equines. Here are a few suggestions to help the neophyte equine hay feeder user navigate the world of feeders. Horse hay feeders can be labor saving boon, but with so many options on the market, what should the diligent horse owner look for when selecting a feeder and what safety measures should they employ to mitigate the risks of injury, choke or colic to their horses. The University of Minnesota studies showcased that not only users of large square and round bale feeders could benefit from a smaller hay bill, but also horse owners that utilize small squares could get in on the significant savings. The sincere attraction of saving up to 30 percent on your hay bill is an appealing reason to opt in to purchase a hay feeder. This encourages better mastication of the hay before ingestion, and provides chewing satisfaction, that translates to less stress on the horse both mentally and physically. The use of a hay feeder can also be beneficial to a horse’s health, as it reduces the pace at which they feed. Most of them are very basic and don’t take a contractor to complete them in a timely fashion.As many horse owners know, utilizing an equine hay feeder can significantly reduce the waste and thus cost, of the horse hay budget.

Whether you are trying to reduce hay waste for multiple horses or are trying to keep your hay off the ground for one older horse, there are plenty of great projects here for you to choose from. Some of these projects can be completed in minutes, while others won’t cost more than a few dollars.

There are some truly great options here for anyone looking to make a DIY hay feeder for a horse. So, pick the one that will best fit you and your horse. There are both slow feeders and fast feeders on this list for you to choose from. Hay waste is money waste, and it can make a huge mess, especially in small spaces. Slow feeders also help keep the mess and the hay waste down by making horses eat more deliberately. Young horses or large horses would likely benefit from a slow feeder. They are unable to eat as much or as quickly as younger horses. Older horses that have worn teeth and diminished appetites will likely do fine with a fast feeder. Open feeders leave the hay exposed to open air and allow horses to eat as much as they want as fast as they want. Slow feeders use netting or holes to make it harder for the horse to eat the hay. It can be bad for a horse’s digestive system to continuously eat, and it can lead to dangerous impactions. Some horses need slow feeders to regulate their eating. There are slow feeders and fast (or open) feeders.

Horse hay feeder with roof