wasted hay

[freemotion]

I thought that way, too, until the evil feed tub almost killed my doeling....she ended up stuck upside-down in it and couldn't get out, and was there for hours. Fluke, probably, but I can't stand the site of the tub now....and it is a gorgeous rubber tub!

My ground is very dry, and I raked the feeding area (outside) and had no disease or parasite issues in several years of doing this. It really depends on the area. I am on many feet of sand with ridiculously fast drainage. Even if you don't feed on the ground, they have their little mouths vacuuming up stuff all day long anyways.

I hear ya, but.....each situation is different.

Hey, how about using a rubber stall mat that you can sweep off every day? That might keep the horse from taking in sand, too. And could be left outside.

 

[kimmyh]

Yes a stall mat could work, or you might try on of the hundreds of other feeder designs. There is a really nice one that has a lid, which you probably don't need if the horse is eating out of the top of it. It could be made out of wood, and it wouldn't cost a fortune. Or you could mount 2x4's on the bottom of your tub, I doubt it would flip with the added weight.

 

[kimmyh]

Sandy soil = good drainage, and an increased risk of sand colic.

 

[kimmyh]

Feeder plans http://www.premier1supplies.com/img/instruction/128.pdf

 

[freemotion]

Nicest plans I've seen! Thanks!!! Wouldn't let a horse near it, though.

The tub isn't what flipped, the doeling flipped into the tub, probably got bonked. I made a large square free-standing hay rack that, when filled, a goat can be on each side and not see each other, so far, far less bonking at feed time. I like those plans MUCH better than the ones I used, though. I will be building that one this winter. It looks far more efficient than what I built, and I have a lot of hay waste. No bonking, though!

As for the sand colic, that is what the rubber mat is for. I never had an issue with colic of any type here. I did manage a high-end show and breeding stable for ten years, and we had two colics. One from a reaction to a med and a few mild cases in a mare with a large colt who was sucking all the flesh right off his dam, so we had to wean him early for her sake...she couldn't get enough calories without risking colic. Not saying that sand colic would not be a risk on other properties, it hasn't been a problem for me, thank goodness.

 

[Beekissed]

I can't help but chuckle when I see an empty feeder after a few days of leftover tumbleweeds.. I know it's mean, but I can just picture the goats looking out at the rain...then looking back at the tumbleweeds...then out at the rain again......."Well, crap."

Soooooo funny!


I find I have less waste when I let my brats "steal" hay rather than give it to them. I just leave one edge of my tarp loosened and let them pull hay out of the stack. Yeah, it's not very neat when the bale finally disintegrates or when they have two bales being eaten at the same time....but I've found they are very picky eaters and will pick alfalfa right out of the other hay and leave it the hay to mold in the feeder.

When they steal it, they tend to eat anything that hits their mouths first.