Horse owners and caregivers are prepared to feed hay in some form as winter approaches. Typically, a horse will eat 2-2.5% of its body weight per day in hay throughout the winter months. This means a horse weighing around 1,100 lbs. will eat roughly 16.5-27.5 lbs. of hay every day.
Whether you prefer to feed square or round bales, you probably want to make the hay last as long as possible while eliminating waste and keeping your equines from devouring it too quickly, all while maintaining a healthy gut in the horses. A slow hay feeder can be a great tool to ensure you are making the most of your hay.
A slow hay feeder is simply a device made of netting or panels that covers the hay and allows your horse to eat more deliberately and therefore, slowly. They come in a variety of types and sizes to fit your hay needs. From smaller, individual slow feeder nets that can be hung in stalls, to hay slow feeders for individual square bales, to round bale slow feeders up to 6’x 6’, there are many options on the market today. Toys and hay pillows designed to slow feed while engaging your equine are available, as well as slow hay feeders made to be used in conjunction with equine hay baskets. DIY options for slow hay feeders can be found on the internet and include using rubber troughs, stock tanks, pallets, netting, paneling, and more to create a successful, homemade slow hay feeder.
While some equines eat every bit of hay dropped, many refuse to eat hay once it is on the ground. Some equines will use hay on the ground as a bathroom, or a bed, or just something to play with. Whatever the reasoning behind not eating it, this hay is now wasted. It is estimated 60% of a round bale (without a slow feeder or hay ring) is wasted. So for a $100 roll, $60 of it is now wasted, uneaten hay. Use of a hay ring will decrease the amount wasted to 20%; however, a round bale slow feeder net provides better results, lowering the amount of wasted hay in a round bale to a mere 6%.
As your hay savings increases with a hay slow feeder, the amount of days in between putting out another round bale will also increase. Depending on several factors: herd size, hay type and quality, and bale size, generally speaking, most round bales will last somewhere between 5-14 days without a slow feeder.
With the use of one it is possible to get an extra 3-7 days out of a round bale. The use of a slow feeder round bale net in conjunction with a hay ring is a favorable feeding choice. The hay ring can help extend the life of a slow feeder net by preventing equines from potentially destructive behaviors, such as rubbing and pawing the net. For shod horses, a hay ring will prevent these equines from hooking a shoe. Equestrian, Julia Whitehead chooses to use this combination, pointing out not only is it beneficial in eliminating waste, but it is “also helpful at limiting the pace of eating for easy keepers while still giving them access to constant forage.”
If the task of applying a slow feeder net seems daunting- do not worry! It can be done easily with or without a tractor and hay spear. In both cases, just throw the net over the round bale like a blanket and cinch it up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do have a tractor with a hay spear, you can enclose the entire roll once it is raised off the ground. No tractor, no worries: the bottom of the roll touching the ground does not have to be fully enclosed, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is important to note there are other benefits to slow hay feeders besides the most obvious of saving hay. Not only do slow hay feeders help horses maintain healthy digestion, but they provide horses with mental stimulation as well. By extending the time it takes for an equine to eat (compared to free foraging), saliva production is increased. This is important as adequate saliva in a horse’s digestive tract helps protect the horse from stomach issues, such as colic, ulcers, and more. Slow hay feeders also work to prevent boredom. Slow feeder hay balls, bags, pillows, and racks can all be used to actively engage your horse and help curb vices, especially when stalled or on a decreased turnout schedule.
