Slow Feeder

[Doc-t]

I have seen a variety of slow hay feeders too (see https://www.thehorsesadvocate.com/horse-farm-feeding-systems/)

However I have not seen this collapsible system in use. Of course I am partial to the Nibble Net cause I inspired the woman who makes them to make it. She lives in my town here in FL. And no, she never gave me a penny from it.

It might be interesting to make a chart with the hay system followed with your “pros” and “cons” and let others comment with their thoughts and additions.

Systems Feeding ( Moved to community.thehorsesadvocate.com )

[KarenM]

Good thought on the pro/con. I probably won’t get around to a chart but here are my thoughts. Sorry this is so long. By the way, none of this would be an issue if I didn’t board my horse.

Remy has to wear a cribbing collar. (I don’t have a choice where I board. I have the collar covered in fleece and padding and it is removed daily for cleaning and to give him a break.) The collar is designed to be loose while his head is lowered for eating and drinking but the motion of pulling hay out of the holes at the hanging height seemed to cause the throat piece of the collar to constantly push against his jaw. If I hang a bag low enough, he pulls hay out of the top and puts it on the ground and eats from there. He did that before he wore a collar. If he gets frustrated, he throws the bag around until remaining hay bounces out.

I have four or five Nibble Nets of different capacity and hole size, and recall you mentioning your connection. They’re indestructible. Super easy to fill. However, he seems to dislike the thick webbing and I noticed some minor abrasions on his muzzle. He eats better out of regular nets, but he twists them into knots. Takes longer to untangle them than it does to refill. Also, barn staff dislike having to fill them. I also have had issues with staff hanging them either too high or too low and tied improperly, and not filling them enough.

A couple brands of nets made with softer material quickly developed an odor that no amount of cleaning conquered. He can tear holes in the thinner types fairly quickly. I had one of the wall mounted metal frames with a net and he destroyed the net within 2 weeks.

Feeding in a net on the ground, like a Hay Pillow, is a no-go. Too much mud around (I’d bet money he would drag it out of his shelter,) plus he wears front shoes.

I think the fixed slow feeders made of plastic (look like barrels with a disk on top that goes down as they eat) strike me as seriously unhealthy as they require the horse at some point to have its head inside the barrel. No thanks. The smaller, square ones are too expensive for what they are, and the capacity is limited. Some of them appear to have a metal grid.

Currently his hay is in a Rubbermaid trough. He sticks his nose down into it and tosses out the hay until it’s all over the place. Granted, he eats it all but during the fall and winter when the grass is depleted he eats much too quickly–like he thinks he’ll never eat again. By morning he can be very anxious and hard to handle if he has gone too long without eating. Btw, we’re talking about 22-25 lbs of hay overnight. Thank goodness he’s a good drinker. He has various toys to give him something else to do, including stuffed animals that he decapitates and dismembers if he gets too frustrated.

The collapsible, mesh sided feeder seems to solve the problem of the rigid barrel style and is portable. I think I can split the hay between it and the tub. But, it’s Remy so I won’t be the least bit surprised if he throws it over the fence.

[Emily]

How did it go with the collapsible slow feeder? I too have tried many of the slow feeding options that my horses have laughed at and thanked me for the short-lived and expensive enrichment activity. We have been using this system for a year now, only changing out the net at the bottom as needed. I’ve been using nag bags for the net, but I will look in to nibble nets. I feed soaked hay 3-4 times a day, so the hinged door at the top makes dropping it in easy.

It’s just a food-grade 55 gallon drum with the bottom cut off and holes drilled to weave a net through. We cut half of the top off and made the hinged lid. It is time to replace the nets again. They can be taken off to wash as needed too.

Just another idea that might inspire something even better for someone in the future. Always trying to improve our management.

[Doc-t]

@Emily @KarenM I like this concept of the 55 gal drum to hold a longer supply of hay yet “drip” it through a net below over the day. This should also solve the problem of the cribbing collar as he keeps the head lower to eat but the top is high and covered.

Another thought is that this tub above the net could hold a measured hay supply for the horse based on 1.5% to 2.0% body weight. In a way this could prevent over feeding of hay and be an efficient management tool.

Thanks Emily. And yes I too would like to know about the collapsable bag from Karen. Doc T

[KarenM]

@Emily and @Doc-t, the collapsible feeder turned out to be in a backorder black hole so I canceled it. I may try again toward the fall. It isn’t my barn so I hesitate to buy or build anything else that has to be attached. I already shell out money for boards he chews or pulls down (my clue that he’s frustrated). Also, because of the way his shelter is designed and its location, we move his hay pile around depending on the season and weather. Nothing is ever easy with this guy as long as we board. We need to buy another farm!

[Doc-t]

Thanks for the update. I hope you find that farm!