An interesting finding.. slow feeders

[hootie4me]

I've been researching 'slow feeders' and have found some interesting things people have made. They have made some interesting boxes, and some people use the small holed hay nets, and hang them in different 'stations' to encourage movement. I researched small holed hay nets online, and found some 'Nibble Nets' but they were close to $50 per net.
Part of my christmas present was new hay nets. I found some small holed hay nets for $10. each. So I started feeding my horses in the hay nets. I put them in their paddocks/stalls at night, and turn them out during the day. I hang 2 hay nets in the stalls, plus give Hootie hay in his feeder, (as he is a much slower eater then Phil, and he doesn't waste)
During the day I stuff the hay nets, and hang them on the panels of the arena. They come and go from the nets all day. The nets hold about 4 flakes. The down fall is its time consuming stuffing nets... but the good part is they eat alot slower, and I noticed Phil has less gas. Phil can get pretty gassy, and then show some signs of colic.
So I think all in all my nets are working! just ordered two more, as I wanted back ups.

[Sunny Acres Ranch]

Good for you! Sounds like you may have hit on a good thing. I saw a plan a little while back that looked good. It was using an apple crate, and you would set an entire bale in the bin. Then, there is a heavy metal grate that goes over the top of it. The horses can only eat what is poking through the grate, and the weight of the grate pushed down on the bale as it is eaten, so they always have hay poking out. I thought it looked worthy of giving a try, but I'm not sure what to use for the heavy metal grate.

[hootie4me]

Along with slow eating is minimal wastage. My horses were wasting so much hay. Each of my horses have a feeding tub in their stall. Hootie's is an old blue barrel, cut in half by length, and Phil has an old water trough. They waste alot in the stalls, making a big mess for me. the hay nets have really cut out the wastage and mess. But they do make Phil slow down, and he has hay to eat alot longer..

[Sunny Acres Ranch]

Low waste is always good! I have more waste where I open the bales and it scatters than anywhere else. You leave it on the ground for 24 hours after it scatters and it seems like it is a damp mat that can't be fed. <sigh> Luckily, since there are cows here, we can rake it up and feed it to them.