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  Discussion on Nibbling on the Stock Tank
Author Message
Member:
Longhorn

Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 10:51 pm:

I use those big, 40-gallon, black Rubbermaid stock tanks for both feed and water. They're better than metal tanks because when the horses kick the tank, they don't loosen the bead welds on the edges and create leaks. My worry is that my horses nibble on the edges of the tanks. I empty and clean the tanks once a week. In the meantime I use a fine sieve to dip out the bugs, debris and yucky stuff from the water. I've found bits of the black rubber in the tank and around on the ground where they've scraped it off with their teeth. (There's obvious teeth marks around the edge of the tank.) These little pieces range from tiny little shavings to little chunks about half the length and breadth of my little finger. The fact that they're nibbling doesn't bother me per se, better the tanks than the fence. But I'm concerned about the possibility of some of these polly-rubber bits lodging in a gut and creating an enterolithe. Traffic cones and jolly balls are nothing to them compared to their tank chew toys. I've heard that small bits of ingested debris are sometimes the cause of enterolithes. I feed them straight Bermuda hay with about 2 pounds of soaked alfalfa pellets a day. Not too much calcium. Am I oversensitive to the ingested debris danger?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 25, 2004 - 7:29 am:

Probably it is unlikely the small bits like you describe would be a problem but the question is are they getting enough forage in their diet? How much Bermuda do you offer? The one danger the small bits might cause is a nidus for enterolith formation but as you mention the amount of calcium in the diet makes this unlikely.
DrO
Member:
Longhorn

Posted on Friday, Jun 25, 2004 - 11:13 pm:

We feed the 1,000 pound guy 15 pounds of Bermuda hay and 2 pounds of soaked Alfalfa pellets a day. The 1,100 pound buy gets about 16 pounds of Bermuda and 3 pounds of soaked Alfalfa pellets a day. We ride them recreationally about 3 to 4 hours a week. Since my husband and I both work, I'll feed them half their hay ration in the morning and then we'll split up the other half before dinner when we get home from work and then at bedtime. On the weekends when we're both home, we try to extend out their hay to four feedings during the day.

Since I appear to be picking up many of the rubber bits, I won't worry too much about it, then, Doc. I know the one guy likes his traffic cone, but he likes the water tank better. Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jun 26, 2004 - 2:53 pm:

Since you are at the low end of acceptable forage, try 5 more lbs each daily if they are not wasting what they are being fed now.
DrO
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