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  Discussion on Hay doesn't hold together in a flake
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Member:
dianes

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 2:42 pm:

I've been caring for horses for nearly 20 years, and what has worked best for me during winters is a grass/alfalfa blend. I ordered my hay from a different place this year, asked for a grass/alfalfa blend, and got delivery this week. The hay is fresh and green and clean. However, you can't divide it by the flake. When you do, you just get an armload of loose hay that falls all over the place. My horses seem to LOVE it, however, despite making my life more difficult. My concern is, could eating this loose hay cause a colic? Could it get all compacted in the gut more easily?
Always something to worry about!
Diane
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 3:06 pm:

A lot of times hay doesn't hold together in a flake; it depends on the baler and how it is adjusted. Sometimes an older baler won't hold the pressure it is set at and some of the bales are really loose.

IMO hay should be fed by pound and not by flake anyway. I admit to feeding by the flake sometimes, but I weigh a few of the flakes so I know how much a certain size weighs.

I made a hay carrier out of a piece of canvas; an old pillow case ripped open, or a burlap bag split open works just as good. I fill the carrier with hay and hang it on a scale, adding or subtracting from the hay until I get the right amount for the horse I'm feeding. Then I carry it to the feeder and dump it in. After a couple of times, you can tell how much a certain size pile of hay weighs. If you don't have a hanging feed scale, use the bathroom scales and weigh yourself holding the carrier of hay and without it.

One good things about the looser hay is it is much less apt to mold.
Member:
shirl

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 3:26 pm:

I agree with Sara. I use a Cement "Tray" (used to mix small amounts of cement) to put hay in then set it on a small scale that holds 10 pounds and has a flat top. Of course I know the tray weights 2 lbs. so I take it from there. Works for me. You can also due this by putting hay in a regular plastic tub - just weight the tub before you begin using it.
Shirl
Shirl
Member:
dres

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 3:30 pm:

Diane, this mix of hay you have just might be more grass then alfalfa, thus it is not as tight as you are used to.. I know I just got a truck load of 80% grass 20% alfalfa, it too is very loose, all tho the bales are close to 100 #'s . My pure grass hay is just awful to feed, i end up wearing most of it before i get into the feeders, it is all over the place!~

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
tweeter

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 4:07 pm:

I don't know for sure but was told by my hay "farmer" supplier, grass hay that "falls apart" is due to the fact that it is cut shorter than normal...most likely early second cut or third cut and is shorter stemmed and very very soft. I hate feeding this type of hay it makes such a mess in the barn but my horses always loveeeeeeeee it and will eat every last wisp. I do not feed it to my old guy who is prone to choke....he has choked on it twice before so I only feed him 1st cutting grass or timothy.
Member:
hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 4:17 pm:

And if it's a wet AND windy day . . . Oh, MY!!!! I look like a scarecrow with it sticking out of my hair, clothing, and slipping into unmentionable areas!

Kathy, that makes perfect sense. I think when it is cut long, it folds up and "weaves together" with the other hay.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 4:58 pm:

A lack of regular "flakes" can sometimes also be because the hay has been "re-baled" from much larger rounds or bales.
Member:
annes

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 5:40 pm:

The best hay I've ever gotten was as you describe. It was a grass mix and my horses loved it. They did not have any choke episodes. My older TB (with worn down teeth in the front) even seemed to be able to chew it better.
Member:
dianes

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007 - 6:52 pm:

Well, thanks so much for all your replies. I feel relieved. And they really do seem to LOVE this stuff! I'm not looking forward to that windy day you described, though, Holly! I have a sled I feed from all winter. It's so great. It's made to tow gear behind snowmobiles. So I think I'll fill it and weigh it and figure out how much a sled-full weighs. Great suggestions, all. Thanks again!
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 - 7:42 am:

This is interesting. We just received a load of new hay at the barn and it is very loose, too. I've never seen hay like it, but it does smell wonderful, is very soft and like everyone else, the horses love it, both to eat and sleep on. When they've had their fill, I find them often napping on what's left over...
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