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Post by feemac on Dec 29, 2009 11:50:57 GMT 1
I've gone through 14 big bales of hay since this horrible weather started 2 weeks ago! 5 of the horses are stabled (and can't get out with the track being so icy) and the other 7 are out all the time. At least the horses are happy and not hungry.
Any one else going through they winter hay stock this fast?
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Dec 29, 2009 11:52:13 GMT 1
14 bales of hay in two weeks sounds like bliss - at the moment, we're getting through over 4 every day.
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Post by feemac on Dec 29, 2009 11:59:45 GMT 1
OMG how many do you have Varkie?
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Post by julz on Dec 29, 2009 12:17:49 GMT 1
feemac/varkie.. am just wondering if by big bales you mean round bales or square? as if big round bales, seems an awful lot! but if square bales, would seem right.
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Post by feemac on Dec 29, 2009 12:56:35 GMT 1
Big round ones, we had another 3" of snow this morning on top of ice can't see any grass at all.
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Post by arabheaven on Dec 29, 2009 13:01:02 GMT 1
we have rain rain rain rain at the moment! brought them in one night last week when the whole field actually iced over!! will prob bring them in tonight as forecast more rain!
my 2 get between them 4 slabs hay in the morning and 4 slabs at night, slightly more if they are in so I am going through a bale a day at the mo, which is normal winter time!
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suzieq
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Post by suzieq on Dec 29, 2009 13:17:50 GMT 1
Gosh poor you what awful waether you must be havin, 14 big bales is alot but as you obviously know if they are eating they can keep themselves warm.. I am using large water tanks that a friend gave me last year for hay to try and stop them wasting it, especially in the field, you put it down and they stand in it!!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 29, 2009 13:48:24 GMT 1
Have to stoke the boiler I say. If they are eating it they need it. I have another delivery due today.
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Dec 29, 2009 13:56:00 GMT 1
I've been using a combination of big bales & small ones.
We have 1 Welsh D, 1 Welsh x Spanish, 2 NFs, 1 Native Pony, 28 shetlands, so a fair few mouths to feed.
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Post by marianne on Dec 29, 2009 13:56:05 GMT 1
It's all very scary.
Luckily since I did a nutrition course I'm a lot happier about horses being on hay than "missing out" on grass.
I do feel sorry about my lot, knee deep in mud :-( BUT they have had ad-hoc hay and a mineral lick and I'm NOT going to feed them treats!
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 29, 2009 14:04:04 GMT 1
Yep, going thru it like water but i have limited storage as well so can only have 35 bales a time, using approx 2 a day at the moment between 3 who are supposed to be out 24/7 but have been coming in daytimes for a break from the weather, they have the same amount of hay whether in or out thou, can't remember what i used last yr per wk but this does seem excessive at the moment.
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asbo
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Post by asbo on Dec 29, 2009 14:07:22 GMT 1
3 rounds of haylage between 7 horses and 3 ponies every 3 or 4 days at the moment, it sucks
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Amanda Seater
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Post by Amanda Seater on Dec 29, 2009 14:14:58 GMT 1
hmph - I can't do big bales her easily. Moo my Freisian eats a whole small bale in 12 hours! And then ther are the others! expensive.
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Post by feemac on Dec 29, 2009 14:15:13 GMT 1
What about the water situation all troughs and out side taps frozen luckly I filled a 200 gallon tank so carting it all by hand I also turned the water off in the caravan for 2 hours and it started freezing but got it running again with a heatable wheaty bag! Can't wait til my house is started!
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Post by hch4971 on Dec 29, 2009 14:23:29 GMT 1
We are going through a big bale of haylage in a day to a day and a half with 5 horses and 6 ponies out, then another 2 small bales a day between 1 17hh and 1 13hh who are in at night. I am starting to panic a bit because I know financially I cannot keep this up all winter but they need it at the moment as still no green to be seen, even the mud is still covered. We have been unrolling the bale to make sure they all have easy access with no squabbling but havent had a lot of waste as yet. I am going to put in 2 bales with just the top uncovered when the next lot arrives and then flaps of the big square hay bales for the ponies and am hoping it will cut the rate down a little. The ponies look like they are doing a little too well on it!
With water, try turning off at mains overnight and blowing down all the taps, it should leave you with running water the next day.
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