Re: RC: hay feeders

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 01/23/2000 5:20:44 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
pam-john@ma.ultranet.com writes:

<< But I have discovered that my horse eats much better when I
 can put his hay on the ground rather than in a hay net hung in his stall.
 My question to ridecampers is this: what types of hay feeders are available
 and which are worth using? Do any of you use a feeder? I have seen those
 round, metal feeders used for cattle but can't find a source for them. Any
 suggestions or information would be much appreciated!
  >>

My husband builds a wooden box, much like an apple box you see in the 
orchards.  It's about 3' wide by 4' long, has 4 X 4s or 4 X 6s under it, like 
skids or runners.  These elevate the box off the ground so the bottom does 
not rot.  The floor is solid, but it has to have holes drilled into it to 
allow water runout. (Obviously these are not in a stall).  They have two 2 X 
6s or 2 X 8s for walls on the bottom portion, then a space of about 8", then 
a top rail of a 2 X 6, which I have capped with light weight angle iron like 
flashing (to keep the equine beavers from chewing on it).  The corners are 
reinforced with 2 X 6s as uprights on the outside and also one midway along 
each long side of the box.  These boxes are very heavy and keep the hay off 
the ground.  There is virtually no waste, since the horses can't easily fling 
the hay out (they're about 3' deep).  As far as horses preferring to eat off 
the ground, that's their natural way of eating.  Ours much prefer eating with 
their heads down rather than horizontal.  The reason my dimensions are so 
unsure at this moment is that it is raining cats and dogs and I don't fancy 
going out into the rain to measure.  If you need more explicit dimensions, 
ask me sometime when it isn't raining!!  As for the livestock feeders, there 
are several livestock supply companies that have catalogs, or (don't know 
where you live) go to your nearest feed store or livstock supply company and 
ask.  Nasco has a big thick catalog that has just about anything utilitarian 
you could want for cattle and horses.  Their phone # is 1-800-558-9595 and 
they have branches in Fort Atkinson, WI and Modesto, CA.  Also, their website 
is http://www.nascofa.com.
Hope this helps.

Barbara