Posted 2017-01-19 12:56 PM Subject: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
I have a large round bale net that I have had for about a year. I have only used it for about 7 months of that. Last year while using it no problems at all. I just put it back on the other day after months of not using it and my horses are chewing multiple holes in it. Anyone else have this issue?
Posted 2017-01-19 1:30 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Honestly, Yep. My HayChix round bale net has multiple holes. I've only got two horses and no shoes while it's out. IDK I have plenty of friends who swear up and down not a rip or a tear or anything every but in my experience they are not indestructable even under nearly ideal conditions. Love them, don't get me wrong. Even with holes here and there, they still essentially do the same job. Hay is contained.
Posted 2017-01-19 1:37 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106 Location: North Dakota
ha-mine is a week into use and has 2 holes in it. However, I'm pretty sure there is a repair kit. With that said-do you have yours in a feeder? If not-they might be pawing holes in them......exact reason I put mine in a feeder-I have 2 pawers..I really like the net-the hay lasts a long time. I think if the net is too tight on the bale they can get some leverage with their teeth and break the strings. When you think of a net tied onto the trailer it moves and gives while they are eating.....our bales are large and the net is pretty tight around them so I'm guessing that's why they are able to chew through-heck mine could be cribbing for all I know (never thought of that until now) but the last time we checked for holes the new hole had saliva all over it....
Posted 2017-01-19 1:45 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
The repair kit is just strings. And you can't ever tie it tight enough to be perfect. Plus it seems horses can always find the weak spot and continue to work at it. Mine is in a feeder. And, i have watched mine eat, they know how to do it. They grab a big mouth full and pull it to the surface of the net and then gently pull pieces through the holes. They eat gently on it. Oh well. Like I said, still gets the job done.
Posted 2017-01-19 2:01 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: Georgia
The only one I had get holes was the very first original one I bought. I left it on the ground for 30 minutes and my curious guy got 3 out of 4 feet hung in it . I had to cut him out. I did not repair them an my horses would find those holes and try the get the hay out in the spot. I switched to the heavy duty ones and I havent had any problems
Posted 2017-01-19 2:38 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Expert
Posts: 2335 Location: IL
You have to use the heavy duty ones. I had 2 different sets. The heavy duty ones are almost 2 years old and no hole. The other set isn't even a year and I've fixed them several times. Next time it will only be heavy duty.
Posted 2017-01-19 2:53 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Hmm, I thought I did have a heavy duty one. I didn't even know there was a difference in the big rounds. It's not in a feeder right now. The horses don't have shoes on and the holes are up high, so I don't think it's from pawing.
Posted 2017-01-19 2:56 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
It's only been out there for about 4 days and I keep finding new holes everyday. When you pay 200 bucks for something you expect it not to get holes like that.
Posted 2017-01-19 3:02 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
I had one do exactly what you are describing. exactly. They took it back and gave me a new one. I think we both thought it was maybe defective? Well - new one did the same thing so I gave up.
Posted 2017-01-19 10:12 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
I have 7 hanging nets and 5 are over 7/8 years old (im lucky enough to live less than 10 miles from them so Ive been a customer from the beginning) and they have minimal holes if any! Maybe stick it in a feeder?
Posted 2017-01-19 10:34 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Expert
Posts: 1630 Location: Up North
Contact Hay Chix and talk to them. They have excellent customer service and will hopefully have an idea for you to help stop the nets from getting holes.
Posted 2017-01-20 9:23 AM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106 Location: North Dakota
so-we put a new bale in ours last night and have figured out where the holes are coming from-us-when we thought we were gently picking up the bales with the loader we in fact had stretch the holes to the point of breaking-we've come up with a plan to easly move the bale once the net is on-without using the loader. So be sure that you're not the reason for the holes-once the net is on-do not use equipment to grab it-try to roll it end over end by bumping...maybe??
Posted 2017-01-20 11:58 AM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
LMS - 2017-01-20 9:23 AM
so-we put a new bale in ours last night and have figured out where the holes are coming from-us-when we thought we were gently picking up the bales with the loader we in fact had stretch the holes to the point of breaking-we've come up with a plan to easly move the bale once the net is on-without using the loader. So be sure that you're not the reason for the holes-once the net is on-do not use equipment to grab it-try to roll it end over end by bumping...maybe??
I don't think it's that because there is a new hole every morning. I used it for about 4-5 months without a feeder and never had a hole until now. We moved and it was put in storage for about 5 months. Could it have gotten weak in storage? It was protected in a plastic bin.
Posted 2017-01-20 1:33 PM Subject: RE: Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: Georgia
Bnparlay - 2017-01-20 12:58 PM
LMS - 2017-01-20 9:23 AM so-we put a new bale in ours last night and have figured out where the holes are coming from-us-when we thought we were gently picking up the bales with the loader we in fact had stretch the holes to the point of breaking-we've come up with a plan to easly move the bale once the net is on-without using the loader. So be sure that you're not the reason for the holes-once the net is on-do not use equipment to grab it-try to roll it end over end by bumping...maybe??
I don't think it's that because there is a new hole every morning. I used it for about 4-5 months without a feeder and never had a hole until now. We moved and it was put in storage for about 5 months. Could it have gotten weak in storage? It was protected in a plastic bin.
If not cleaned properly it probably could have. They say to wash them often.
Hay Chix net- horses chewing holes in them!
