Posted 2017-04-12 10:34 AM Subject: RE: Haysteamers
I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387 Location: Pacific Northwest
They are well worth the money and they help a lot for horses with respiratory problems. My horse has pretty bad IAD and he can only have hay if it's steamed. Soaking doesn't help enough. I had a haygain steamer and unfortunately there's something wrong with our outlets because I went through several steamers - a few homemade, one Happy Horse steamer and 2 haygain steamers. They never lasted longer than 2 months. Haygain had AMAZING customer service and replaced the first steamer no questions asked and free of charge. But then it burnt out within a month and I felt too bad to tell them because considering all the other ones I burnt through I'm positive it's not their fault.
Such a bummer because the improvement he showed was drastic. Now he only gets beet pulp, hay pellets and hay cubes. No hay at all.
That being said, the homemade version's finished product was exactly the same as what I got using the haygain system. All you need is a wallpaper steamer that you rig up to a completely sealed tub, and pvc pipe. I'll see if I can find the instructions.
Posted 2017-04-12 10:48 AM Subject: RE: Haysteamers
Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
Yes they are. I made one out of a big Dewalt tool tote, earlaxx steam generator for wood, copper pipe for inside the box and a 1 hour timer. All for 150 dollars. Haygain is the best and worth the investment. Watering hay for respiratory problems isn't always enough. Sterilizing hay maybe the best option with a hay steamer.
Posted 2017-04-12 11:26 AM Subject: RE: Haysteamers
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Wyoming
I love the idea of this! But what do ya'll do if you feed round bales throughout the week and then weekends they are getting flakes from small squares?
This may be a "dumb" question but does steaming the hay change the nutritional value?
No, it doesn't. It's kind of like steaming vegetables. The hay doesn't get saturated with water, it's just damp from being steamed in an enclosed container.
Haysteamers
