|
|
  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | How long should a large round bale of hay last for 4 grown paint horses? We are in NW Georgia and I have 4 geldings. They get fed twice daily and have free access to the hay 24/7. It seems like you put it out, turn around and suddenly poof it is all eaten. Anyone have horse pigs like me? I am having to put out a roll a week. And yes, my two large pastures are gone but they still graze at what is left. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 233
| Depends on how heavy it is. We put out hay every 10 days to 2 weeks, and in one field I've got two tb's and a 2 year old, the other has 2 mft's, a qh, and mini and a donkey. But our bales are 1100+ pounds, too. And especially if they get hungry the last day or so, they'll vacuum up hay.
If your bales are pretty clean, you might want to look at a texas hay net. It slows them down quite a bit, but if there's any sticks or weeds in the bale they are a pain in the butt to clean out. I got tired of messing with mine after two seasons, but it held up pretty good. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
 
Location: North Dakota | Depends how big/heavy your bales are and depends how you feed it (on the ground vs in a feeder .... or net vs no net). It also depends how cold the weather gets.
When I kept my 2 AQHA horses boarded alone, they would eat a 900 pound round bale in about 2 weeks (no net, but in a hay feeder). I live in North Dakota.
|
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| I just started feeding round bales for the very first time also! With my 2 and a neighbor's mule, it lasts a couple days over 2 weeks. So adding another horse...maybe just under 2 weeks I'd say? Just a guess! =] |
|
| |
|
Location: NE Texas | I have 4 horses and a cow on a hay bale - they eat through it every 6-7 days. Sounds normal to me. |
|
| |
|
 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Four horses on one round bale at my house lasts a week - sometimes a day more, sometimes a day less but usually right at a week. |
|
| |
|
 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | TrackinBubba - 2018-02-01 12:03 PM
Four horses on one round bale at my house lasts a week - sometimes a day more, sometimes a day less but usually right at a week.
That sounds right to me too. If you'll watch, you probably have a piggy one or two that eat all.day.long.
I think the round bale nets help. I hate putting them on though. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | We feed only round bales here. In the winter we turn the adult horses into a pasture together on one feeder. 6 head will clean up a mid-sized round bale in 5-6 days depending on how cold it is. When we get nasty weather or its very cold they tend to go through it faster. This winter has been so mild that we are getting 6 days. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1207
| I have 3 horses and a BIG bale last me over a month. But I feed the hay differently than most as I hand rake it off in a wheel barrow and take it out to their round hay feeder morning and night. They are on pasture but the pasture is not so good this time of year and we have had no rain. The reason I do this is because 1) I don't have a tractor to put the big bales out 2) they are pigs 3) they waste a lot 4) they also get the Omnis cubes which has helped on the hay consumption. So depending on how cold it is and how much they have wasted and how much they have cleaned up as to how much I give them. |
|
| |
|
 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | With a 5 acre pasture 2 horses go through a 900lb bale in 2 weeks at most. They do walk around but the hay is truthfully all they get besides feed. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | That is about what ours go through |
|
| |
|
Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | My rounds are huge- 6'x5' averaging 1800lbs each. 6 horses go thru one every 6 or 7 days. That is grass hay in a round bale feeder with no net. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | 2-2.5% of body weight per horse per day in hay. If very cold and or lactation go 3%. If your horse are eating more than that you need a better quality hay. Good quality hay will meet energy requirements and they will slow down their eating habits. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2685
| I have 3 big horses and a coming yearling and 1 big bale of teff hay (1100#) lasts about 2.5-3 weeks. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I have 4 grown horses and a bale lasts me about two weeks give or take a few days. |
|
| |
|
Location: on a hill | Wow mine must be pigs. 4 horses on a 4x5 round lasts 4 days. A 4 string big square lasts them 5. That's no feeder or net. I set them on the ground. Its my first winter trying them verses small squares. I was loving it until I just read how long they are lasting everyone else. Lol |
|
| |
Folks on-line