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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
   
Location: MD | we have a TS close to home that sells the pellets and the cubes. I would like to add some alfalfa to their winter diets but I don't have room to buy more bales of hay for awhile as they just gave me a butt load of orchard grass/meadow grass mix and I'm filled to the brim!
They haven't been eating alfalfa regularly, I've always fed the bales of it and never the bag a the store. How much water do you use to soak it? how do you know it's soaked all the way, is it okay to make it a little slushy and then drain out the excess after the 30 minutes it says on the bag?? this is strictly an addition to their 8 hr access to round bales, and their basically free choice mixed grass in the stall(3-4 flakes, whatever they clean up.)
Is there a difference between feeding the pellets and the cubes? is there a preferred method? | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I feed the cubes for more chewing time and to slow down the gobbler gelding. But I also feed pellets. I fill the bucket with water to about 1/2 to 1 inch over the top of the pellets/cubes and wait for it to soak in. I wait for 15-45 minutes before mixing my supplements in. I have yet to get all the cubes soaked completely through, but they are plenty soft anyway. If I got them completely soft it defeat my purpose of slowing down the gobbler.:) | |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| I have used both the pellets and the cubes and I prefer the cubes, more chewing time. I have always soaked either the pellets or the cubes. They especially like them soaked with warm water in the winter, plus it gives them extra hydration. I have been using the alfalfa/bermuda cubes from TS. I think they also have the alfalfa/timothy as well and was thinking about trying them. | |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton | For one horse I fill the bucket 3/4 ways up with cubes from TS. Then, I add water until they are covered. In 10 mintues I take them outside and feed. These are for my old man. If you use hot water they soak it up faster. The cubes will soft almost all the way through. After doing this a couple of times, you will see how wet to get them. If there is extra water in the bottom of the bucket, it just gives them something to lick/suck up, which they will do. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| Cubes count as "long stem forage" so I prefer cubes for that reason alone. This means that you can directly replace hay with these cubes, pound for pound, and its the same thing as feeding that many pounds of alfalfa hay. When they chew long stem forage, they produce more saliva, and the saliva acts as a buffer in the gut (this is one of the reasons forage is so healthy for gastric health).
Pellets don't count as long stem forage, although they are considered fiber and will provide additional calories.
Regarding soaking:
I just cover the cubes with about 2" of water and they WILL soak all of that up. I don't drain any excess off, if it's not soaked all the way in, I feed it sloppy.
In the months that are not too hot (because if left in the heat with water they will start to ferment): I will mix up my AM feeding the night before. So, cubes in bucket, add water, they are ready to feed in the morning. Repeat in the morning so cubes that night are already soaked and ready to feed.
In the hot months, I will put the cubes with water when I get to the barn, and by the time I'm done riding they are ready to feed.
In the winter, I have to drive to the barn, so I bring a bucket of them home with me at night, and in the morning before I leave for work, I add hot water and in 20 minutes they are soaked and ready to feed by the time I get to the barn.
I don't think there is a certain time they NEED to be soaked, and you can technically feed them dry if you have a horse that doesn't bolt them down whole. However, soaking them is a GREAT way to get more water into them anyhow, and its also a great way to hide any supplements and medications. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| SuckerForHorses - 2014-09-24 10:30 AM
Cubes count as "long stem forage" so I prefer cubes for that reason alone. This means that you can directly replace hay with these cubes, pound for pound, and its the same thing as feeding that many pounds of alfalfa hay. When they chew long stem forage, they produce more saliva, and the saliva acts as a buffer in the gut (this is one of the reasons forage is so healthy for gastric health).
Pellets don't count as long stem forage, although they are considered fiber and will provide additional calories.
Regarding soaking:
I just cover the cubes with about 2" of water and they WILL soak all of that up. I don't drain any excess off, if it's not soaked all the way in, I feed it sloppy.
In the months that are not too hot (because if left in the heat with water they will start to ferment): I will mix up my AM feeding the night before. So, cubes in bucket, add water, they are ready to feed in the morning. Repeat in the morning so cubes that night are already soaked and ready to feed.
In the hot months, I will put the cubes with water when I get to the barn, and by the time I'm done riding they are ready to feed.
In the winter, I have to drive to the barn, so I bring a bucket of them home with me at night, and in the morning before I leave for work, I add hot water and in 20 minutes they are soaked and ready to feed by the time I get to the barn.
I don't think there is a certain time they NEED to be soaked, and you can technically feed them dry if you have a horse that doesn't bolt them down whole. However, soaking them is a GREAT way to get more water into them anyhow, and its also a great way to hide any supplements and medications.
THIS ^^^
I will also add ... I like to soak my cubes, then mix my platinum supplement into them with an old spoon. I feel they really clean up the alfalfa well and the supplement sticks to the wet hay resulting in less being lost. Make sense?
Good Luck - | |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I can't really add much since everyone has been spot on so far, but I will say that I have a hard time draining excess off. I also feel like that that's wasteful of some nutrients, so I usually just add another cube or two to soak up the excess. My gelding doesn't really like them super sloppy, so I have to be mindful of how much water I add. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I use the alfalfa pellets but they only get about 1/2 lb (about 1 cup) per feeding. I put just enough water on to where they aren't quite covered, just setting in the water. I let that soak while I dish up the rest of their stuff (salt, vit/min, joint), which is probably less than a minute. Then I give it a good stir. The pellets aren't completely mush, but just softened. Of course if you have the time & leave them soak longer with a little more water they will absorb all of the water and soften completely. I think they are too hard if not soaked at least a little. In my experience, cubes take a LOT longer to soak and I don't have that much time. | |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | When you talk about a "bucket" what size bucket are you referring too? Someone had told me to feed my train with the cubes but I thought that was an awful lot at one feeding. I feed 1.5 pounds of grain. So when you feed the cubes is it a half bucket full? Just wondering if I am feeding enough. I just do it once a day. | |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton | Mainer-racer - 2014-09-24 12:03 PM When you talk about a "bucket" what size bucket are you referring too? Someone had told me to feed my train with the cubes but I thought that was an awful lot at one feeding. I feed 1.5 pounds of grain. So when you feed the cubes is it a half bucket full? Just wondering if I am feeding enough. I just do it once a day. Not the smaller bucket - the one you would use for water at a show. . The fortiflex 20 quart size.
Edited by 3canstorun 2014-09-24 11:14 AM
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | SuckerForHorses - 2014-09-24 11:30 AM
Cubes count as "long stem forage" so I prefer cubes for that reason alone. This means that you can directly replace hay with these cubes, pound for pound, and its the same thing as feeding that many pounds of alfalfa hay. When they chew long stem forage, they produce more saliva, and the saliva acts as a buffer in the gut (this is one of the reasons forage is so healthy for gastric health).
Pellets don't count as long stem forage, although they are considered fiber and will provide additional calories.
Regarding soaking:
I just cover the cubes with about 2" of water and they WILL soak all of that up. I don't drain any excess off, if it's not soaked all the way in, I feed it sloppy.
In the months that are not too hot (because if left in the heat with water they will start to ferment): I will mix up my AM feeding the night before. So, cubes in bucket, add water, they are ready to feed in the morning. Repeat in the morning so cubes that night are already soaked and ready to feed.
In the hot months, I will put the cubes with water when I get to the barn, and by the time I'm done riding they are ready to feed.
In the winter, I have to drive to the barn, so I bring a bucket of them home with me at night, and in the morning before I leave for work, I add hot water and in 20 minutes they are soaked and ready to feed by the time I get to the barn.
I don't think there is a certain time they NEED to be soaked, and you can technically feed them dry if you have a horse that doesn't bolt them down whole. However, soaking them is a GREAT way to get more water into them anyhow, and its also a great way to hide any supplements and medications.
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | SuckerForHorses - 2014-09-23 11:30 AM Cubes count as "long stem forage" so I prefer cubes for that reason alone. This means that you can directly replace hay with these cubes, pound for pound, and its the same thing as feeding that many pounds of alfalfa hay. When they chew long stem forage, they produce more saliva, and the saliva acts as a buffer in the gut (this is one of the reasons forage is so healthy for gastric health). Pellets don't count as long stem forage, although they are considered fiber and will provide additional calories. Regarding soaking: I just cover the cubes with about 2" of water and they WILL soak all of that up. I don't drain any excess off, if it's not soaked all the way in, I feed it sloppy. In the months that are not too hot (because if left in the heat with water they will start to ferment): I will mix up my AM feeding the night before. So, cubes in bucket, add water, they are ready to feed in the morning. Repeat in the morning so cubes that night are already soaked and ready to feed. In the hot months, I will put the cubes with water when I get to the barn, and by the time I'm done riding they are ready to feed. In the winter, I have to drive to the barn, so I bring a bucket of them home with me at night, and in the morning before I leave for work, I add hot water and in 20 minutes they are soaked and ready to feed by the time I get to the barn. I don't think there is a certain time they NEED to be soaked, and you can technically feed them dry if you have a horse that doesn't bolt them down whole. However, soaking them is a GREAT way to get more water into them anyhow, and its also a great way to hide any supplements and medications.
Agree on all this..................
If I need them quickly I use hot water to soak in the winter months..........15min vs 30 with cold water......
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i dont even soak my cubes anymore...........in the summer its not to bad but i was having freezing issues in the winter (not easy to chip out frozen cubes out of a corner feeder..lol)......and cubes are all we feed our horses that we haul..........
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| Also, for a baseline for guessing weight if you don't have a scale...
If I remember correctly, a 3 quart scoop of cubes is approximately 2 lbs, give or take a little bit. | |
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I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Thank you for all of the great advice! I managed to spend about 45 minutes dealing with these cubes this morning as I managed to slop it down the front of me before it managed to make it to any horses. for sure getting a new system going.
Mixing two horses worth in a large bucket, putting a top on it, getting to the barn and splitting it between the two. that should save my clothes! HAHA  | |
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Expert
Posts: 2457
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LOL ... I think we've all been there.
Ya got a feed room? I will soak mine while I either drink a cup of coffee in the morning or clean stalls or just watch my horses be horses. Its a calming thing for me and then I don't have to carry buckets real far :) | |
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