|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
  
| Has anyone had a problem feeding alfalfa hay cubes? I had a gelding choke on them and scared me to death. I think the mini cubes are the ones he choked on. Would like to feed the hayrite cubes. |
|
| |
|
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
  
Location: Alberta | We've never had issues with them and we've been feeding them for a few years......if your unsure just soak them.... |
|
| |
|
  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | It can happen.. I wet soak them before I feed them |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I soak them for at least 15 minutes before I feed them. I had a horse choke badly on alfalfa pellets, so I soak all pellets too |
|
| |
|
Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Always soak them. I got tired of soaking them so I just feed pellets now. |
|
| |
|
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | We have a horse that gets the cubes soaked in warm water for 15-20 mins and then we go through with our hands and check before he gets to eat them just in case. it only takes an extra 2 minutes to go through by hand. no problems with him at all
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-05-27 8:34 AM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 564
Location: South Dakota | I've had this happen and it scared the living crap out of me. I soak them, and then break them into smaller chunks now if I do use them at all. I typically only feed a few pounds of them per day in the winter for protein. |
|
| |
|
 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I have used the cubes for years and never had a problem. |
|
| |
|
 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I would think the mini cubes would be worse to feed if you're not soaking because they wouldn't chew them as much as the big cubes. I've fed them for years soaked for at least 15-30 minutes without issues. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | You should be able to feed cubes dry to most horses. We feed 30 horses dry Danco cubes daily and never had one choke. A horse can choke on anything and it is usually horses that bolt feed. The smaller cubes I feel are less prone to choke than larger and the worst thing for a choke prone horse is alfalfa pellets. The cubes you mentioned trying, I know of several horses that have choked on them. Many horses are fed those dry with no problem (I fed them dry without any choke issues) but they are more likely to choke on them than the Danco Mustang Sally cubes, my opinion.
The solution to your issue is undoubtedly Omnis Complete Performance by Danco Forage. I will guarantee it is the softest cube you have ever seen and we feel it is one of the safest products available. You can break them apart easily with your hand. You do not soak these cubes. The softness and safety of feeding the Omnis cubes are one if the things I and many other customers like most about them.
Disclaimer about me: I am currently a Danco Distributor. I have previously been a HayRite and Manzanola Top of the Rockies dealer and user. We have a training facility in Midland Tx where we extensively use cubes. The information that I provide, I take great pains to be honest and represent my experience and opinions based on real world use. I would encourage everyone to use the products for yourself and I am confident you will see the same results that I have had. I will not stretch the truth about my product not claim a superiority to other products when there is none. Feed companies routinely do this and I detest it. There are many ways to feed one well and there are many good products available. Thanks.
Edited by Tdove 2015-05-27 11:15 AM
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I would disagree with the presumption that mini cubes are worse. I have fed several brands and both large and small cubes. It is really the hardness of the cube, I think that increases the risk most. When a horse properly eats a cube, they break it apart and really chew the chopped hay inside. This is very safe. It is when they get a larger piece that doesn't get chewed well that will get stuck as they try to swallow it. A larger cube will have larger pieces in this scenario and that definitely will increase the risk of it getting stuck. A big problem I see is that a larger and harder cube will then also be harder to dislodged once it is stuck. A softer cube will be more likely to dissolve on it's own or be easier for a vet to treat.
So while I do think the smaller cubes are safer, it is really the softness or hardness that I think is the biggest factor. Although all things equal a larger cube will be harder than a smaller cube. As far as 100% alfalfa cubes go, the softest cube I am aware of are Danco Mustang Sally mini cubes. They are much softer than the HayRite or Top of The Rockies cubes that I had fed before them. The Danco Omnis cube is in a class all it's own and I definitely prefer them to any other cube or pellet that I have ever tried. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
| Thanks, I will see if I can find a dealer |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Where are you located and I will try to assist you? |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 492
| I love love love feeding alfalfa cubes. I just started feeding them a few months ago and I will honestly not go back to baled hay. I love the results, the convenience, and the fact that my horses are looking amazing on them. I feed Hay-Rite to all of my horse, except for one. He gets the Danco cubes due to them being smaller and softer.
A good quality hay cube makes all the difference in the world!! I would recommend it to anyone. :) |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 395
| Blondes Are Wild - 2015-05-27 11:36 AM
I love love love feeding alfalfa cubes. I just started feeding them a few months ago and I will honestly not go back to baled hay. I love the results, the convenience, and the fact that my horses are looking amazing on them. I feed Hay-Rite to all of my horse, except for one. He gets the Danco cubes due to them being smaller and softer.
A good quality hay cube makes all the difference in the world!! I would recommend it to anyone. :)
approximately how much do you feed per horse and how often? Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 492
| Right now I do have good pasture that my horses can go out on. They spend the night on the pasture, so I only am having to feed once a day. I give one 8 quart bucket of the cubes to each horse in the morning. This equals 8 1/2-10 pounds. Then I just sprinkle their THE Muscle Mass and Ulc-R-Aid on top. If I am not able to turnout, I give the bucket of cubes twice daily.
Easiest, most cost effective, and best feed plan I have found! I love it! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1207
| I would like to know also as I am beginning to wonder how the hay situation in my area is going to be with all the rain. |
|
| |
|
 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Blondes Are Wild - 2015-05-28 11:29 AM Right now I do have good pasture that my horses can go out on. They spend the night on the pasture, so I only am having to feed once a day. I give one 8 quart bucket of the cubes to each horse in the morning. This equals 8 1/2-10 pounds. Then I just sprinkle their THE Muscle Mass and Ulc-R-Aid on top. If I am not able to turnout, I give the bucket of cubes twice daily. Easiest, most cost effective, and best feed plan I have found! I love it!
This is what we are doing as well. We have a couple that are up in a lot and they get a small bucket full twice a day. The horses that are on pasture are getting half of one of the little buckets each and 2# of their feed twice a day... They're finally gettting back to a body condition that I'm comfortable with and I can start tapering off their concentrated feed.
I'm very concerned as well for our hay crop this year and am looking forward to having a truckload of the Omnis cubes in my barn for security. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| I am going to break down, and try it. Say I put 10 pounds in a 5 gallon bucket, how much water do I put on them? Just enough to cover them? |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 492
| I just feed them dry! As long as you feed them at ground level, you won't have a problem. |
|
| |
Folks on-line