Is he getting enough?

[Gay]

Have just changed from ad lib hay (basically 3 haynets) onto small bale haylage so I don't have to soak his hay. I am feeding what it recommends i.e 1/3 of a bale which he is gets when he comes in for the night. This amount equates to a very full haylage net but am not sure how if equates to what he was getting. Mason is just turning 2 and he is a native - Welsh D. Suppose i'm just concerned he'll get bored with just the one net (he has his tea in a horse ball). Any thoughts or advice appreciated as I have never fed haylage before. :o

[sheryl]

Hi Gay,
I would judge wether he's getting enough, by his weight. If he looks like he needs more, then up it:)

How is the little rascal anyway? And how are you getting on with him?
Sheryl x

[Jessey]

Haylage is more nutitious than hay so you need less by volume to get the same out but it is also full of water so you need more by weight :p Its really hard to compare it to hay.

The ammount you are giving, does that last him through the night? if not you might consider upping it a little, if so then keep it the same, if there is loads left then reduce the ammount.

I have my rising 4 year old on hay and a top up of haylage, at night she gets 1 big hay net, 1 big pile of hay on the floor and 1 large haylage net too, plus a hard feed of AlfaA, bran and Grass nuts and she is maintaining her weight on this and eats every scrap overnight and is a nice weight, on the other hand my 8yo anglo arab gets a net and a slightly smaller pile and often leaves a bit and he only gets 1/2 the ammount of hard feed she does and he is still quite fat! So just see how you go and adjust it from there :D

J x

[Gay]

Hi Sheryl

Well he appears to be doing fine. I have bought him a snack ball to occupy him for longer with his tea - he is eating all his haylage but used to eat all the hay he was given also. I'll get the weigh tape out and keep an eye on him.

Oh yes I am currently sporting a rather fetching black courtesy of Mason - he banged his head against my cheek bone whilst I was turning him out Sunday. Oow :eek:

[sheryl]

I normally wear my riding hat when dealing with mine. Indi has an annoying habit of chucking his head about, and occasionally his front legs too:eek: .
Would have been knocked out a few times, if it weren't for my hat!

[puzzles]

when feeding haylage you need to feed 1.5 times the amount you would hay, to make up for the increased amount of water.
i full haynet of hay weighs about 6-8 kilos i should think, in my experience; i'm not sure about haylage.
you can buy bulk weigh-things from robinsons/ride away i think

[Gay]

Don't think my riding hat would have made any difference on this occasion maybe an American footballer type hat would have been better. :D I know I should wear it more though and will definitely do so when I start doing a bit more with him this spring/summer.