Please join in with your thoughts
I feed loose hay in boxes in winter when they’re on a little grass because if they run out they still have grass to pick at, but the rest of the year I net with small holes to make their hay last, unrestricted ad lib results in fat heffers!
I’ve just gone back to nets in the boxes and noticed (again) them eating in a very unnatural way, they tug up and away from their body with their nose, the complete opposite to natural grass grazing of tugging back towards their feet (I’ll try and get videos shortly). They do similar with low hung hay nets. Its got to cause incorrect muscling, right?
Then the vet checked Jess teeth last night and I noticed the start of some damage on her incisors
View attachment 105800
Im guessing that’s from her very brutal method of eating from nets, probably the smallest hole one that has knots. It’s minimal, but its there.
As horrible as it may sound I’m less concerned about Jess, but I want young Niko off to the right start so am rethinking how I do things.
Are there certain heights/ways of attaching nets that promote more natural behaviour? Are there any good DIY slow feed box solutions that do?
Not relevant to most, but I can’t feed off the floor due to our sandy soil, that would be my first choice solution.