Soaking hay overnight?

martini55

martini55

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Apr 16, 2004
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Does anyone do it? Soaking hay has always been a bit baffling to me because you read so much conflicting advice (btw I am talking about soaking hay to get rid of sugars etc, not to get rid of dust). After having issues with hay a few weeks ago I have been soaking it for 1 hour before feeding in the morning and then soaking for 8 hours during the day to feed at night.

Now I have read that current research states that hay should only be soaked for a maximum of 2 hours and that 1 hour is sufficient. However, others disagree and say to soak for 12 hours...

We've recently been experiencing some more problems with pulses (don't know why exactly, nothing has changed in routine at all apart from new bale of hay opening). Now it has become apparant that when we are having troubles with pulses, they are always up in the afternoon and either fine of only felt faintly in the mornings.

I've decided to experiment a bit to see whether it is indeed the hay that is causing it still (since this has coincided with another bale opening) so I want to soak the hay she gets during the day for longer. However, the only way to do this is to soak overnight, which will be over 12hours. I tried it for the first time last night and rinsed the hay thoroughly this morning. It smelled fine and Martini ate it no problems. But will this cause any problems?
 
I soak amba's morning haynet during the night, usually between 7pm till 9am, amba doesn't mind it all, i know it should be only really soaked for 12 hours at a time but i don't see the difference, its only really staying in it's own juices. Evening is done for about 8 hours as well.

I know what you mean about different opinions, many just say 1 hour, but i don't feel the hay get's throughly soaked, so do as above. From your third paragraph about pulses, there could be a link between the two, so like you've said i'd experiement.

I'm lucky in the fact amba doesn't mind soaked hay so will eat it no matter how long it's been in water, not sure on yours.

IMO i don't see how it can cause problems, its definately helped amba but nothing has arisen that would concern me health wise.
 
I worry about the sugars in the water fermenting if left too long. However, as long as it smells okay I guess it is fine. She'll eat it no problems now but it took a while for her to get used to it! The vet and farrier will be out next week but I just want to do a little experimenting to see if I can figure out the culprit. It is really frustrating as she has been doing so well for the last couple of weeks and I thought we had it sussed :(
 
I know when i first soaked the hay a couple of weeks ago it used to smell, it doesn't now, but i think that was because we got a change of hay. Good luck for both appointments. :)
 
i find a nice white layer of 'gunk' on the bottom of the bucket when i take it out, i just wash it away.

im not technical enough to know what it is but doesnt affect the hay
 
Soaking hay for 1-2 hours seems to be the thing for the likes of COPD sufferers, long enough to swell spores etc, but I was told (rightly or wrongly) by a professional that soaking hay for longer leaches many of the nutrients out of it, which is great for lami and the likes.
I would guess that damping hay through a hot day might not be a good idea, warmth and damp are perfect for nasties, but so long as it is cool it should be fine soaked for longer periods, or so long as it is totally submerged I would have thought the lack of oxygen should stop any nasty bugs growing, excluding sunlight may also be a benifit.
I know water that hay has soaked in can turn nasty quickly, but I think so long as you change it every soak and keep the bucket clean etc that should minimise any risks.
 
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Showjumper_zoe, I'm actually looking to get rid of carbohydrates and sugars as apposed to reducing moulds and dust. I'd also never go with a forage chart as such and would always have hay tested as there are too many factors that can influence nutritional value :)
 
Yepp, so if you soak for 24 hours a vast nutrient, carbohydrate and protien lost soaking for 12 hours dosn't lose as much carbohydrate:)
 
I've just got hay for bf's pony. It's very green - all we can get, and looks like rough grass after even an hour's soaking. What stops it fermenting? I was worried about leaving it 12 hours...
 
Found some internet info - soaking hay for an hour reduces its carbohydrate level by about 28%.

Pony (canny NF who generally seems to know what's ok and not to eat) was of the opinion that hay soaked for 12 hours tasted funny and smelled funny and was not to be eaten (even when left with it as the only food all day). Hay soaked for one hour is edible.
 
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