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Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 853
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 - 7:44 pm: |   |
Dr.O. I soak my horses handful of pellets for about 12 hrs. before each feeding. The old girl has a chewing problem and they also seem to really like them that way.
I add a vitamin supplement and a joint supplement to their 2 feedings. When I soak the pellets I add the supplements. It just occured to me that maybe that isn't a good idea. Would the supplements lose anything soaking for 12hrs. in the feed?
I can add them right before feeding, but this is more convenient. Their feed is kept in our basement when soaking, which is cool and dry. Thanks |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: quatro
Post Number: 615
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 - 11:41 pm: | |
Hey Diane, what kind of pellets are you feeding that have to be soaked for so long. My old guy, who has choked, gets his senior feed soaked for maybe 45 minutes before I feed him, in hot water, and it is liquid mush by the time i feed him. I then stir in the supplements right before I feed him.
Just curious why it would need soaked for so long?
suz |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 854
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 6:29 am: | |
Hi Susan, I soak them that long for convenience. After I feed them in the morning, I make the evenings ration. I make the mornings after the evening feed....it just works into my schedule better. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18282
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 8:52 am: | |
I don't know of any work to refer to with such a question Diane and variables like the temperature of the water and what minerals are in the water may effect the results. Knowing that, which would you guess to be the best choice?
DrO |
nwalken
Member
Username: nwalken
Post Number: 23
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 10:23 am: | |
Just to add to the discussion about the length of time for soaking senior feed, I soak mine for no more than 5 minutes. It almost instantly turns to sloppy mush, which my old guy practically breaks down his stall waiting for because he loves it so much. I have no idea how long it takes for grain to start fermenting, but I personally was worried about leaving it for too long. |
Ann S
Member
Username: annes
Post Number: 180
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 12:32 pm: | |
I am wondering the same thing. My older TB has had mild chokes so I add water to his pellets (Golden Years Supreme) when I feed him. (warm water only in the Winter) It almost instantly starts to break apart. It would be soup if I soaked it. He eats hay and grazes without any problem even though his front teeth are down to the nub. Maybe if he had no teeth, he would need it more soupy. |
Diane Edmonds
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 855
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 2:05 pm: | |
HMMM adding it right before feeding Dr.O.? Hopefully I can remember  . The pellets actually turn more to mush than soup....I don't add that much water, and it doesn't ferment in the summer...our basement is very cool and dry. |
LL
Member
Username: frances
Post Number: 425
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 - 3:04 pm: | |
I would imagine that the vitamins, and possibly the other supplements, would lose some of their potency over that much time. |
