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Discussion on Mixing hay
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 3, 2004 - 9:31 am:
Hi,
I have two different batches of hay in my barn. One is nice quality brome grass and the other mixed grass, green but later cut thus a lot more coarse then the first batch. I would like to mix the two hay types. Can I alternate batches every other day? Or do I have to feed from each type of hay at the same time?Kim
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Member:
Jerre
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 3, 2004 - 9:39 pm:
Kim, I'm not sure how much it matters, but I would probably feed one kind in the morning and another at night. It just seems like less of a change that way to me.
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Member:
Eoeo
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 3, 2004 - 10:23 pm:
I agree, feed one in the morning and one at night. That way, if they prefer one over the other they won't be rooting around and making a mess trying to get to the one they prefer. EO
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 4, 2004 - 9:03 am:
That's what I thought,Jerre, but hated mixing them for that very reason, EO, as they do prefer one and even hold out a bit for more of the stuff they prefer. Thanks for the feed back. Kim
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Friday, Jan 9, 2004 - 2:17 am:
I have often mixed hay if I have two types and they don't like one but I would mix them at the same time eg 1 bale plus 1 bale, morning and evening, otherwise they just stand around trying to make you feel guilty looking at the "nasty" hay. We use round feeders so I throw in the small square bales, cut and remove the twine, then mix up the flakes a bit. If they really hate it or there is something wrong with it, they will carefully pick out the "nice" hay and leave the other stuff but if it's just a flavour thing they'll usually eat it.
Imogen
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Friday, Jan 9, 2004 - 7:20 am:
Imogen,
Both hay is green and nice smelling. Just one type has wider blades of grass and some stems thur it (timothy?)It has worked well having them get the different hay alternating at feeding times. With the cold weather (-10F this am and a bit windy!)I put their favorite hay in the stalls so I don't have such a mess in the am.
I was more concerned with their digestion if I fed one bale one day and another type the next. Feeding both types in the same day is probablly safer just a bit more work as I have to have two bales open in one hay bin. Thanks all, Kim
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Friday, Jan 9, 2004 - 12:08 pm:
I heard this quote years ago regarding horses and hay and will never forget....
"Horses eat the best, then leave the rest and put their opinion on it."
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Member:
Jjet
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Posted on Friday, Jan 9, 2004 - 12:26 pm:
Truer words never spoken!
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Friday, Jan 9, 2004 - 2:59 pm:
Yes! The other day during their least favorite hay choice time, My pony did just that!I try to justify as he didn't want to splash and the snow is just too hard, but usually he choices the stall for that! 
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