[Miss Thunder]

Usually we feed rolls of hay, but we ran out of them probably a bit over a week ago. I don't want to bug my hay supplier, being it so close to Xmas and whatever, so I'll buy a bunch of rolls in the new year. So right now we are throwing out bailed hay for the horses.

Each baile weighs about 70 - 80lbs and the flakes are REALLY big. They tend to hold about 15 flakes each, but they are also almost twice the size of a normal baile. Anyways, my measurements are probably off, but anyways they are a really good sized baile. In the morning if it's cold or wet, they get a flake of hay each then turned out later in the morning. Once out, they usually get close to 2 bailes of hay (more like 1 and 3/4s of a baile) through out the day. At night, around 10pm they come in to 3 - 4 flakes (depending on how cold it is, I like to keep them eating when it's cold) and their grain.

I was wondering if this sounds like enough hay to do three horses? Too much? I never had to moniter hay intake before, just threw a roll out and in 2 weeks (usually less though, lol) replaced it. Now I'm actually seing how much I throw out. I have three horses, Redie and Shadow are 1000lbs and 1100lbs, and Oreo, I'm not sure, but probably around 900lbs. They are all quite hefty, but you can feel their ribs. Oreo's getting about 6lbs of grain a day because he's only a three year old, and Redie and Shadow are getting about a handful, not measured. Just enough to get the taste and so they aren't mad at me when they hear the freezer open and Oreo gets fed, but not them

So is that enough hay? Also, Oreo will be gone for the month of January for training. How much hay should go outside just for 2 horses?

Thanks!

[Jubilee Farm]

The general guideline i follow for my horses is:
your horses should be consuming about 2% of their body weight a day right now(give or take depending on just how cold it is) so at an average of 1000 lbs each that = about 20 lbs a day per horse.... times 3 horses = 60lbs a day
ok... lets see here... say your bales are 75 lbs each, and you said about 15 flakes per bale.. that would make each flake about 5 lbs each.


Of course you didnt mention the type & quality of hay you were feeding, and that does play an important role... you are going to feed less alfalfa than you would grass to maintain body weight.... It sounds to me like you are feeding pleanty of hay (if not more than you need). Honestly the main indicator is how they are maintaining weight. If you notice them starting to drop off a bit of weight they may need it upped a little, and the opposite is true if they start to plump more than desired Also look at the waste... if there is a hay left on the ground thats a good indication you are overfeeding (naturally barring any health problems which could cause loss of appetite)

Use the same rough scale to feed for the the two horses (average of 20lbs daily per horse) again adding or subtracting as needed to maintain their desired weights.

[Jubilee Farm]

Ugh LOL did that last post of mine make any sense? It made perfect sense in my head while i was typing it.... but when i just re read what i wrote i was having a hard time following what i said! LOL

[MissBandit]

Basically if they are leaving piles of it around then you know you're feeding too much - with bales being so different it's hard to tell you exactly how much too feed. I've never weighed my hay and I probably never will. I feed approx 8 large flakes per day, per horse - grass hay.

[Super_Trooper]

I never weight my hay either...I go by what they eat, if they eat everything then they need a bit more, if they leave lots, then need less and I go by body composition. I also feed grains and increase with exercise and so on. I feed 4 large flakes a day to Veruca, out of a 15 flake, 110 pound bale of top quality Timothy hay and she could even have a flake at lunch time too I bet.

[Magzinator]

well if the flake are pretty big I think you could give them each about 2 or 3 flakes of hay. but that's just my oppinion

[CrazyHorse]

I never weigh hay either. I feed two horses half a bale per day & the bale itself probably weighs around 50#, give or take a few lbs. My coming 2 year old Qh/Arab weighs around 700# & the 8 year old gelding weighs just under 1000# (he's too thin right now).They leave some sometimes, but usually eat the majority of it, esp. since it's been so cold & the grass is not abundant right now. Is rye grass okay for horses to eat during the winter?

[mustang_dodger]

my horses get round bales they do just fine on them. when they get bales we toss them 2 bales twice a day. we have 2 horses.

[ejforrest]

For feeding hay bails feed 1.5% to 3% of the horses body weight per day(1,000 pound horse would get at 3% =30 pounds of hay a day and you want to feed 20% more for waste which would be another 6 pounds. I have four horses and feed 3 bails a day in cold weather (10 and and below) which I have small bails 50 pounds so that is 150 pounds a day for four horse (that is about 32 flakes a day)and during 20 degrees and up they get a 100 pound 2 bails a day(that is about 24 flakes a day). In cold weather feed more hay. Hay keeps the horse warm longer. Takes longer to ferment in the hind gut. Grains dont produce much warmth and causes colic, tying up, founder, and other health problems.

[KZWestern]

I feed my horses half a bale per day. However, since it is cold out in MN I give them more for heat energy and entertainment. If you live in cold weather, I'd suggest doing the same. Actually, I've read that in cold weather, its best to have unlimited grass hay available. But if you're in warm weather, and since those are huge bales, maybe give them a third of a bale each.