Large haynets with large holes

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carthorse

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Jan 6, 2006
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Does anyone know if such things are made nowadays? Luka's picky about hay and unless it's very fine and he really loves it he wonn't eat out of small holed nets - and I don't mean he doesn't eat much. I mean he really won't eat it and instead munches on bed if it's clean or just goes hungry.

Now the time was it was easy to buy nets with 4" mesh - of better yet 5" - in a 50" size but not anymore. The best I've been able to find are some Shires ones that say 4" mesh (they aren't, I've measured) and are 42" length. They're supposed to hold 6.5kg and maybe would if I was putting in slices from a conventional bale, working from a large bale I'm not getting anything like that in them. If I go away I like to leave my friend with enough nets to last her, not easy when he's needing two nets a night because they're a nightmare to get much in.

Does anyone know somewhere that sells proper sized haynets with big holes. ones that hold enough to feed a horse ad lib hay overnight? Minimum hole size 4".
 
You could try a hay bag. I got some for the sheep when we went showing. They've just got the one hole but it's a reasonable size.
If you want to try before you buy so to speak to see if luka would eat from one hole, just get a plastic feed sack like a chaff bag. Fill it up, tie the top with string to hang up and cut a hole in the side to see if luka uses overnight.
I guess not many people want large holes these days as most people want slow feeder nets. Chunky was the same as luka. Although I didn't stable him if we went out in the trailer he had to have a large hole net as he wouldnt use small nets at all. Mine I got 2nd hand so no help on where to buy now.
 
Watching how he uses a haynet I really don't think a hay bag would work for him - he spins it round picking bits from all over, I don't think I've ever seen him settle and eat from one spot. It was a good idea though.

It does seem like the trend is for smaller and smaller holes to slow down consumption. At this rate I'll be back to making my own with baler twine like we did as kids! Oh well, I guess I could claim I was recycling 🤣
 
Monkey has taken years to eat from small holes, even now he gets bored with putting that much effort in and walks away. I have a couple of old big-hole nets, I still use them in the trailer (they just get hay loose in dolavs at home).

I can’t honestly say I’ve seen any big, big-holed nets in years, but I’m off to National Equine Show next week so will keep an eye out on the trade stands for you.
 
I will have a look at what's in her box. I know I changed to slow feeder type. But will have kept the old ones
I could always ask the liveries / local horse peeps if they've got anything kicking around that's not used anymore.
 
carthorse said:
Thanks @Trewsers but they're small holes, even the bigger mesh is only 6cm which is just over 2"
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Ah, I didn't know how big they were. Bummer, hope you find some. I used to have some really big holed nets that were Shires but I haven't seen those in a while. Last ones I got were Shires from our local feed place but they are just average sized holes.
 
I won’t link or name for fear of attracting spam, but I just got one of these for Monkey when we go away after he got his leg though his haynet tied on the gate last time. I’ve not used it yet, I doubt it will last years but it seems reasonably sturdy.
IMG_3130.png
 
It's still not big holes though @Jessey, and Luka being Luka I suspect that if it went on the floor he'd either get a leg caught in the handles, kill it or be convinced it was going to kill him. Or all three :rolleyes:
 
What about making your own net?
I know that's easier said than done.

Or order the 4" and see if you can remove some of it without it falling apart?
 
@newforest the 4" hole size is ok, but the net size itself isn't very big at 42" - it says it holds up to 6.5kg of hay and maybe it does if you use conventional bales and don't shake up the slices first, but taking it off a big bale I can't get close to that in. The ones @Frances144 tagged are meant to hold more so I'll order some of them to try.
 
carthorse said:
It's still not big holes though @Jessey, and Luka being Luka I suspect that if it went on the floor he'd either get a leg caught in the handles, kill it or be convinced it was going to kill him. Or all three :rolleyes:
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The holes are at least 4”, Im convinced it won’t work for what I intended it for because Monkey will easily get his feet through them.
 
Jessey said:
The holes are at least 4”, Im convinced it won’t work for what I intended it for because Monkey will easily get his feet through them.
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I was just going by the measurements on the photo which say 2.75", though I also don't like the idea of it being on the floor and the design is more like a haybag. I use nets reluctantly, over the years I've come to the conclusion the less horses have to catch and injure themselves on the better.
 
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I totally understand that, if there’s trouble to get in Monkey, Dan or Hank will get in it! Jess is the only sensible one of the lot!
 
Someone here has a horse that got it's hoof in a plastic ground feeder. They do paw at things and if things are on the ground especially if shod like hers is.

Apologies had to edit the utter typo tosh here before
 
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