Horse peeps, does anyone have the hay hut?

[twentynine]

$700 is way to rich for me.

I use 900# - 1200# round bales, bought a $129 metal hay ring from TSC. Horses have not had the slightest problem using it.

900# - 1200# bale cost me $25 from my nieghbor, I give him an additional $5 for bringing it over and placing in the field.

 

[Hennypen]

You can afford to waste your hay. You're lucky.

Quality hay here is $85. (pick up) or $115 (delivered) for a 900 lb roll.

On a rainy week like this has been the Hayhut has essentially saved me $85. THAT is what makes them great- waste reduction. My horses never get wet and possibly moldy hay.

And I don't have a big pile of unused muddy hay because the horses won't eat it. Just a much cleaner way of feeding hay in the pasture.

 

[EweSheep]

I thought maybe you guys put a wood ship pallets underneath the hay to keep it dry.

May not be a bad product at all! At least we did see a few guinea pigs using them and happy about it!

 

[Avalon1984]

Seen those at a store. Cheap plastic, mine would tear it apart and hurt themselves within an hour. We put rubber mats (@35 a piece) out in the runs and the horses get their hay on the maps. This way the don't eat off the ground (sand!!!) and they can make sute they eat every morsel opf hay.

 

[Hennypen]

I can speak from experience: In fact, I suggest everyone read testimonials and email people who are actually using them. THEY are the ones who have experienced the benefits of the Hayhut first hand; not people who have seen them in a store and started making assumptions and excuses for not wanting one.

As to the "cheap plastic".. it is rotational molded poly. It is VERY strong. Here are other livestock products made from the same material. You can see one horse standing in a feed trough. (same mfg, but you have to buy hayhuts through dealers) http://www.coonmfginc.com/ProductList.aspx
My mare who has a tendency to chew on EVERYTHING is too busy eating her dry hay inside the Hayhut and doesn't touch the hut with her teeth. If she has the urge to chew on something she chews on hay. This is the same mare who ripped her Shelter Logic hoop style run-in shelter to shreds within a day. So I do have experience with a VERY destructive horse and I had the same concerns only to find out my worry was all for not.

As to the plastic not holding up, there are STILL -12 years later - old versions up and working fine after 12 years that are made from the same material. (These are the old one piece style that couldn't be easily shipped).

I would never put an unprotected pallet in the field with horses. The pallet is to keep air circulation under the bale and prevent water from wicking up. With the Hayhut, because a horse can't get inside, you can safely put a pallet under the bale and keep it off the ground.

A rubber mat does nothing to stop rain water from ruining the bale in a downpour. It does nothing to prevent the horse from ripping hay out of the bale or using that hay as a bed or a toilet.

You'd be happy as well knowing you didn't waste 30% of the hay (based on the Univ of Minnesota study) to 100% (if a new bale got moldy) every time you bought a round bale.

Do the math, Hayhuts DO pay for themselves in a few months!

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
That is exactly what I meant, not for use outside without any barrier around it. Its too dangerous to put pallets out by themselves.

 

[Hennypen]

While we're on the subject of hay... Never store hay direct on the ground inside a barn and the strings should be out. Better circulation.