As part of my Paddock Paradise I will, of course, be including slow feeders. I am looking at the various small mesh hay nets to buy and I have also purchased two blue plastic barrels to build some barrel feeders with as seen on the Wetpaint site. I was anxious to see how Frankie would do with a small mesh net so until I make a decisions as to what I want to buy I went to Walmart and found a crab net. The netting seemed strong although thin and had about 1.5' holes, it was nylon and it came on a big metal net handle. I slipped some baling twine through the net that was woven onto the metal ring and then removed the ring. It made a perfect two chunk hay net!
I had no expectations of this net being in one piece by morning. I figures that even though I gave Frankie and Emma some loose hay to satisfy them they would still tear up the net. I had to try however and was very curious as to how Frankie, the destroyer of round bales, would react. To my utter delight he did great! The first bite was a shock and then in just minutes he figures out how to nibble at the hay. He actually seemed to like it as did Emma, as if it was a fun game. The next morning I immediately inspected the net and found only one small tear. So we went for another day and night and had just one more hole. I was still pleased considering this was a crab net and not very thick netting at that.
On the third day I came home from work and noticed that Emma was standing in the run-in doorway with the net on her head? So I tip toe through the mud in my dress shoes to see what she has done and yes, the net was stuck in her horns! This is one of the reasons they tell you to not get a pet goat with horns but she was a rescue and came to me this way so I have to just deal with it. It took me a couple minutes to get her untangles as she had both horns stuck in it. She waited patiently while I got her loose and then ran for some hay to eat. She seemed no worse for wear and the net even survived the attack!
lesson to the story...TIE THE NET HIGHER!
I have found you. I will be interested to follow your story. I hang my nets from trees: mine are small hole nets from our local tack shop. I double tie them to a metal ring that is screwed to the tree. I have two places on my track, at diagonally opposing corners, with two haynets at each place.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of your area, with the hills and trees it should make a fantastic track. Good luck, I love mine.
Máire
Hi Mari, thanks for being my first commentor! I have been chipping away at my track and as soon as I get some extra cash (about two weeks) I will be able to finish it. I wish my local tack shop had samll holed nets. Tehy just have the old fashioned kind with big 5" holes. It is expencive ordering them but I am looking into what is best. I will keep up the blog as new info deve,opes!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Barbara