Here are a couple of picture of what my horses did for the better part of this blustery winter day. This is the hay feeder that I drew up and had a friend help me build. It isn't really finished yet, but the weather got crappy. So put it out to use for the winter and will put the finishing touches on it this summer, while the horses are on pasture.
No they haven't tried to get in it, even when we open the door which is the entire small side swings around they just back off and go around to a different side, or wait. They would have to step up over the sides and they are 34" high, not impossible, but they don't want to exert that much energy, to go into something that may resemble a stall. So far it has saved me a shit load of hay. It holds two round bales, and allows all 13 horses to pile in to eat, they just have to find the right horse to stand next to. I only have to fill it twice a week, and it is built on skids so it is easy to move around the pasture if need be. Although I did find a stray kitten maybe 4-6 months old, with a really bad bite wound that was abscessed and oozing buried down in the hay in the feeder TODAY in this frigid cold. He is now resting in a nice warm cage at the vets office being treated.
AAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW poor kitty How cool for you Cindy!!! Do you have anything that you would change on it?
Yes, I would put a longer overhang on the short sides. The long sides have about a foot overhang on the roof, but the short sides the kid cut off flush. That is one of the things that I want to try to change this summer while they are out on pasture. My dad thought I had built it too tall, but I measured three of our taller horses and wanted it tall enough that if they started playing and jerked their heads up, I didn't want them hitting their heads. The Belgium has about 3" head clearance when standing up.
I think you did a beautiful job! Please keep us posted on any updates... as time goes by... what adjustments you would make if any.. (besides the overhang)
I love it ... can you get pics with the "doors" open?? how did you hinge them?? that is too cool I want one
I will try to get more close up pictures over the weekend. The doors are hung on gate hinges. Bracing was one of the big concerns, with the horses pushing on it, and moving it. I will try to get pictures of the bracing.
