All the Benefits of Slow Feeding
Without the Problems
Why use a slow feed hay net?
K-bale feeders were created to provide the benefits of slow feeding without all the problems associated with using traditional slow feed nets. No more frozen nets and frozen knots. Its patented design keeps hay off the ground and can be loaded with or WITHOUT a tractor. Have your bale in the feeder, with the net on, in less than a minute.
Why use slow feed net feeders for your horse?
Mimics natural grazing.
Keeps insulin levels even.
Slows digestion.
Regulates consumption.
Consistent fibre intake.
Helps with the natural wear of teeth.
Can eliminate bad habits due to boredom.
Keeps horses occupied, especially cribbers.
Helps produce saliva.
Naturally relieves existing bronchial & inhalant type allergies.
Many slow net options are available to purchase, but all come with the same problems. They become wet, dirty, heavy and difficult to put on a bale. Traditional hay nets freeze to the ground in winter and the knots become frozen. The whole net is cumbersome making it difficult to empty the wet wasted hay. In wetter seasons a large portion of the bale will get soaked and be inedible. This only causes more waste and yes more clean up. By not having the wasted hay, your paddocks will stay much cleaner over the winter meaning less clean up in the spring. The hay cradle is easily moved as well, leaving the paddocks even cleaner come spring.
All K-bale feeders are made of high quality powder coated steel with rounded smooth edges providing safety for the horses and peace of mind for the owners.
The K-bale Hay Cradle keeps the bale 2" up off the ground eliminating wet/wasted hay. The patented design does not freeze to the ground. The cradle shape is easily dislodged from ice by stepping on the corner of the unit.
The arm which holds the slow feed net easily expands to fit over the bale and sits flush to the cradle. The entire unit can be moved by hand with the ski like cradle bottom making it easy to slide. You can easily drag it or move it with a tractor.
You can roll a round bale into the cradle by hand or place a round bale into the cradle with a tractor.
Did you know?
Feeding horses with a slow feed net is best practice for many reasons!
Horses were built to graze. As we keep them in stables and/or small fields, it is good practice to provide them with their natural needs in mind. Most horse owners do not have 100’s of acres for their horses to roam free, walking and eating for 20 hours a day.
Naturally stimulating a horses brain and digestive track with a slow feed hay net can be the next best thing!
The digestive track of a horse needs a steady flow of forage to maintain balance. A horse that goes without feeding for a period of time each day (even a few hours) will be more exposed to ulcers, colic, behavioural issues, weaving, aggressive behaviour, choking or cribbing.
Horses need structure to thrive...
Stress: Horses are not meant to go hours without food. They are meant to graze throughout the day and even overnight. Unlike carnivores that eat when they kill, the horse is meant to continuously eat so they can be ready to flee from a predator at anytime. Without food, they become stressed and stress as we know can lead to illness.
Stress causes the release of a hormone called “cortisol” which elevates the amount of insulin in the body.
Insulin aids in the extraction of nutrients from food and changes in the amounts of insulin produced has been linked to the following concerns in our equine partners:
Behavioural Issues.
Cushings Disease.
Weight Management Issues.
Laminitis.
Developmental Issues in growing horses including skeletal issues / OCD, etc.
Slow feeding free choice hay will reduce stress which will bring insulin levels back to normal.
But my horse will get fat! He eats everything in sight!
Horses that have a sluggish metabolic rate will gain weight quickly. The slow metabolic rate has developed over time because a horse of this nature has responded negatively to being without food during the day or night.
Their body in turn will conserve body fat. Changing this metabolic rate will require regular exercise and free range forage.
Enter Slow Feed Nets…
Horse owners can provide horses free forage while eliminating the ability to gorge. **Please note: Horses are not naturally aggressive eaters. Horses have learned this behavior due to the stress of going without food for hours on end in a stall.
How much hay should your horse be eating?
Horses should be eating 1.5-2.5% of their body weight per day.
Take into consideration that horses nibble on forage for approx. 18-20 hours a day, slow feed nets allow this hay to last.
“The purpose of a slow feeding system is to simulate grazing. Horses in nature eat small amount of forage as they wander in search of the next tasty morsel! They eat virtually night and day taking time to socialize and rest every so often for a few moments at a time. When they know that they always have access to forage, they become calm and relaxed, rest more often and walk away from their hay knowing that it will still be there when they return. In other words, they “self regulate” and only eat what they need to maintain a healthy body condition.”
– Juilet M. Getty- PH D
BENEFITS OF A SLOW FEED NET
Bringing slow feed nets into your feeding program will benefit your horses mental and physical health.
Slow feed nets have smaller holes (1.5-1.75 inch) than regular hay nets which slow the feeding down. You do not want the holes any smaller as you can cause frustration or stress to the horse if they are unable to extract the hay from the net.
You want to ensure the materials used to make the net are strong. It is not recommended to try and make your own or buy one with cheaper fabric. Cheaper fabric can unravel, break, cause teeth damage or cause colic if the fibres are swallowed by the horse.
Slow feed nets come in a variety of sizes from stall feeders to large hay nets. Choose what works best for your situation.
Remember with slow feed nets: No Shoes, No Problem! If your horse has shoes, you will need to take precautions when using a slow feed net. Make sure the net is high enough off the ground that your horse can not get their shoes caught in the net. Horses like to paw and the nets can easily get caught if precautions aren't taken
Putting your horses health first is an investment that will save you in the end. Consider the simplicity of slow feeding your horse. They will thank you for it! An investment in a slow feed net can prevent common health issues and save you money and time!
Load Round Bales by hand in Minutes!
Why Choose K-bale?
Our Hay Cradle and our Stall Feeders were created to provide all of the benefits of slow feeding without the problems associated with using traditional slow feed nets.
Both the Hay Cradle and Stall Feeders are made from powder coated steel with rounded edges providing safe feeding for the horses and peace of mind for their owners. They come with durable 6mm nylon netting which is UV protected.
Both the Hay Cradle and the Stall Feeders come with all the hardware to install as well as the net. Replacement nets can be purchased for both.
The Hay Cradles patented design keeps hay off the ground and can be loaded with or WITHOUT a tractor! Have your bale in the feeder with the net on in less than one minute.
The Stall feeders will cut feeding time in the barn in less than half, while providing all the health benefits of slow feeding with zero waste....and less clean up.
Happy Horses, Happy Life!
People are raving over K-bale Hay Feeders!
Questions?
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FAQ
Find information on shipping, returns, and more.
How long will it take to receive my order?
Delivery times vary depending on your location and shipping method.
All orders are processed within 1-2 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order confirmation email. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped. If you have questions regarding the processing time of your piece, contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
How much is domestic shipping?
We offer a flat shipping rate of $20 per unit. For more information about the shipping time, you can inquire by sending an email to [email protected]
Do you offer international shipping?
International shipping times and prices are dependent on location and carrier choice. To ensure that we ship to your country, check if your country is available for delivery on the checkout page or contact us at [email protected]. Please note that additional customs fees may apply.
Can I return or exchange an item if I'm not satisfied?
We have a 5-day return policy, which means you have 5 days after receiving your item to request a return. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. To start a return, you can contact us at [email protected]. If your return is accepted, we’ll send you instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted. You can always contact us for any return questions at [email protected].
Damages and issues:
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Refunds:
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method within 10 business days. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too. If more than 15 business days have passed since we’ve approved your return, please contact us at [email protected]
How can I track my order?
Once your order has shipped, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number. You can use this tracking number to monitor the status of your delivery online.
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467435 12th Concession B , Feversham ON N0C 1C0
Phone: +1 705-430-1050
Email: [email protected]
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