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How do you stop a horse from chewing on wood?
Sun, 2010-02-07 22:23
At the moment an issue me and my dad are dealing with is trying to keep our horses from chewing on the wood of their stalls. They have literally chewed through the wall that divides their two stalls. We keep having to nail up boards to keep them in their individual stalls but of course this does not last long. They have even chewed on some small trees that were growing by the barn. Have any of ya'll had to deal with this? How would you solve this matter?
Mon, 2010-02-08 09:57
#2
If you change the boards
If you change the boards don't use woanized or treated lumber. They treat them with a petrolium based solution that could make an animal real sick.
I try to feed my animals as low as I can. Since they are grazeing animals they were ment to eat with their heads down. When they eat by lifting their heads all the hay dust and seeds has a tendancy to get in their eyes and cause problems.
I also get the coursest hay I can find. If it ain't mouldy I feed feeder hay when I can get it. We have a mule that is 30YO and never had to have his teeth floated. I lay it to feeding good course ruffage.
Mon, 2010-02-08 10:15
#3
I think (though not 100%
I think (though not 100% sure) we are going to replace them with scaffold boards that dad is able to get being that he is in the construction field of work. I guess they are of less value to him and he wants to save the cypress ones. Though like I said im not totally positive.
Mon, 2010-02-08 09:40
#4
HAY
I keep some rough hay hanging in front of them at all times.
gives them something to do and chew on besides my facilites.
Now I buy bottom bale that most horse folk would not touch with a ten foot pole. Have been buying them for years for the cattle.
when i got the equines I started them on the same hay and they have done well.
I use hay nets and hang it high and the little bit of gunk from being on the ground falls into the stall as they pull on the bales.
since I switched to hay nets and keep hay up my chewing problems have gone away.
Mon, 2010-02-08 09:56
#5
We use metal racks that my
We use metal racks that my dad made by welding pipes together. We fill up their hay racks every night when we feed up and let them out into the field early in the mornings to lessen the time that they are in the stalls. Is the hay net hung outside of the stalls?
Mon, 2010-02-08 11:09
#6
stalls
my stalls are more like run in sheds but they have gates so that I can shut them in.
I keep the hay in the stalls but the animals are seldom shut in.
Since we have been covered up with snow they stall in the stable a lot and they have eaten a lot of hay.
Mostly because they are bored. If they did not have the hay they would have chewed on the building.
Mon, 2010-02-08 11:58
#7
Ah ok. Ours is an old barn
Ah ok. Ours is an old barn where the stalls are at the back of the barn and the front part is all open. We give them a good bit of hay but we can always increase that amount and see if that will help. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get them to stop. Thanks.
Mon, 2010-02-08 07:51
#8
Cribbing
Go down to your local supermarket and visit the spice rack.Get you a bag of bulk chillie powder. Mix it with water to a thick past and paint it on their favorite chew spots with a paint brush. It will flat change their minds about chewing.
Mon, 2010-02-08 09:42
#9
Hmm ok. We are probably
Hmm ok. We are probably going to take the boards off that are not chewed and replace them with a different type of wood (least this is what i was told lol). We have cypress boards up now and I guess my dad wants to save them. Thanks.
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This is a very common problem that as been addressed by many. It goes way back.
I believe with some horses it is simply a matter of being bored. Some times a toy of some sort hanging from the ceiling will help. I had one mare that played with a teather ball. It stopped her chewing the boards.
The idea of a spicy mix spread on the boards will work with many.
Other times it may be something lacking in their diet. Maybe place a small protein lick in the feeders.
And, finally, I have seen some horses that no matter what they do, the horse still eats down the stall.
Good luck.