| FAQ |  |
Do you have a guarantee/warrantee on the nets?
We do stand behind our product. However, these are horses we are talking about. Please just send me an email at Info@FreedomFeeder.com and we will do our very best to make sure you are a happy Freedom Feeder customer.
Will my horse chew through the net?
Freedom Feeders are made from 250# test woven 3mm nylon. They are extremely durable. The horses are going for the hay in the net, not the net. However, horses are horses. The key is to never let the net go empty especially when first transitioning horses onto the nets. They may get frustrated when they have an abundance of hay in front of them and then it's gone and they try to keep finding it somewhere in that net!
How long with my Freedom Feeder last?
Depending on how many horses are using the nets but we have had some in use for more than a year. If you are asking how long it will take a horse to empty a net, the average horse will consume 2% of it's body weight in forage. So a 1000# horse will consume 20# of forage. The Extended Day net should last close to a day and a half.
Is it normal for the netting to "fray"?
Yes. This material is actually a 250# test 3mm nylon shrimp fishing netting. It is designed to hold up to some pretty harsh environments. The outer weave binds with use and protects the inner structure of the weave. This binding tends to look "frayed".
Will my horse get fat with all that hay?
Many horses do get a hay belly at first. Think of it like being on a very restricted diet where your stomach has been burning with digestive acid for a very long time. Then you go off the diet and are allowed to eat all you want at your favorite restaurant. You eat until you want to pop, then realize that there's still food and it's not going anywhere soon. Horses are the same way, we are re-training them to trust that they will never have acid burning their stomachs again and that they can trust that the food will always be there for them when they need it.
We have had some horses that have taken up to 2 months before they slow down. We actually had to add more bags to their stalls until they finally felt safe that they weren't going to run out. Ultimately they do start walking away and begin to self-regulate their intake. The hay belly goes away, their temperament gets more relaxed, many stall vices are greatly reduced if not eliminated and you have a truly grazing animal back.
If you have an IR or cushinoid horse, it may be best to use the nets only to slow down their eating until their weight stabilizes. It's also best with these horses to have a hay analysis so you can get a hay that is the very least in non-structural carbs and sugars.
What kind of hay can I put into the Freedom Feeder?
You can put any kind of hay in the Freedom Feeder Small Mesh Hay Nets. It is best to use them for forage hays (bermuda, timothy, orchard, teff etc) Although you can put alfalfa into the nets, the leaf will fall through. We find it best to use the nets for forage and feed just enough alfalfa or protein to keep the top line on your horse from diminishing. Some easy keeper type horses get enough calories from forage alone.
How many nets should I put up?
If you are using the Mini/Trailer size net, you will need at least 2 per horse per day. Which is why we made the Extended Day nets. We got tired of filling the small ones. We recommend one more Extended Day net than you have horses if they are all out together. Spread them out so the horses are encouraged to move from net to net creating exercise and reducing competition for feed. Once everyone is satiated, they may start finding their favorite feeding station and sharing nets. Even with one horse if you have 2 nets separated on opposite sides of it's area it will create movement as the horse goes from one net to the other seeing if the "grass is greener".
Does the net hold up in weather?
We've had the nets in snow, wind, rain, and sun. No problem. Hay doesn't stay in them long enough to get moldy and with all the openings there is plenty of ventilation if it did stay in it long enough.
Can I wash my Freedom Feeder Small Mesh Hay Nets?
Sure! They're nylon. They wash great. Take off the strings and clips so nothing gets tangled though.
How high should I hang the net?
Optimally the nets should be hung as low as possible for proper grazing. You can even use the strings to lace the nets closed across the top then throw them on the ground like a hay pillow.
If your horses are shod you can put them over a feed bin to prevent them from pawing and possibly getting a shoe stuck. You can also hang the bottom of the net at chest height which is also out of reach from shoes.
If we haven't covered your question, please send us an email at Info@FreedomFeeder.com
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