The Buddy Feeder
A handcrafted quality built slow feed wooden hay feeder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of maintenance is required?
What kind of maintenance is required?
Like any other structures or fixtures in your horse's environment, you should routinely check that the Buddy Feeder is in good working condition. Depending on the environment you are in, you may want to periodically rinse the feeder with water to get mud off, etc. and remove any hay bits so build-up does not occur.
How much hay fits in there and how long does it last?
How much hay fits in there and how long does it last?
This depends greatly on the size bales you get. Also, only you know your horses! Some people prefer to put an entire 80-100lb bale in and let their horses graze until its gone a few days later. Others prefer to put half a bale in or a few flakes and refill as needed on a daily basis. Monitor your horses' eating patterns over the first few days and you will be able to determine what works for you and them. Regardless, you should always check the feeder to make sure it's in good working order.
This depends greatly on the size bales you get. Also, only you know your horses! Some people prefer to put an entire 80-100lb bale in and let their horses graze until its gone a few days later. Others prefer to put half a bale in or a few flakes and refill as needed on a daily basis. Monitor your horses' eating patterns over the first few days and you will be able to determine what works for you and them. Regardless, you should always check the feeder to make sure it's in good working order.
Will the hay that's in the feeder get wet?
If you station the Buddy Feeder outside, then yes, it will get wet when it rains. Just as the hay would get wet if someone threw the hay on the ground. However, the feeder has holes at the bottom so that water does not collect or pool in the feeder. In addition, dirt, dust, and hay bits will fall through the holes as well to make for a cleaner feeding, less chance of choke due to ingesting small hay bits and less chance of sand colic since they won't be coming in contact with the ground.
Will my horses' teeth be affected by the metal grate?
Will my horses' teeth be affected by the metal grate?
All horses are different and you should routinely monitor your horses' health, including any signs of unusual wear on the teeth. As you can see in the video on the Home page, our horses use their lips to grab the hay, then pull with their teeth. It is a powder-coated black metal grate and if a horse was to chew the metal (which we have yet to see), we'd expect the same type of wear a horse would get if they were to chew on anything metal whether a door hinge, stall divider, rail, etc.
How do I load the feeder?
How do I load the feeder?
Slide out the metal grate, add hay, and slide the metal grate back in. FINISHED!
Are there different size Buddy Feeders?
Yes, check out the Quality Feeders page for the different feeders we construct and sell. The dimensions are provided there as well.