A Donkey Diary: Slow Feeder

Monday, October 22, 2012

Slow Feeder - full size bag

Today I received my full bale size slow feeder bag from NAG Bags, a Canadian company. I really like these bags because the webbing is soft and has no knots. The cord to tie it closed is thick, soft and strong and It seems very safe and easy for the donkeys to access hay and straw.

I have been using the mini size bags for 1 lb. servings of local hay but I thought I'd like to try the full bale size bag for barley straw. This way I know they will have something to eat all night long - great for long, dark winter nights.

At first, Dorrie commanded the whole bag, shifting her body around so that no one else could get near, but then Siog worked her way in and eventually, they all did. They ate for three solid hours and then I dragged the bag away - I'm a firm believer in making changes slowly, especially to diet.

I won't leave the bag out overnight tonight but I'll bring it out for them tomorrow again and see how they do. With the mini size bags, I've been using the ones with small 1" hole spacing. For this full bale bag I decided to go with the larger hole spacing of 1.5" since I'm using it for straw and not hay. I figure there will eventually be a limit to the amount of straw they will eat but after watching them today, I could be wrong!

Here they are:

2 comments:

Mary @ StaleCheeriosOctober 23, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Cool!

I would love to hear how it holds up and what you think of it after several months. We have hay rings at our rescue, but I've been thinking some sort of netting or large hay bag would help us reduce waste even more.

cheers,

Mary
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Mary AnnaOctober 26, 2012 at 4:41 PM
It is so good to see all four of your donkeys eating together. I have been thinking of slow feeder bags, and despite not having small bales, I believe that if I put the mornings hay for all three weanlings into a square bale feeder, they would share it. They eat together now happily. Rosetta and Asshlee will need separate bags...Rosetta is reluctant to share; but with a slow feeder bag, the feed would not disappear so quickly and she might become less possessive. I checked the Nag Bag site (it has some great videos and information), and have just been trying to figure out which way to go. The black Morgans eat together, so one back will work for them. Dear old Mona is by herself now, across from the blacks and donkeys, because she eats slower now. So she gets her own bag. I could even hang the bags on the trunks of the fir trees if there is precipitation (not so common in this semi-arid dry country) so they can eat under their umbrellas’. Thanks for the video, it helped me with making up my mind.
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A Few Great recipes: salves & soaks for hooves and sores, etc.

Homemade Bug Spray:
In a large bowl, mix 1 Cup water, 1 Cup white or apple cider vinegar, 1 Cup Avon Skin So Soft. Add a few drops each Citronella Oil and Eucaplyptus Oil. Mix and pour into a spray bottle. Spray your donkey's coat making sure NOT to get it near their eyes and avoid putting it on any sores as the vinegar makes it sting a bit. This can also be put on a cloth and wiped over the donkey if she hates the spray bottle but I have found that clicker training works well to encourage them to stand still!

Healing Salve:
Steep 1/4 tsp. of golden seal powder + 1 tsp. of calendula (any part) in 1 cup of hot water for 1 hour. Strain and mix the "tea" with 1/8 Cup of aloe vera. Use as a healing salve on scrapes or sores.

Healing Wash:
Steep 1 tsp. calendula (any part) + 1/4 tsp. golden seal + 1 tsp comfrey (any part) in 1 cup of very hot water. Strain "tea" and cool. Pour into glass container and keep in the fridge. Use on a compress or soak for any type of sore or abscess or flush gums with the cooled tea in a syringe. I warm the liquid before using.

Hoof Disinfectant:
Mix together in a large bottle: 1 litre Listerine Mouth Wash (the "original" one) + 10 ml Betadine (tamed iodine)+ 1 Tbs. golden seal powder + 1 Tbs. Gentain powder or root. Fill a squeeze bottle with some and apply to hooves after cleaning them first - white line area and frogs. You can use a toothbrush to work it in. Will cleanse, disinfect and encourage new tissue growth.

Rose

I fell in love with Rose in 2011 when I saw her photo on Asspen Grove Miniature Donkeys' web site. Some times it's just that simple ... smitten and who knows why? Rose's full name is White Star Red Roses.
She is a "big" mini, standing just under the regulation size at 35.25 inches at the withers. Her build is stocky and she has a lovely white blaze on her face! Sadly her tail was bitten during a fight with a horse when she was much younger and never grew back - I may have to get her a tail extension!

Rose was born in Alberta in 1997 and has been trained in halter class and driving. This donkey is without a doubt the kindest animal I have ever met ... not a pushy bone in her, just sweetness.
I feel very lucky to have her join our family!

Heather

Heather is a character! At nine years old, she has had two foals and is a sturdy donkey full of pep. She and Rose have known each other for eight years and traveled here together. They are good buddies. Heather is very sweet but can hold her own too, she is strong and has lovely conformation. She has a lovely broad head, like a sheep!

She is really fun to be with, keen and smart. She loves clicker training and always asks for more. At clinics she is everyone's favourite donkey. Heather and Siog have become buddies as they are just a year apart in age.

Siog

Siog arrived on Friday, November 5, 2010. Her Gaelic name means "young Fairy" and is pronounced "She-OH-g." She came from Pender Island and has the same father as Dorica. Ebony is just as his name suggests, jet black and Siog takes after him. Mom, Sidhe, is a sturdy pure white donkey and Siog's only genetic inheritance from her mom is a splash of white hair, like the milky way, on her forehead.

Siog has been here for two years now and a genuine character! She is very clicker savvy and VERY smart! She can be a bit of a prima dona, thinking the world turns just for her but with clicker training, I can usually change her mood. She LOVES clicker training!

Dorrie

Inis Eile Dorcha (we call her Dorica) was born on Pender Island on the summer solstice,1998. Her Gaelic name means "dark one." She's a Mediterranean miniature donkey, sometimes referred to as a "Sicilian" donkey. We bought her when she was 6 years old and so she has been here the longest and has known Annie, Ringo and Deenah ... a lot of comings and goings!

This little donkey has the sweetest disposition imaginable! She is curious and so willing. She is the donkey of my heart, although I adore all of the others, there's something magical about Dorrie!

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Monday, October 22, 2012

Slow Feeder - full size bag

2 comments: