Steaming hay - does anyone do this?

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pompypigs

pompypigs

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I've been reading on various horse forums today about steaming hay to remove mould & dust - has anyone any experience of this & if so would it work for piggies? I am intrigued {:|
 
I know of the practice. However, I do not believe it would be viable, or economical, for a cavy owner.
 
From my understanding, it is not ideal to store steamed hay - it has to be feed the day it is steamed. Naturally, it can be stored for several hours, but should be used within a twenty-four hour period.

Therefore, would it be realistic to steam the small quantity of hay a cavy consumes daily? I do not believe so. Of course, if you have tenths of cavies it would be more practical. I hope that makes sense. :{
 
Guinea-pigGaga said:
From my understanding, it is not ideal to store steamed hay - it has to be feed the day it is steamed. Naturally, it can be stored for several hours, but should be used within a twenty-four hour period.

Therefore, would it be realistic to steam the small quantity of hay a cavy consumes daily? I do not believe so. Of course, if you have tenths of cavies it would be more practical. I hope that makes sense. :{
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Ah I see, didn't realise it had to be used so soon after steaming - thanks x
 
If it's something you want to try (thinking you may have a severely allergic pig or something?) smaller quantities could easily be steamed in a sieve/colander in a large lidded pot. If you use a hay rack you could just change it daily. I change my piggies hay (in a hay bin) daily anyway.
 
skrikopanik said:
If it's something you want to try (thinking you may have a severely allergic pig or something?) smaller quantities could easily be steamed in a sieve/colander in a large lidded pot. If you use a hay rack you could just change it daily. I change my piggies hay (in a hay bin) daily anyway.
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I was just intrigued by it - can't even remember how I found out about it to be honest :))
I just wondered if it would be safe to give to piggies really once it had been steamed or whether it would be damp etc x
 
pompypigs said:
Ah I see, didn't realise it had to be used so soon after steaming - thanks x
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It's a shame, because I wouldn't mind practicing steaming. Hopefully, someone more involved in the equine world could give more insight into this practice. I have considered soaking hay, but from my understanding the hay loses much of its nutritional value in the process.

It would be interesting to see if anyone on the forum does practice steaming. Perhaps, someone on the forum owns a horse, and steamer, and often takes home steamed hay for their rabbits, cavies etc. Would steamed hay be a good enough excuse to get a horse . . . :)
 
I think steaming can also be used to kill parasites on/in hay - lice etc but no idea how long you would need to steam it for but you could use an electric steamer for food quite easily.

Ideally though you would be buying the best hay and hence there should be no mould and fingers crossed no nasties.....
 
lovelygirl said:
I think steaming can also be used to kill parasites on/in hay - lice etc but no idea how long you would need to steam it for but you could use an electric steamer for food quite easily.

Ideally though you would be buying the best hay and hence there should be no mould and fingers crossed no nasties.....
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Yes, I think it does kill them too.
I'm very happy with the hay I get - I get a bale from a local farm & it is lovely x)
 
When I had my horse the vet told us not to ever soak or wet hay because as it dries it releases more dust/spores and can result in more damage being caused. Might be worth checking with your vet first.
 
I have just purchased my first bale from the local farm, Pompy Pig. Even though I am very pleased with my purchase, I can understand you desire to want to steam hay which has come straight from the field.
 
Romily said:
When I had my horse the vet told us not to ever soak or wet hay because as it dries it releases more dust/spores and can result in more damage being caused. Might be worth checking with your vet first.
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OMG really - people on the horse forums have forked out over £350 for steamers to reduce dust/spores :{
 
Maybe steaming has a different effect it was soaking hay that we were told never to do, mind you that was a few years ago and maybe the advice has changed!
 
Romily said:
When I had my horse the vet told us not to ever soak or wet hay because as it dries it releases more dust/spores and can result in more damage being caused. Might be worth checking with your vet first.
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When I was a volunteer at the local farm, there was an Exmoor Pony who could not eat dry hay as it would inrritate her respiratory system. Therefore, her hay would be soaked. From my understanding, this is just one reason to soak hay, and, from what I recall, the idea is that irritates in the hay, e.g. dust spores, are ingested rather than inhaled. :{
 
Guinea-pigGaga said:
When I was a volunteer at the local farm, there was an Exmoor Pony who could not eat dry hay as it would inrritate her respiratory system. Therefore, her hay would be soaked. From my understanding, this is just one reason to soak hay, and, from what I recall, the idea is that irritates in the hay, e.g. dust spores, are ingested rather than inhaled. :{
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Exactly that it would be to reduce spore being inhaled into ponies with copd etc by making the dust less volatile.... Soaking is god for ponies who get too fat to reduce the nutrional quality of the hay, but we are talking soaking for several hours.
 
Just had another read of one of the companies sites that sell the steamers & they say this:
Steaming your hay ensures that fungal spores, bacteria and dust mites are killed off (something that is not done simply by soaking) and all potentially airborne dust particles are sufficiently dampened down and neutralized, helping to prevent respiratory damage.
 
Steamers for hay can be made relatively cheaply -large plastic drum with home made wooden lid bin pour boiling water in the bottom suspend haynet above the water close lid bobs your uncle.:))
 
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