Round Bale Feeder With a Net: How to Set Up Slow Feeding on a Ring
How to turn a poly hay ring into a slow feeder: which mesh size for which horse, Net Topper vs full bale bag, mounting with a pipe kit, refilling, and the teeth myth answered.
Short answer: put a NAG Bag Net Topper over the bale inside your poly ring and clip it to a pipe kit. Pick 1.5" mesh for most horses, 2" for big horses or coarse hay, 2.75" for cattle and drafts, and 1" for a hard keeper on a diet. A bale that lasted four days lasts six to seven, waste drops to 2–4%, and the horses have hay in front of them all day instead of in three sittings. The Adjustable Poly Hay Ring ships with the net and pipe kit included; if you already own a ring, the Net Topper and a pipe kit are sold on their own.
Why a net on a ring
A ring stops trampling and bedding. A net stops sorting, bolting and wind. On its own each one leaves a third of the problem; together they get waste down to a few percent. The full numbers are in How Much Hay Does a Horse Actually Waste?
The other reason is the horse. Slow feeding keeps forage in the gut for more of the day, which is how horses are built to eat. Less bolting, fewer empty-stomach hours, and a calmer herd at the bale. We covered the health side in 5 Benefits of Slow Feeders.
Which mesh size
| Mesh | Who it is for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | Hard keepers on a diet, minis, ponies | Slowest. A bale lasts a week or more. Watch that they are still getting enough. |
| 1.5" | Most horses | The usual pick. Bale lasts six to seven days for four horses. |
| 2" | Bigger horses, coarse or stemmy hay, cold snaps | Faster. Good when you want them eating more in a cold week. |
| 2.75" | Cattle, drafts, mixed herds | Mostly waste control. Little slowing. |
If you are between sizes, go smaller for an easy keeper and bigger for a hard keeper, an older horse, or a herd with a timid low-ranking horse who needs to get his share. You can always buy a second net in the other size; they swap in a minute.
Net Topper vs full bale bag
The Net Topper is a closed-top cylinder that sits over the bale inside a ring. It is the right pick when you have a ring, because the ring holds the bale up and the net only has to control the top and sides.
The Round Bale Bag is a full bag the bale sits inside, for feeding without a ring. It works, but on the ground it gets stood on and peed on, and you need to tip the bale to fit it. If you have a poly ring, the topper is cheaper and easier.
Mounting it
- Set the ring around the bale and snug the panels in.
- Run the pipe kit around the top edge of the ring. It is 3/4" poly pipe with a connector, cut to your ring size, and it clips on with zip ties.
- Pull the Net Topper over the bale, with the closed end up.
- Clip the net's bottom edge onto the pipe all the way round. The pipe is what keeps the net from being pulled off or pulled into the bale.
The ring ships with the pipe kit. If you are adding a net to a ring you already own, order the pipe kit in the same size as your ring.
Refilling
Unclip one side of the net, lift it, drop the next bale in, pull the net back down, clip. Two people is faster; one person is fine. Shake out the old chaff in the bottom of the ring first so it does not mould under the new bale.
The teeth myth
People worry that nets wear teeth. Grazing wears teeth too; it is what teeth are for. The real dental and gut problems come from the opposite, long gaps with no forage. What causes the damage people blame on nets is a small net hung at eye height with tiny mesh, where the horse is grabbing at it with its incisors all day. A round bale net in a ring sits at ground level, the horse eats head-down as it would on pasture, and the mesh is sized so it pulls hay through instead of biting at the net. Read 11 Tips to Prevent Damage with Slow Feeder Nets for the rest.
Uncle Jeeter says: "Start at 1.5 inch. If they finish the bale before you expect, go smaller. If the old mare is losing weight, go bigger. The net will tell you."
Questions people ask
Will the net get caught on a shoe?
Shod horses and nets are a known combination to avoid, on any net. Barefoot or hind-shoes-only herds are the usual setup at a round bale.
How long does a net last?
Ours are into their fourth winter. The knotless nylon does not rot; the wear point is where they chew on it, which slows once they figure out the mesh.
Can I use it in a steel ring?
You can tie one on, but the bars still let a leg through and the net snags on rusted welds. See Poly vs Metal Hay Rings.
Which size net for which ring?
The Net Topper is sold by ring diameter, 5, 6, 7 or 8 ft. Measure your ring, not your bale. Sizing help in How to Size a Hay Ring.
Next step: Ring and net together, or the Net Topper on its own if you already have a ring. Not sure on mesh? Message the barn.
