Wall-mounted hay feeders and square bale nets: slow feeding inside the barn
Wall-mounted feeders, hanging bags and square bale nets for slow feeding inside the barn: capacity, mesh size, prices, mounting height and safety, and a bag for the trailer.
Short answer: for slow feeding inside the barn you have three options. A wall feeder such as the NAG Bag EZ Fill holds about five to six flakes and, mounted in a suitable spot, fills from outside the stall. A hanging net (Hanging, Mid-Day or Day Bag) holds three to eight flakes. A bale bag holds a whole square bale. Pick the mesh first, because 1.5 in suits most horses (NAG Bags net guide), then mount it with no projections a leg or shoe can catch on (Penn State Extension).
We run horses on our own place outside Sherwood Park. Round bale rings are for the paddock; this is the inside-the-barn version.
Wall feeder or hanging net?
A hanging net costs less than a wall feeder, but it has to be tied and untied every time you fill it. A wall feeder stays put. The EZ Fill is knotless nylon netting that mounts to a wall, stall front, fence rail or tree, and when it is installed in a suitable location you fill it by pushing hay through the front from outside the stall or paddock. Mounting hardware is included, and the page says to follow the supplied installation instructions.
| Feeder | Holds (approx.) | Price, 1.5 in mesh (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| EZ Fill, wall mount | 5–6 flakes | $94.95 |
| Hanging Bag | 3–4 flakes | $54.95 |
| Mid-Day Bag | 4–6 flakes | $64.95 |
| Day Bag | 6–8 flakes | $76.95 |
The 1 in mesh costs more on every one of them. Flake size and weight vary, so capacity is approximate. The hanging bags come with a strand of twine and a toggle.
Square bale bags
If you buy hay by the bale, a bag that holds the whole bale is an alternative to feeding loose flakes. The product pages all say to check your bale’s dimensions before you order.
| Bag | Holds | Price, 1.5 in mesh (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Square Bale Bag | One small square bale | $93.95 |
| Bale Slip Bag | Two small square bales | $203.95 |
| Three-Tie Square Bale Bag | One three-tie bale, up to 54 kg (120 lb) | $108.95 |
| Large Square Bale Bag | One large square bale, 4×4×6–7 ft or 4×4×7–8 ft | $362.95 (6–7 ft) / $415.95 (7–8 ft) |
Choosing a mesh
Mesh size is the whole decision with a slow feed net. The NAG Bags net guide sorts it like this:
- 1 in: minis, ponies and horses that have mastered 1.5 in. Very restricting, and not for fine, short hay blends.
- 1.5 in: most horses, and the most popular size.
- 2 in: working horses, hard keepers, and young or elderly horses. A good introduction size and a good one for colder months.
- 2.75 in: large breeds, elderly horses and cows. The guide lists it for feeder or tub use only.
Whatever you choose, offer loose hay alongside for the first week so the horse learns to pull from the net (EZ Fill page).
Mounting height and safety
A slow feeder is safe when it is mounted well and a hazard when it is not. Penn State Extension’s Horse Stall Design sheet, The Horse and our own product page agree on the basics.
- No projections. Penn State says stall hardware must be smooth, rugged and free of projections, and that hay fixtures need extreme caution because a horse’s leg can get caught if it kicks or rears near a rack or net. After you mount anything, run a hand over every screw head, clamp and zip-tie end, and cut, countersink or turn away whatever stands proud.
- Height. Penn State says the bottom of a hung rack, net or bag should sit at wither height: higher and hay dust falls into the eyes and nostrils, lower and the horse may get tangled. The EZ Fill page adds that a shod horse can catch a shoe on a net at ground level, so mount it high enough to stay out of pawing range.
- Not too high. A small University of Turin study of six horses (Valle et al., reported in The Horse) found nets set about 15 degrees above the withers shortened back muscles and closed the jaw angle. Valle says the knee-level net in that study was too low to use safely day to day.
- Placement. Valle advises against hanging a net in the corner where your horse rolls.
- Wear. Check the netting regularly, especially on a persistent or shod horse (EZ Fill page).
If your horse kicks, paws hard or has a history of getting caught, talk to your veterinarian or farrier first. Penn State’s alternative is a manger that starts flush with the floor, which lets the horse eat in a more natural position and is less likely to trap a leg.
Feeding on the road
The Trailer Bag is a compact slow feed bag for trailers and barn use, in 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.75 in mesh at $49.95 CAD ($58.25 for 1 in), with twine and a toggle included. Use the same rules as in the stall: tie it where the horse’s feet cannot reach it, and run loose hay alongside for the first week so a horse is not meeting a net for the first time on the highway.
What slow feeding saves
University of Minnesota Extension measured waste at 57% for a round bale fed on the ground with no feeder, and 5% to 6% from a netted feeder. Those are round bale figures, not flakes in a stall, so read them as the principle, not a promise for your barn. The math is in How much hay does a horse waste?, and the hay itself has to be clean before it goes in a net, which is what How to store hay so it doesn’t go mouldy covers. Everything we carry is in the hay feeders and slow feed nets collection.
Uncle Jeeter says: “Don’t just grab whichever net’s on sale and figure your horse will sort it out. Get the mesh wrong and you’ll have a horse that’s either eating too fast to do any good or standing there glaring at the net like it owes him money. Take two minutes to match the mesh to your horse and your hay — it’s the whole game.”
Questions people ask
How high should I mount a wall hay feeder?
Penn State Extension says the bottom of a hung rack, net or bag should sit at wither height. The EZ Fill page says to keep it high enough to stay out of pawing range and to follow the installation instructions supplied. If your horse paws or kicks, ask your veterinarian or farrier.
Is a hay net safe for a shod horse?
The EZ Fill page says yes with proper placement: mount it high enough to stay out of pawing range, or place it in a feeder, because a shod horse can catch a shoe on a net at ground level. The Horse reports that a net must hang where legs and shoes cannot get trapped. Check the netting for wear.
What mesh size should I start with?
Start with 1.5 in for most horses, or 2 in for working horses, hard keepers, and young or elderly horses (NAG Bags net guide). Move to 1 in only once a horse has mastered 1.5 in, and not with fine, short hay blends. Offer loose hay alongside for the first week.
Which square bale bag do I need?
Match the bag to the bale: Small Square Bale Bag for one small square, Bale Slip Bag for two small squares, Three-Tie Square Bale Bag for one three-tie bale up to 54 kg (120 lb), and Large Square Bale Bag for one large square at 4×4×6–7 ft or 4×4×7–8 ft. Measure the bale and message the barn if you are between sizes.
Sources: Penn State Extension, “Horse Stall Design” (Wheeler and Zajaczkowski); The Horse, “Hay-Feeder Height Affects Neck, Back, and Jaw Postures” (2021, on Valle et al., Animals); University of Minnesota Extension, “Round bale feeder design affects hay waste”; NAG Bags net guide and product pages at farmandbarn.com.
Next step: the EZ Fill wall-mount slow feeder is $94.95 CAD in 1.5, 2 and 2.75 in mesh. Not sure which mesh or which feeder? Message the barn with a photo of your stall.
