Slow Feeder Box that's simple and works!.m4v

This is a slow feeder box that has been homemade. The box itself was picked up from an industrial machine shop for free. The puckboard I bought as a plywood sized sheet from my local hardware store and is 1/4" thick. The holes are 3" in diameter made using a hole cutter attached to a power drill. The 'candy cane' metal strapping was cut to an appropriate size for the box and then bent into the shape you see and bolted to the box. One of the candy cane straps is left loose at the top to enable removing the puckboard on that side.
I opted to use puckboard for two main reasons.
1) I live in the Yukon, Canada and temperatures can get below -30C in the winter. I wanted to be sure that my horses didn't get lips or tongues stuck to frozen metal.
2) I could cut the puck board to fit any shape of box and vary the size and location of the holes easily.
I have been feeding in these boxes for 5 months and they are holding up with absolutely no damage. The horses have not chewed on the box and the puckboard is still in perfect condition. The horses clean out the hay to the very bottom and barely leave any crumbs.
I got my idea for this design from these two videos:
• Video
• Slow feeder
UPDATE (May 2019):
I thought I would update a bit of information about this feeder. The metal strapping eventually broke of due to bending and cold temperatures. So I have since replaced the strapping with chains and snaps (or just plain old baler twine and snaps) to undo them. Instead of just one fastening point on the opening side I have put a chain in each corner. I have some ponies that pick up the corners and get their head under a corner. Still using these same boxes going into 2019. I have replaced the puckboard in a couple boxes and added metal over the edges to prevent chewing of the boxes. They are still the best thing I ever did to my feeding routine.

[@lovetogait]

Thank-you so much for this!! We just made two of these. They are awesome. Way Way better then filling and repairing hay nets.

[@carolethuringer]

Abbster, we use this to slow down the horses feeding time. Especially in the winter; if we just throw hay to them it takes 20-30 minutes to finish a meal. Horses are supposed to be grazers. So with this, it slows them down and can take 4-6 hours to eat the same amount of food. Much healthier for them.

[@lisajadwin1866]

fantastic idea and very elegant design, easy to use.

[@hjndesigns]

carolethuringer - I have had the metal strap on the opening side break due to the continuous bending at the bottom. It also may be due to our very cold temperatures in the winter. I am in Whitehorse, Yukon. The cold temps are why I found something plastic (puck board) to use instead of metal. I didn't want to see horse lips stuck to the feeder!! :-) I am using rubber bungees on the opening side of one of my feeders at the moment. I just put eye hooks in the bottom and on the outside and put the bungees up through a couple of the holes to the outside of the box.

[@joanneolsen3217]

This is a fantastic idea & there horses wont wear out/damage their teeth like a metal great will do.

[@Berrybluetoes]

Great idea!

[@FunnyGirl0808]

Thanks for all the info. Very helpful, especially puck board , if we can find it. We've been looking for wire and it's difficult to find the right kind. Thanks!

[@HorsesUpNorth]

I thought I would update a bit of information about this feeder. The metal strapping eventually broke of due to bending and cold temperatures. So I have since replaced the strapping with chains and snaps to undo them. Instead of just one fastening point on the opening side I have put a chain in each corner. I have some ponies that pick up the corners and get their head under a corner. Still using these same boxes going into 2018. I have replaced the puckboard in a couple boxes and added metal over the edges to prevent chewing of the boxes.

[@tylerboyles6207]

Heidi Neufeld, how thick is your puckboard. Currently I use vinyl lattice, breaks pretty often.

[@pionuswings]

Is there anyway of updating with a new video? I'm trying to make one currently and am worried my horse with hurt herself on it (she's accident prone).

[@heidimiller8013]

@@pionuswings Hi Jenn. I made new boxes this year. I just haven't had time to get the new video/photos together into a new video. Instead of using the metal strapping I have put eye hooks in the bottom and out on the sides of the box. Instead, use snaps to attach bungee cords through the corner holes, or like I am at the moment, just some baling twine that can easily be replaced. You have spurred me on to get the new video put together.

[@hjndesigns]

Puck Board should be available at most Hardware Stores. I got three feeders worth out of one sheet.

[@theresarsmart]

I made three of these hay boxes using your design. They've been in use now for about a month and I love them! Our horses love them too. I am pretty sure one of my horses had an ulcer from not being fed through the night, even though they were getting four feedings during the day. He seems to be all better now that he has access to food all day and night. My only mistake was using 1/8 inch puckboard instead of 1/4. The holes are getting damaged from the horses biting into them. I will have to replace the puckboards with the quarter inch. All those holes to cut....again! sigh.....I sanded each hole by hand with sandpaper. Did you have an easier way to smooth the edges of the holes?

[@heidimiller8013]

I'm glad they are working. I am still using mine. I have switched out the metal straps for cordage/rope with snaps to the outside of the box. The metal straps broke off just from wiggling and being in our cold temperatures here in the Yukon, Canada. I have no hay wastage, my one horse will have hay leftover from one feeding to the next and it helps keep my fat pony busy eating a great deal longer than traditional feeding. The 1/4 puckboard will hold up a lot longer than the 1/8 for sure. I have replaced a couple of mine as well.

[@HorsesUpNorth]

We just had to replace one of our boards and we used a metal hand file with a curved side to sand the edges. It only takes a couple swipes per hole to smooth out the edges.

[@carolethuringer]

HorsesUpNorth - have you had any problems with the metal strapping getting bent (thus no longer usable)? Great idea by the way - I made slow feed boxes also but was having problems with a top that the horses couldn't figure out a way to get out or get under. Looks like this might work. thank you!

[@Istopwhipsering]

I used metal springs on the inside of mine, attached at the bottom

[@candicegibson6578]

has anyone seen damage to the horses gums from rubbing on the puck board?

[@HorsesUpNorth]

I know it's been a while since you asked this, however I thought I'd reply anyway. The horses gums are no where near the puckboard, jus their teeth. The horses eat out of the boxes like they are grazing. The holes are only 3 inches in diameter.

[@jennygouws413]

Hi there Anyone used this feeder with soaked hay/grass?

[@breyelover12]

So what is this really for? I get the name but, why? Is it so your horse eats slower and doesn't get sick or is to drain there nostrils? Or Etc.

[@jennygouws413]

Hi To slow down horses eating times. They will gobble everything in a few minutes flat and then stand for hours which is bad for equine digestion.

[@jennygouws413]

I was wondering if rope might do the trick. My 1st thought was also danger...

[@tamicascio3966]

What r dimensions of feeder

[@heidimiller8013]

Hi Tami. I have three of these boxes and they are all slightly different in size. I got them free from an industrial mechanical shop. I have just made new boxes and I will be posting a new video showing those shortly with dimensions. I will post the link to the new boxes here.

[@susanengle42]

What is a puck board?

[@hebnermm]

google it

[@markeberhart7015]

The idea is good the metal straps are a BAD idea a horse can slice there face on the metal redo your straps

[@heidimiller8013]

Hi Mark. It is entirely possible that is for sure. However, I have used three of these boxes for over 3 years now with 5 horses. Not a single injury due to these feeders. I have swapped out the closing strap on one of the boxes with rubber bungees which could be used to replace all of the metal strapping if you wished.

[@jeepgirl9592]

Holes r too small

[@HorsesUpNorth]

Why do you say that? Have you made one of the boxes? I have been using these for over 4 years now and had more than a dozen horses use them. 3 inch diameter holes are definitely not too small. They work perfectly. Other commercial feeders also use 3 inch holes. Slow feed nets all have smaller openings.