Made In USA
How to Choose a Hay Net for Horses and Livestock
The right hay net is the one that fits how you feed. Stall, trailer, square bales, or round bales in the pasture, we make a net for each. Browse all of our slow feed hay nets, then use the table and the hole size list below.
Jump to: How You Feed | Hole Size | Easy Keepers | FAQ
To choose a hay net, pick the net that fits how you feed. Texas Haynet makes nets for stalls, trailers, square bales, large squares, round bales, and feeders. Texas Haynet recommends 1.75 inch holes for most horses and 2 inch holes or smaller for easy keepers and insulin resistant horses. Cattle do best with our 3 inch Livestock Round Bale Net. Every Texas Haynet net is UV resistant knotted nylon, made in the USA, with a 30 day money back guarantee.
Step 1: Match the Net to How You Feed
We make several hay nets for horses and livestock, and each one is cut for a different way of feeding. Find yours below. Feeding round bales to horses? See our round bale hay net guide for horses. Not sure what fits? Contact us and we will size it with you.
| How you feed | Our net |
|---|---|
| A quick meal in the stall or a snack in the trailer | Small Hay Net |
| One or two flakes, or a mini | Xtra Small Hay Net |
| Hanging bag for the trailer, or for horses that chew through nets | Dura-Web Hay Bag |
| A whole 2 string square bale in a stall or pasture | Square Bale Hay Net |
| A whole 3 string square bale in a stall or pasture | 3 String Square Bale Hay Net |
| Square bales in a Tarter Equine Hay Basket | Hay Net for Tarter Equine Hay Basket (basket sold separately) |
| Square bale in a 4 foot metal V-rack feeder, for goats | Goat Feeder Net Kit (V-rack feeder sold separately) |
| Large square bales, 3x3x8 through 4x4x8 | Large Square Bale Hay Net |
| Round bales in a pasture or dry lot | Round Bale Hay Net |
| Round bales for cattle | Livestock Round Bale Net |
Step 2: Pick the Hole Size
Here is where we start:
- Most horses: 1.75 inch holes
- Easy keepers and insulin resistant horses: 2 inch holes or smaller
- Greedy eaters and draft horses: 2.5 inch heavy gauge, which is 4mm netting built to stand up to teeth
- Cattle: 3 inch holes
- Goats and sheep: 2 inch holes or smaller
Smaller is not always better, because you don't want to frustrate your horse. See our hole size guide for the full breakdown.
Cattle, Goats, and Other Livestock
Cattle use their tongues to grab hay, so we suggest 3 inch holes. See our guide on how to feed round bales to cattle without wasting hay. For goats and sheep, see how to feed goats with a hay net.
Hay Net Questions, Answered
What hole size is best for an easy keeper or insulin resistant horse?
We say 2 inch holes or smaller. That covers our 1.75 inch nets, the 1.5 inch holes on our smaller nets, and the 1 inch holes on our Xtra Small Hay Net. You don't want to frustrate your horse, so start at 1.75 inches and step down only if he eats calmly. Ask your vet about your horse's diet and about testing your hay.
Do I need standard or heavy gauge netting?
Standard netting is 2mm and works for most animals. Heavy gauge is 4mm and built to stand up to teeth. Choose it for horses that chew. Heavy gauge comes in 2.5 inch holes.
How long does it take a horse to adjust to a hay net?
Give it two weeks to two months. Most horses settle in and eat at a calmer pace once they learn the net. Our 30-day slow feeding transition guide walks you through it.
Are Texas Haynet hay nets knotted or knotless?
Our nets are UV resistant knotted nylon netting, made in the USA. Knotted netting is stronger than knotless, and that is why we make ours this way. If a hole ever shows up, our repair kit fixes it.
Once you've picked a net, follow our 30-day slow feeding transition guide. New to slow feeding? Start with why use a hay net. Comparing brands? See Texas Haynet vs Hay Chix. Ready to pick your net? See all of our hay nets or browse the slow feed collection. More answers are in our hay net FAQ, including whether hay nets hurt horses' necks.
