5 Best Hay Feeder For Alpacas

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If you rear or keep alpacas, then you know that feeding them with hay is one of the best things that you can do.

And if you do not know where to start from or what equipment to use, then this might be a problem for you

Picking a good hay feeder for your animals will go a long way in ensuring that they are well fed and that it lasts a very long time.

In this article I will be showing you 

• My tops 5 hay feeders that you can use for alpacas
• The pros and cons of each one and how to ensure that you make the right choices
• Important buyer tips that you need to be aware of before making a purchase
• Frequently asked questions from previous buyers
• And so much more

The top 3 Best Hay Feeder for Alpacas

Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Our Overall Top Pick

Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How much hay does an alpaca eat per day?

Alpacas eat approximately 2 pounds per 125 pounds of their body weight per day.

Basically the rule of them is to feed them 1.5% of their body weight as hay to ensure that they get all the right nutrients and body functions that they need.

Going by this rule, you can say that a single 60 pound hay will be enough to feed a group of 20 alpacas for a day.

Feeding them the right amount of hay per day will ensure that your animals are well fed and that they have the right amount of nutrients in their body.

Do alpacas need hay?

Before we start looking at the best hay feeder for alpacas, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of hay.

Alpacas need hay for a number of reasons and here are some of them

• It provides fiber, nutrients and vitamins in a low calorie dose that can be fed to your animals all year round.
• It helps satisfy their appetite.
• It provides roughage for your animals without excess calories or proteins.
• It also helps provide very important nutrients for your animals.

You can see that you definitely need to include hay in your feeding calendar for alpacas as it is very important for them.

Related: Here is an article I wrote on “Can alpacas live with horses?”

Can alpacas eat moldy hay?

When hay turns moldy, it usually means that it has been infected by bacteria and it is going bad.

At this point it is not a good idea to feed moldy hay to your animals, unless you want them to fall sick or have stomach issues

Alpacas cannot eat moldy hay as this might cause them to develop sickness and in extreme cases might even cause death.

So the next time you have hay that is moldy and going bad, the best thing you want to do is to throw it away.

My Review of the 5 Best Hay Feeders for Alpacas.

1. ASOOLL Hay Bag for Alpacas

Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is without a doubt the most popular hay feeder for alpacas out there.

It is made from premium material which includes a qualified 1000D cloth, high strength with good tenacity which ensures that it lasts for a very long time.

It is very portable and can be carried along anywhere in your farm because of the hanging strap and this makes it very easy to use this feeder in stalls, fences or just by the wall of your farm.

It has a grip open design with a large capacity opening that gives it added stability. This design helps to keep the hay dry and also allows for ventilation.

One thing about this hay feeder that I really like is that it helps regulate and slow down the consumption of hay by your animals.

This helps to prevent digestion issues and ensures that your animals do not develop digestive issues such as colic.

This hay feeder is designed to reduce hay waste because of the 8 large grid openings which encourages slow feeding and thus reduces waste.

Pros

• It is very durable
• It is very portable
• Helps reduce hay waste

Cons

• It needs to be replaced with hay constantly

2. Weaver Leather Slow Hay Feeder

Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for a unique way to feed your alpacas, then this is the best choice for you.

It contains small holes which is ideal for slow feeding and prevents digestive issues for your animals.

It has a unique size of about 36 inches which is more than enough to hold as many hay as you want to feed your animals.

It has a sturdy rope hay net design that can be used on any farm, barn, stable, and the like. Moreover, it can also be ideal for horse shows. 

That’s not all – it can be used by alpacas that have digestive problems due to the design of the holes.

Made from poly material it is very durable, portable and can be used anywhere in your farm

Pros

• Sturdy rope hay net design
• Has smaller holes for slower feeding
• Prevents hay waste
• Also ideal for horse shows
• A lot of room inside for hay

Cons

• Slight inconsistency with sizing

3. Classic 2 in 1 Hay Rack Feeder

This is a premium choice hay feeder for alpacas that will last for a very long time and will efficiently feed your animals.

It is made from stainless steel material which guarantees that it will last for a very long time.

It also has a very large capacity meaning that you can fill it up with hay and it lasts throughout the day.

This will save you the stress of always having to go and ensure that it is filled with hay every single time.

It has a unique design with square holes which ensures slow feeding and helps to prevent any stomach or digestive issues.

It has a unique hook right at the back that allows you to hook and use this feeder anywhere in your farm and ensure that it is secured perfectly

Pros

• It is made from durable material
• It has a large capacity and can hold enough hay
• It is portable and can be secured easily

Cons

• It is prone to rust easily

4. Derby Originals Supreme Hay Feed Bag

This is a unique patented four side design hay feeder bag that is ideal for feeding alpacas and farm animals.

Aside from the fact that it allows your animals to feed from different angles, it also adds a unique and aesthetic feel to your farm because of the different colors that are available to choose from.

The design of this bag allows for easy airflow and ventilation which helps reduce waste and prevents hay from growing molds.

It also helps to slow down the rate of hay consumption and helps to prevent digestive issues from occurring.

It is made from quality nylon material which ensures that the bags last for a very long time and it is also very portable making it very easy to be used anywhere in and around your farms.

Pros

• Patented four-sided design
• Good for horses with colic or digestive upset
• 1200D nylon construction
• Causes less hay to fall off

Cons

• A bit small for some horses

5. Shires Haylage Net

Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is a unique hay feeder for alpacas that allows your animals to feed easily.

It comes with a unique construction that reduces hay fallout and wastage as well.

Because there are two colors available, it can also be an aesthetic addition to your barn or stable. 

The colors are also vibrant so that you can see it. 

Moreover, the hay feeder net can be used by regular and smaller alpacas due to its size – you can feed a lot or a little depending on your needs.

In addition to that, it comes with a hanging rope to make it easy to set it up for horse feeding. What’s more, the feeder can also slow down your horse’s feeding due to the holes on the net. Last but not the least, the net can also hold a full-sized standard bale of hay.

Pros

• Has 2-inch holes
• Good for miniature and regular horses
• Ideal for horses with digestive problems
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Minor knot issues