Buying feeding troughs for horses can be very expensive, depending on the size and material. For this reason, you can build your own feeding trough. For example, a conventional bucket or a KG pipe can be converted into a feeding trough.
We explain here how to do it and what the advantages and disadvantages of them are!
If you want to build a feeding trough yourself, there are two possibilities: You can either use a bucket or a long KG pipe as a feeding trough. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, which we will present to you below.
Conventional buckets or feed buckets are ideal as feeding troughs. If a bucket is placed on the ground, however, the horse must be watched while eating so that it does not step into it and cause injuries. The buckets should therefore be removed from the stable after feeding.
The disadvantage of a conventional bucket is the processing of the material. The plastic of buckets can be easily chewed on by horses, which can lead to chipping. In addition, a plastic bucket standing on the ground can tip over more easily due to its weight, the feed spreads on the ground and horses can step in or on the bucket.
For this reason, a good alternative is to screw a holder to the bucket and hang it on the stall fence. A bracket can also be screwed to the wall and the bucket placed in it. This prevents the horse from stepping into the bucket and the horse can eat unsupervised. There are various bucket holders for wall mounting.
As an alternative to the feed bucket, KG tubes can be used as feed trough substitutes. In this case, a KG pipe is cut in half lengthwise with a grinder, for example, and the pipe is finally mounted firmly on the wall with a frame or with a bracket for hanging on the stall fence. KG 300 - 500 pipes with a DN (diameter) of 200 - 300 are suitable.
Special care should be taken to avoid corners and edges when cutting the KG tube in half - otherwise there is a risk of injury to the horse. For this reason, deburring the KG tube after cutting is very important. Notches and depressions should also be avoided, as otherwise the feed could get caught in them and spoil.
Feeding troughs for horses are usually made of plastic, stainless steel or galvanised metal - in some cases also of clay or stone. They are characterised by their durability and stability, as well as their temperature resistance and ease of cleaning.
Wood should not be used as a material for a feeding trough, as it can splinter and create depressions and grooves when it is built up, in which the feed can become mouldy. This can lead to colic in horses if they eat the spoiled feed.
A feeding trough can be mounted in the horse stable either in a corner or on the wall of the stable. Here they can be permanently mounted or merely hung in. The permanently installed version is fastened with screws and bolts, the mobile version is hung in the stable grid.
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