Using your Haygain® hay steamer
© Haygain
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Unloading forage
After you steam forage, the forage is warm and smells sweet. Most horses love the taste and
prefer it to dry or soaked hay. We recommend you make any changes to your horse's diet
slowly, to give their digestive system time to adapt. When you first start using steamed forage,
mix it with your horse's existing forage for a few days.
You can feed steamed forage to your horse immediately or ideally up to 24 hours after
steaming. The steamed forage is slightly wet on the outside due to condensation on the
bottom of the hay bag cap. However, the inside of the forage is dry to the touch.
Beware of hot steam when you open the hay bag
When you remove the cap of the hay bag, take care as steam escapes. Do
not lean over the hay bag as steam escapes.
To unload forage
1. Loosen the drawstring on the hay bag and carefully lift off the cap.
2. To empty the hay bag, turn it upside down and allow the forage to fall out.
Warning:
If the forage in the hay bag is too hot, wear protective gloves when you
handle it. Take care when you unload hay nets, as any metal parts will be very hot.
Working in freezing conditions
When the ambient temperature is very low, water can freeze in the hay bag, steam generator
or steam hose.
Do not use anti-freeze products
Do not use anti-freeze or other additives in the steam generator. Additives
in the steam generator can be a health hazard to your horse, or can
damage the steam generator. It will also void the warranty.
To steam hay in freezing conditions
1. Disconnect the steam hose from the hay bag.
2. To ensure there is no ice in the steam hose, fill the steam generator with water and then
switch it on. Do not load forage in the hay bag.
If steam comes out of the safety cap and not out of the steam hose, switch off the
steam generator. To remove ice in the steam hose, place it in warm water and
gently squeeze it. Then switch on the steam generator again.
Warning:
Do not unscrew the safety cap.
3. To ensure there is no ice in the hay bag, connect the steam hose to the hay bag. Do not
load forage in the hay bag.
Warning:
The steam hose is hot. Take care when you hold it.
