What can I feed my 4 month old foal?

Asked by: Christy Moore

By the time the foal is 4 months old, he must supplement his nursing with other food sources, such as forage (hay and pasture) and grain.

What should I feed my 4 month old horse?

FOAL FEEDING GUIDELINES

• Provide high-quality roughage (hay and pasture) free choice.
• Supplement with a high-quality, properly-balanced grain concentrate at weaning, or earlier if more rapid rates of gain are desired.

What is the best feed for a foal?

Grass, the most natural of equine foods, should always be available when foals are turned out, and hay should be provided in the stall. Alfalfa (lucerne) or an alfalfa/grass mix will provide both energy and calcium for sound skeletal development. Water and salt should be accessible to mares and foals at all times.

When can a foal start eating grain?

As early as one week of age your foal may start taking some interest in feed by nibbling at hay or grain. This initial interest may be just a way of imitating mom, but the foal soon learns to use these other sources of nutrition and his digestive tract quickly adjusts to solid food.

What should I feed my 5 month old colt?

At weaning, usually around 5? 6 months of age, feed up to 1# of foal ration per 100# body weight, plus at least 1# hay/100# weight. It is best to feed more hay, especially quality alfalfa hay.

Are oats good for foals?

Yes – if your horse needs them! Of all the cereal grains (e.g. corn, barley, wheat, etc.) oats have the most appropriate nutritional profile for horses. They are an excellent source of calories, and have a better protein and amino acid profile than many other grains.

What nutrients does a foal need?

Consequently, by the time the foal is two-three months of age, mare’s milk and free-choice hay or pasture will fall short of meeting the growing foal’s requirements for important nutrients such as protein, energy, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and other minerals and vitamins.

Is alfalfa good for foals?

She says alfalfa is ideal for horses on high planes of nutrition, such as lactating broodmares, growing horses, thin horses, racehorses, performance horses, or young foals that aren’t getting enough milk.

Can baby horses eat carrots?

Horses have always loved to eat carrots, and people have always loved to feed carrots to them. Any time food is offered to a horse from a person’s hand, a few basic guidelines should be followed. HERE’S HOW: Slice several carrots lengthwise, into “fingers” or take a bag of baby carrots.

What should I feed my colt?

Provide plenty of roughage
Many pleasure and trail horses don’t need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn’t enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse’s calories should always come from roughage.

What can I feed my 3 month old foal?

To support smooth, steady growth, suckling foals should be offered one pound of a properly-formulated foal feed per month of age per day. For example, a 3-month-old would ideally be eating about three pounds of feed per day, in addition to milk and free choice hay or pasture.

How much grain should I feed my foal?

Supplement with grain or concentrates beginning at about 4 weeks of age. 3. Start by feeding 1 percent of a foal’s body weight per day, (ie. 1 pound of feed for each 100 pounds of body weight), or 1 pound of feed per month of age.

How much should a 5 month old foal eat?

Make certain that the foal is consuming at least 1 pound of a feed per month of age of a feed designed for foals and weanlings. If a foal is 4 months of age, it should be consuming at least 4 pounds of feed per day. If a foal is 6 months of age, it should be consuming at least 6 pounds of feed per day.

How much does a 4 month old foal weigh?

Table 4. Estimating Foal’s BW (lb) during Growth

Can foals eat chaff?

In summary, foals will often have their nutritional needs completely met by feeding a supplement with chaff or a feed balancer.