Take a good look inside your horse’s feed bucket the next time you serve up his ration of concentrate feed and any supplements or medications you’ve top-dressed it with. Is it sporting a layer of grime and slime? Then it’s time to get scrubbing!
If you don’t clean your horse’s feed bucket regularly, it can become a breeding ground for mold. At best, your horse will turn his nose up at a moldy meal. At worst, mold or bacteria could lead to digestive problems or other health issues. In addition, a dirty feeder can attract pests like flies, which are not only annoying but can also spread disease.
And here’s something you might not have thought about: Feed buckets can become biosecurity risks, especially in shared barns. If different horses use the same buckets, diseases and pathogens can spread more easily. Buckets can also be sources of cross-contamination if horses are taking medications.
How Often Should You Clean Feed Buckets?
How often you clean your horse’s feed buckets depends on these factors:
- Type of feed. Some feeds are messier than others. For instance, plain oats or dry pellets don’t tend to leave much residue. But sweeter feeds with molasses or high-fat feeds can be sticky and leave behind gunk that’ll need more frequent cleaning. Adding oils or supplements to feed can also increase the residue.
- Weather. During hot, humid months, the sticky stuff left behind in buckets can attract flies. They might also lay eggs, turning your feed bucket into an unsanitary breeding ground. So, in warmer weather, aim to clean your buckets at least every couple of weeks.
- Shared buckets. If your horse shares buckets with others, it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect them daily. This helps keep germs or diseases from spreading among horses, especially in a large boarding barn.
Related Reading: Tips for Minimizing Flies on Your Horses and Property
How to Clean Horse Feed Buckets
Let’s talk about how to clean your horse’s bucket the right way. Cleaning horse feed buckets isn’t difficult, but it does require a bit of effort to make sure you get everything sanitized properly.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Water.
- A mild detergent (dish soap works great).
- A stiff brush (for scrubbing).
- A dilute bleach solution or Nolvasan (a disinfectant, if needed).
Then, follow these steps:
- Remove leftover feed. Start by dumping any leftover feed from the bucket. Make sure there’s no residue stuck to the sides.
- Wash with soap and water. Use a mild detergent like dish soap and warm water to scrub the inside of the bucket. The stiff brush will help you get into all those little nooks and crannies where feed can get stuck.
- Rinse thoroughly. Rinse the bucket well to remove soap residue. Otherwise, your horse might refuse to eat when you fill the bucket with fresh feed.
- Disinfect. After washing, it’s a good idea to disinfect the bucket to kill any remaining bacteria or mold. You can use a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) or Nolvasan, following the instructions on the label.
- Dry and drain. If you have a corner feeder that can’t be removed, drill a couple of small holes in the bottom so water can drain out after washing. This prevents water from sitting in the feeder, which could attract more mold or bacteria.
Take-Home Message
Clean feed buckets might seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of barn management, but they’re an important part of keeping your horse healthy. Cleaning your buckets and feeders regularly ensures your horse’s meals are fresh, safe, and free of contaminants.
Related Reading
- Horse Water Buckets 101
- Timesavers: Ways to Make Barn Chores More Efficient
- Horse Feed Room Essentials
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