Nesting mares?

[Crabby-Chicken]

I have a mare who is at 308 days. When I came home tonight there wasn't any physical changes. BUT she had taken her mound of dinner hay and ( it looks like) carefully, spread it along the base of the stall wall on two sides!!! Not near the pee corner, but the other side and it is very carefully done. Doesn't look like she really ate any.

Anyone else have mares do this?

 

[shelly]

Crabby-chicken...I have a mare that is only 220 days and she is doing something similar. She takes some of her hay and spreads it out where she lays in the middle of the stall...maybe she wants a more comfy bed?

I have been increasing her grain as she is a little thin along the backbone, so maybe she is just not eating as much hay and taking advantage of the extra to lay on!

 

[ropenride]

Well that explains it!! I have a mare with an unknown due date...she changes size and shape daily, and I've felt the baby kick...that does the SAME THING! I was getting worried about her

The back 1/2 of the stall is the potty area and all of her hay is nicely spread on the front half, mounded nicely around the front corner. Looks pretty cushy to me! lol If I short her hay because there's so much there...she STILL doesn't eat it! So now she'll get extra hay to maintain the "nest"

 

[Sully]

My big App mare used to do the same thing but started nesting about 48 hours before she foaled. She would also "clean" the stall if I had her inside by licking the walls from top to bottom. When I would go in the stall, she would wash me too!

When she foaled outside, she would find a nice area deep in grass and under trees. She would turn around like a dog and flatten the grass to make a nest. She would deliver the foal in the middle but would move the colt as soon as it was on its feet.

When she started nesting, I always knew it was just a matter of hours.

 

[Crabby-Chicken]

Thanks guys!

I lobe watching the interesting behavior that these horses have. I guess I better break out the straw, she probably thinks her Mom is cheap!

 

[Filipowicz Farm]

We have two that are nesting but I am watching 4 under camera another one in the barn not as far along. Total of 5 expecting between Febuary and early April. One is a maiden mare. Two more expecting in July.

 

[Annabellarose]

That is really interesting behavior. I have never heard of or experienced behavior like that before, but I can't say that I am surprised.

I am waiting on my, if I counted right, 10th and 11th births/foals this year out of my two new Mini mares; them being Mini pregnancies/births is a first for me. I haven't had a birth/foal on the farm since 2001. I am very excited

and apprehensive

. I used to feel like an ol' pro, but the significant gap in time has made me a bit uneasy about the whole thing, compounded by the fact that they are Minis and that is new territory for me and that I have read a lot about how Minis notoriously have more trouble foaling.

 

[Southern_Heart]

I have one that is due any day now and yep she is nesting.

She pulls all the hay out and spreds like a blanket in the center of the stall. As many times as I push it back, she hauls it right back where she wants it. Gotta love emm though.

Joyce

 

[Joanne]

Personally I would watch her carefully. She maybe planning to foal early.

We love the mares that have a designated kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom in their stalls.

Makes it MUCH easier to clean them