![]() ![]() The only difference is we made them only 2 ft in length. We made smaller feeders for the birthing stalls in our goat barn. ![]() Screw together and to the wall as orientated in the photos.Īttach the fence material to the rack sides using u-nails or wire clips and screwsĬut the 2×4 the same length as the trough and screw to the sides as the anti-poop board. Screw it to the sides at about a 45 degree angle. Cut (1) 2×8 for the trough however long you choose to make it. Put them about 4 inches below the rack sides. Cut 2 more 2×8’s about 1 foot long to be the sides of the trough. You have to rip them lengthwise diagonally so the hay can fall as they eat it. U-nails or wire clips (to attach the fencing material to the wood)Ĭut (2) 2×8’s about 2 feet long for the sides of the rack.Goat fencing material with 2”x4” or 4″x4″openings between bars – here’s the link to the one we got.2×8’s – length varies on however long you want to make it. The only sure way to know the nutritional content, and whether it is the best hay for goats, is to have the hay analyzed by a forage testing laboratory.Here are the specifics on how to make the best goat feeder Hay Feeder Goat 2 in 1 Horse Sheep Hay Rack with Grain Detachable Grain Tray Wall Mount or Hanging Feeder Heavy Duty Galvanized Steel Hay Basket for Cattle Cows. For the others, we installed the anti-poop board to keep their rear end far enough away that the poop can’t make it in. If the trough is done well, that will stop the baby poop. The biggest annoyance that goats seem to always do, and then laugh at you afterwards, is pee and poop in the feeder. To remedy this, you have to make the trough narrow and at a slant that they can’t stand on and put the hay close above it so there isn’t space to get between. ![]() That knocks a bunch of food on the ground and when their dirty feet touch the food, they don’t like the smell/taste of it anymore. Follow these steps to create a functional and durable hay feeder for your goats. The next problem is that goats, especially babies, climb on and lay in feeders. Now that you have your materials, it’s time to start building your goat hay feeder. Now, a little hay waste is inevitable - but you can greatly reduce it by doing this method. Judging from the data above, alfalfa has the highest crude protein content and TDN. Then you have to size the perfect depth of trough to catch the hay and hold pellets and other feed. What Is the Best Hay to Feed Goats Alfalfa. You have to use the fence material with the perfect size openings to let their noses in and not drop it all the ground. If you have an old rain barrel, you can repurpose it and save money. This plan uses square holes, but you can make them any shape you like, as long as the goats can reach the hay through them. To prevent this, we had to do several things. Goats can eat from the openings in the side of the drum that you cut out. The first thing they do is drop half the food on the ground and then wouldn’t dream of even smelling it again if it’s touching the dirt. Here she is in all her glory!įifteen years ago we started the fight to be able to feed the goats without having a complete catastrophe. It has taken many iterations and testing to be able overcome all of the issues that arise when goats don’t use the feeder the way I’ve told them to a million times. Trust that your animals will adjust over time and settle into a balanced weight.Many have asked for the specifics for the goat feeder that we’ve perfected over the last 10 years. Goat feeder supply list 4 pallets, plus one more for scrap pieces, if needed 4 pieces of water line board, approximately 4 feet long. Trickle Feeding means having a constant supply of forage available at all times. Empty them out so your animals can clean it up. Hay becomes harder to get out as the bag empties due to all the broken bits. Quick drops in temperature and very cold weather can require your animals to need additional loose hay.ĭon’t let your Handy Hay Net run out. Pull some hay through the netting to help them get the idea. As they adjust, they use their teeth and lips to pull the hay through the holes.ĭon’t pack the bag too tight or they won't be able to get the hay out. Hungry animals will often paw or bite through the netting. It can take anywhere from a week to a month for animals to really get the hang of eating from our hay nets, but most people find that when they do, they prefer their bags to loose hay! You have to rip them lengthwise diagonally so the hay can fall as they eat it. We recommend 3/4 of what you would normally feed in addition to the hay bag. Never feed a hay bag if your animal is hungry as this will cause stress. When you first introduce animals to slow feeder hay bags, make sure there is loose hay available as well. Download the pdf of this guide here and keep a copy out at the barn.
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