Easy to install and move with fencing nails and a hammer. Next, hold two of the pallets together in an upside down “V”. We also used pieces of a water line board, approximately 4 feet long for reinforcement. You’ll find comfort food recipes & kitchen gardening tips here. Nails can be used over and over as well so cost is minimal. But there are times I’m really grateful for his ingenuity and desire to use what we have to make what we need. Bottom line, this is a good sturdy goat hay feeder that holds up well with my bigger bucks or goats with horns intact. Hay men won't go that far without a very large order and a steep price here. Specifically, how much hay a year you’ll need for your goats. When we first started with goats, we only had a handful and feeding them was a breeze. Since some models are difficult to use for this particular purpose, you want to steer clear of those cans with a foot release that opens the top and of those that come with a flat lifting or swinging lid. I think most stuff is when eaten in large quantities. For my bigger goats I do not use the panels I instead use the hanging metal feeder. Not all goat owners feed their animals grain, it all depends on the situation and nutritional needs of the individual animal. You can feed alfalfa (and some grass hays) in pellet form if you don’t have storage or if you want to mix it with grain. I purchased mine on Hoeggerfarmyard.com , but their shipping has not been good as of late. This particular goat hay feeder is meant for one animal and will not work with multiples. Simply cut three goat-head sized holes about half way up the barrel, put two cement blocks in the bottom to keep the goats from knocking it over, and fill from the top with hay. Goats, Sheep, Llamas, Alpacas, Horses, & Cows. Some individuals opt to hang the feeder from the roof of a barn or shelter to make it more difficult for goats to climb. Mar 23, 2017 - Goats, sheep and other small livestock often require special consideration when it comes to hay feeders. Cattle rings and standard bunk feeders are too large and cumbersome to be practical for the small-livestock farmer. If your dairy goats don’t have access to legumes in a pasture or as hay, then consider using supplements like alfalfa pellets in your grain mix to increase calcium. . This makes it easier for the goats to eat out of the feeder when you’re done. Quality goats mean they were raised in humane conditions by knowledgeable breeders. I secure the top with a bungee and put a flake of hay bnb in each. Hi, I'm Mary! brome, orchard and mixed grasses available. There is some waste, but not much if your animal is a calm eater. Even though there are many more options out there, this is my list of feeders that I have used and tried over the last 10 years of goat raising. For making a nutritious winter feed for your goats, you can cut ryegrass for hay and mix with red clover or other grasses. Depending on your needs, plant grass, alfalfa, or a mixture of the 2 for use as hay after growing. protein, hay, forage, and minerals must be fed to goats in a BALANCED ratio. But before long, and as our herd grew, we realized that they were making a huge mess and wasting feed & hay. Goats, Sheep, Llamas, Alpacas, Horses, & Cows. There is alfalfa, oat, barley, timothy . From growing their own food, making their own cleaning supplies, cutting back, and paring down. Typically, hay is made from either grass or alfalfa. Start by taking two pallets and remove boards from the side that already has less (usually about 3 boards). This goat hay feeder bag is made of heavy-duty canvas so the durability is superb which I found quite surprising. Just double check to make sure the protein content is around 16%. I hope you are inspired to make your own DIY goat hay feeders since this is always the best way to save money on a homestead. Use fencing nails to hang this feeder at a hight that works with your goats. … And just like every other goat farmer, what works for me might not be the best option for you. The roads are narrow and winding, I guess? Once you've grown your crop, all you have to do is cut, dry, and store your hay for use as needed. I would love to see what you have tried and hear about what worked and what didn’t. Cattle rings and standard bunk feeders are too large and cumbersome to be practical for the small-livestock farmer. Goats are picky and maybe a bit spoiled, they usually won’t eat feed off the ground. Apr 8, 2017 - Explore Rick Edwards's board "Barrel ideas", followed by 185 people on Pinterest. Thank you for your informative post. Once you finish securing it all in place, flip it back over. Works well in small areas since it takes up little room. 4 pallets, plus one more for scrap pieces, if needed. You wouldn't want goats to eat trampled-hay. Sell Goats Faster. Moreover, you should establi… Use grass or alfalfa to grow hay. But in terms of hay and other treats, they can be very selective. Here are the basics details to help you get started. Special hayracks and bunk feeders designed for such creatures are often hard to find — and very expensive. This is the current list of hay feeding options for my goats that have worked the best for us. Use Lumber Waste to Make a Goat Shed Your Copper Guide. To make chaffhaye, producers cut early alfalfa or grass, chop it, mist it with molasses, add the culture bacillus subtillis, and vacuum-pack it into 50-pound bags. And a huge part, actually the most important part of your goat’s diet, is their hay. I am not in goats to be a professional breeder or showman. The trick is to make good hay so every mouthful packs a punch. Hay feeder. Enter for a chance to win the Homestead Holiday Giveaway! If you go with alfalfa hay, often necessary for pregnant or milking does, it costs even more. This post may contain affiliate links. I have tried a handful of feeders and I have had my flops and my favorites. Some people choose to not feed hay during the summer months while their goats are on summer pasture, but at Goat Milk Stuff, our goats get free-choice hay year-round because I want the dry material in their rumens in addition to the wet pasture they are eating. Tracy Lynn, I made a corner hay feeder out of pallet wood. And here’s a view of the inside of the goat feeder. Their being small in size and agility enable them to reach difficult areas where tractors, for example, could not reach into in the first place. Chaffhaye is made by cutting early alfalfa or grass, chopping it, mixing it with molasses and a probiotic culture called bacillus subtilis and vacuum-packing it. What on earth is ammonium chloride, you ask? Usually, goats won't touch it. This protein pail weighs 18 pounds and costs $20, making it an economical option to add protein in your goats’ diet. 1. To avoid this, you will want to make sure your goats have access to adequate protein in their diet. Hay would fall under the feeder and make a great place for the chickens to lay their eggs! About a year after making this feeder I did a little more work on it. This feeder will also work with more than one animal in a pen but 2 goats per feeder I think would be the limit. A smooth high-tensile electrified wire is ideal if you want to take an existing fence and make it goat-proof. I use this in the corners of my main junior pen to offer multiple hay feed areas. How Your Water is Affecting Your Goats. Oh, how fun! An awesome drill. Depending on the quality of these, a goat may need nothing more. This will help you make a plan and to know how much hay to buy per year for your herd. These microbes allow ruminants to make use of plant materials that are indigestible by monogastric (single-stomached) animals such as humans. So I decided to build my goats a manger to try and cut down on the wasted hay. This in no way affects your price. Access to adequate amounts of browse and weeds ("forbs") is complicated by the fact that most are annuals, which grow from seed each year, live for a short time, flower, and die. This way it won’t put too much weight pressure on the object or pole you will attach it to. Raw materials for this project are as follows: 18 8' 2x4s (kiln dried) When you go to your local store to find the right can make sure it comes with a lid as well. Mine won't touch moldy hay. Indigofera for goats; Why are indigofera leaves? Which is really a good thing. The rest of my does eat with their heads completely inside the bag thus eliminating most of the waste. That includes hay that lands on the ground, and especially hay that gets trampled on. But before long, and as our herd grew, we realized that they were making a huge mess and wasting feed & hay. Make the openings small enough that the goats do not get their heads stuck, but large enough for the goats to access the hay. The roads are narrow and winding, I guess? Don’t you worry about a goat getting its head stuck in a hog panel? See more ideas about hobby farms, goat barn, goat feeder. Common issues with local haymakers - aka, my little rant on how not to make hay Most of this you know, it's just frustrating how many people enter the hay making 'business' with no idea about these things, so I'm writing half for you and half for the future potential haymakers. I have only ever had one goat get their head stuck. This is one post of many from our Raising Goats … Buying from the local farmer, second cutting orchard hay runs about $7.50 a bale where I’m at. Simply cut a piece of hog panel and attach with fencing nails. Please note:  If your goats HAVE horns do NOT use this method. Goats were made to brow… If you buy at the wrong time of year, it’ll cost more. For making hay feeders for a few number of goats, use 2-by-4 board piece. No more wasted hay. As much hay ends up on the ground as ends up in the goats. You can use a simple cube made from five wooden pallets screwed together. Goats make quite a mess with hay and other fed browsing materials, which can lead to mold as well as rats and mice setting up housekeeping. It will make sure less of your feed goes to waste. Hi there, my name is Tracy and I am a city girl gone country. It is easy to make and simple to move. And sometimes they climb on top of other goats to get inside the feeder. And the top is open to fill. The higher the fiber content, the lower the digestibility (even if … 4 foot pieces of 2×4 will also work. I had my hay delivered and stacked this year which was a treat. There is some waste with this feeder as well. This may take two people. 4 pieces of water line board, approximately 4 feet long. So I decided to build a big, free standing hay rack. To make take a hog panel and lay it flat on the ground. I do think it would be more successful with smaller goats, but my big girls are a bit rough and this feeder was just no match for them. The treated hay ferments in the bag, adding good bacteria thats easy for goats to digest. Modified: Dec 16, 2020 by Mary Beth. Spoiled goats This goat feeder has been a great addition to our little farm! Whether that be at all times or just a few times a day. Sorry, but its true! Goats love hay and will consume quite a bit every single day. Tracy Lynn. This may take two people. I have pygmy goats with horns and they have never had any issues fighting over getting to the hay or getting their heads in between the slats and getting stuck. 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