Hay Feeder/Manger

THIS!!!! is what I want!

I saw these for the first time many years ago and I've always thought they were awesome!

I do still have a few goats with horns, though, and kind of worry about whether or not that would be a problem.

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Whatever floats your goat!

Kitten season is here. Please spay and neuter. You'll save lives.

Here's my round bale feeder for the main doe pen:


Sucks right now, I had to cut extra big holes in it so my new(er) boer does wouldn't get their horns stuck. Well, that meant the babies just hop right in, and big goats can do it once they bent the wire... which popped the one weld, which results in almost as much waste as without a hay feeder at all. >

I want to make one like this, but with the curved part being a cattle panel bent in a U-shape, and panels front/back to keep it in place:



Or one like this, with roof (the curved part once again being a cattle panel) :

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Dona Barski

"Breed the best, eat the rest"

Caprice Acres

French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.

That gray one Dona posted is on my want list, but it will have to wait until we get a bobcat to load the bales with...

I couldnt' get any alfalfa rolls this year but I usually do. I love that feeder!

All I could see was a Saanen's udder!?! I tried to concentrate on the feeder..but no go..wow.

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http://homesteadingexperienceswithbobby.blogspot.com/

http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/10...y_tomfeld.html

Daryl, I have a Fjord with the same problem as your Halflinger, lol. I would NEVER use a regular haynet for the goats (actually, I have heard of horses getting caught up in them too), but the small mesh has been great for us. I watched like a hawk the first few weeks I used them because I was worried about it too. What I do is hang it so that the long rope part that draws it closed is wrapped around the bar it is hung from (or over to the other side of a 6' dog kennel panel), so they can't get caught on that part. The mesh on these is really small, so I have never had any feet get into it. I think there is some risk with any type of feeder, but so far these have really worked for us. Plus, they slow down their eating so they stay busy longer = less bored goats causing trouble!

I do find that my horses eventually manage to rip holes in the mesh, but I have a percheron and a percheron/shire in with the Fjord, so they are very big and strong and break everything eventually. I don't know that it would happen with normal sized horses. So far, the goats are still using the original ones I bought them close to a year ago.

I have always been afraid of the keyhole feeders. What happens if a goat is eating and another goat comes and slams him/her from the side? We don't use the cattle style "tombstone" round bale feeders for the horses because I have heard horror stories about horses being injured that way. Is it safer for the goats because they are smaller or is this a risk with the keyhole feeders too? They seem like a great idea if they are safe.

Hello,
I real love the key hole feeders but do not have enough room in barn for key hole feeders. So this the hay racks my husband designed and builds. They work very well for use. I also have them in my calf hutches. Very little waste.Have been using these for 4 years.
Have a great day
Beth

http://www.mytophatfarm.com/tophatfarm/index.htm

Usually the goats legs buckle and the fall with their head in the hole.

I know a lot of people who are afraid to use them but those in my picture have been there for 20 years and I've never had a goat seriously hurt from them.

Here is the thing with the keyholes.

In order to slow down waste the goats have to be able to raise their heads up to get into them. If they can get their heads in and out easy then they will put their head in, get a bite, and pull it out and waste it

Also in the bottom of my keyhole hay feeders I have a 1' board all the way around the bottom. That way they have to reach down in to get the hay.

If your keyhole goes all the way down to the hay then they will stick their noses thru the narrow part and pull out the hay rather than puttin their hay in.

If you fill a keyhole way up with hay there will be more waste than if you drop flat flakes in there they have to put their heads in and reach down to access.

Also if you have abcesses in your herd and make your keyholes out of rough cut lumber you are going to perpetuate abcesses because of splinters.

My keyholes are bolted to the wall now but used to be I had one on legs.

One evening I went to the barn and a goat had knocked it over with her head in it.

So I go up there and here is this toppled 3 keyhole with the lifeless body of a goat under it. I notice a pile of goat berries by her like she had been like that a long time.

I lifted it up and the goat was alive, she dusted herself off and ran to the door of the milking room.

Saanens. No drama.

The first two pictures are ones of my smaller hay feeder. The second two are of my alfalfa pellet feeders that sometimes I use for hay as well. I will try and find pictures of my larger hay feeder which is very similar in design to the first feeder.

Justine

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GoldenWood Farm - Breeding ADGA registered La Manchas and Grades
Website: www.goldenwoodfarm.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gwlamanchas

You guys are awesome!!!

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I dream of a better world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned.

WOW! That is scary...I'm glad she was ok!

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

What a beautiful place you have! and your goats too...Nice hay racks. They are in the welding cave on the website if anyone wants to go look.

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

I made these out of 2x4s and 1x4s. They are quick and easy and really cheap! Let me know if I should post plans?

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Nice job Glasshousegoats!

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

Here is a link to the thread I started a few years ago about the hay feeders I build myself. They work great. Please check out the thread at this link : Pictures of my hay feeders-Low waste Easy to build!

Fantastic idea! What do you have criss-crossing the holes?

I'm using a purchased hay bag with a single hole ($14.99 at TSC), but would much rather repurpose some old jeans. I don't feel comfortable with the mesh bags; too afraid someone will get stuck, panic and break something.

I too saw a great version of this the key holes cut into a plywood panel and fastened to a older manger .this keeps them from backing out with a mouthful of hay as of which mostly falls on the floor then the oats wont touch it.there are a few picures in a book called .the homesteders guide to small livestock by Jerome belanger lots of good info.and its ussally cheep on ebay. a horn friendly verison can be made buy simply making a larger opening at the top of the key which can be V shaped if you are not as talented with the saws all.