Hay feeder for goats

[lotu]

How do you guys feed hay to your goats in the winter? We built a enclosed box that holds about 6 square bales with vertical boards on the front to keep the goats out. We just pull a bale one at a time to the front and store the others in the back. The problem that we are still having is that the goats still pull alot of hay out and then walk it in the ground. The hole they have in the front is only big enough for them to get thier head in. Does anyone have any pics of thier system or ideas.

[catdance62]

I don't have a pic of ours handy, but Mother Earth News had some plans to make a pretty simple hay feeder for goats or sheep that holds about 1/2 a square bale. We made one a couple years back, and use it for our bucks and wether. We bought a large metal one from a farm supply place here for the girls because we have 7 does and they needed something big.

[Alice In TX/MO]

One of the goat credo items is to waste as much hay as possible.

[Natural Beauty Farm]

Built a box feeder that I can load from second story. It has a shelf underneath and with 20 girls using it there is very little waste. They have to stand on the shelf to feed. The only time they pull out extra hay is to make a bed underneath when it is wet outside.

[airotciv]

You doen't say how many goats you are feeding, but we use a metal hay rack. It holds 2-3 leaves of hay and is hooked to the barn wall. I feed everyday and only feed what they will eat.

[wintrrwolf]

I am feeding 3 goats and finally built a hay feeder it will hold 2 bales on end or 1 bales fluffed it has majorly decreased the amount of hay they waste, but there is still a little. I got the plans from this guy and made a few adjustments using welded wire front, bottom, and backside. The sides I just slated em with wood. Right now my Saanen stands on the bottom bar and eats from the top and the 2 smaller goats eat from the sides.
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/feeders/feeder.shtml

[mygoat]

I don't get that much waste at all from my hay feeders. Of course, free feeding hay will allow them to eat more so hay will disappear faster.



I now have plywood lids for them because goats will climb in them. This pic is when I first built these a couple years ago, and the hay on the ground is from when I used to toss their hay on the ground, hence the waste.

[wintrrwolf]

note* i used the welded wire to decrease hay loss but the goats are still able to pull hay through, the squares are smaller on the welded wire but still large enough that hoofs don't get caught up. And the welded wire is easier to work with then cattle or goat panels. I did still follow the directions with the wood on the bottom to support the weight of the bales but with the welded wire you have even less hay loss. Just FYI I made it all by myself too

[wintrrwolf]

Originally Posted by mygoat

and the hay on the ground is from when I used to toss their hay on the ground, hence the waste.

ya I too have an area that looks like that was doing the same thing.