Hay feeder idea. Thoughts please

[nchobbyfarm]

I have been using square bales for years. As the herd grows, my storage space is limited and the expense has increased. I have access to stored round bales but have never been able to figure out how to feed them without huge waste. I can not afford a commercial feeder.

So, I have a 100 ft piece of chain. Why can't I make essentially a tire chain style sling and hang it from a large tree limb just high enough to clear the ground. I would use 2 long pieces to to wrap the bale with 5 to 8 cross pieces to cradle the bale. Any thoughts?

[harvestmoonfarm]

There was just a discussion about this in another group I belong to. They recommend using a pallet under the round bale and surrounding the bale with cattle panels to eliminate the waste. The pallet keeps the bale off the ground and dry.

[ozark_jewels]

Sounds like a recipe for problems with tangled goats. If there is a way to get stuck, goats *will* find it.
Do your goats have horns?? If hornless, you can easily feed round bales set on a pallet then with a cattle panel wrapped around it. The goats stick their heads through and eat. I fed this way for years.
Another option is to unwrap the bale outside the goat pen, just feeding what you need each day.

[nchobbyfarm]

These goats do have horns. The horns have been the problem with each idea I have tried. But to many with horns to change now.

I have seen someone use a hog panel wrapped around the bale and that looked like a death trap. In my minds eye, the chains would be no closer than 18 inches except at the 90 degree angles where the hooked so they would fall through. But I guess not. I just envisioned it collapsing as the bale was eaten like a rope hay feeder for horses in a trailer.

Thanks for the replies. Back to the drawing board.

[Donna1982]

My luck the tree limb would break anf my favorite goat would be under it at the time. I have crappy luck lol.

We started feeding round bales here due to the cheapest square bale is 8.00 bucks. So I just peal it apart and throw out a little at a time.

[Backfourty,MI.]

If you have scrap lumber around how about making a manger type feeder with a top that can be outside & they eat from both sides (not sure how many goats you have) you could make it as big or small as needed for the size of your herd & just peel the hay from the round bale to fill the feeder.

The rest of the time keep it on a pallet with a tarp over it to keep it dry.