When looking for feeder options for horned goats, bars and nets are not a generally good idea. Many feeders pose an entanglement hazard for horned goats. If you have horned goats of any size, you must take extra precautions to prevent injury or even death to your goat. Which type of hay feeder will you purchase or construct first? What if, somehow, your goats continue to waste hay? What can you do with the wasted hay? Keep reading. If you like, you can reduce the size of the holes so that only the snout of your goats can reach the hay inside. You can use wooden bars or rebars for this type of hay feeder. Just like the plastic bin hay feeder above, this hay feeder is very easy to make. Double Function Hay FeederĪ post shared by Sherry Serle on at 6:58pm PDT While this metal stand is portable, it serves the function of heavier hay feeders. If you look at the floor in the photo, you will observe that not much hay is wasted. This hay feeder is lightweight and prevents so much hay from wasting. 5 Ideas for Hay Feedersĭo you need ideas on what kind of hay feeder you should buy or construct? The following suggestions are cool and helpful: 1. ![]() As promised earlier, here are some great ideas for hay feeders. I hope the five ideas above help you to reduce how much hay your goat wastes. When your goats are feeding on pellets, they will take what they need, and avoid the spilling (or wasting) of their feed. When goats are eating hay, they may carry more than what they need, and the excess will fall to the ground. One key advantage of feeding goats with pellets is that they will not waste it. They are always available (even in winter). Goat pellets are great supplements for your goats. Feed Your Goats with Pellets Instead of Loose Hay To prevent horned goats from tangling in hay nets, raise the net a little bit higher so that the goats will have to stretch to reach the hay. You should be careful when using hay nets if your goats have horns because they can get stuck in the nets. Hay nets are usually elevated, preventing the hay from touching the ground. Use Hay NetsĮven though hay nets are mostly used by horses, you can use hay nets to feed your goats. Some hay feeder ideas will be shared later. Goats with horns can get stuck in hay feeders, so the hole in the feeder should be reduced to allow just the snout of the goats to reach the hay. To reach the hay in the hay feeder, goats have to stick their head through a hole. Hay feeders are specially designed feeding troughs for animals that restrict how much hay can be removed at a time. The microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and others) in the soil can harm your goats if ingested. Secondly, the hay can become moldy or spoil quickly. You should never keep hay on bare soil because it promotes wastage.įirst of all, goats will not eat the hay on the soil. Some people pile the hay on the soil so that their goats can eat from the hay on top of the pile. Most goats will not eat hay on bare soil. The recommended quantity of hay to feed your goats is 2-4 pounds of hay per goat or 3-4% of your goats’ body weight. It is not uncommon to see people give their goats a high quantity of hay that can last them for 3-4 days.ĭoing this, however, is one of the fastest ways to waste hay. Some people give their goats too much hay to reduce how much time is spent feeding them. Feed the Goats the Quantity of Hay That They Need ![]() Whether your goats are wasting a lot of hay or just a small amount, these suggestions below will help you keep your goats eating their hay and not wasting it. Put the Hay Back Into the Hay Feeder or Net Trust that your animals will adjust over time and settle into a balanced weight. 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! 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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