Homemade Goat Feeders

Goats love to eat, and eat and eat and eat.

Goats are known for being smelly, playful, stubborn and for eating anything within reach. Goat feeders help to protect the rest of your property from these ferocious nibblers by providing food on demand. A homemade goat feeder is not difficult to create and you can make one that gives access to both grain feed and hay, keeping your munching machines happy all day long.

Things You'll Need

• 2 8-foot lumber posts, 4 by 4 inches
• 4 8-foot lumber planks, 2 by 2 inches
• 1 sheet plywood, 3/4-inch exterior grade
• Saw
• Drill
• Screws, 3-inch galvanized
• Hammer
• Nails, 2-inch galvanized
• Measuring tape
• Clamp
• Wire mesh, 3-inch holes
• Wire cutters
• Staple gun
• Hay
• Grain

Instructions

1. Cut the 4 by 4 lumber into four posts, 50 inches in length. Cut the 2 by 2 lumber into two lengths of 70 inches, two lengths of 26 inches and four lengths of 42 inches. Miter the ends of the 42-inch planks to 45 degrees. Cut the plywood into one piece that is 70 by 30 inches.

2. Assemble the 70-inch and 26-inch planks into a rectangular frame; the ends of the 26-inch planks should abut the inside edge of the 70-inch planks, forming corners and a frame measuring a total of 70 by 30 inches. Screw together. Place the plywood over the top of the frame and nail in place, with one nail every 3 inches around the frame.

3. Assemble the 42-inch planks into two "V" shapes and hammer a nail through the bottom of the V join to secure. Stand the 50-inch posts upright, 30 inches apart. Position the V shapes between each post, so that the top of each V connects with the top of a post, forming an "M" shape. Screw the V in at the top. Repeat with other posts and V so there are two M shapes.

4. Turn the frame over so the plywood is on the bottom and the frame forms an edge around it for the feed tray. Position the frame in between the two M's of the feeder 25 inches up from the ground. Clamp in place, then screw the frame onto the posts of the M's to complete the frame of the feeder. There should be around 5 inches between the bottom of the V and the plywood.

5. Cut two lengths of wire mesh 70 by 25 inches and stretch them across each side of the V flush with the top so there is a 5-inch gap at the bottom. Staple in place. Fill the mesh V with hay, and the plywood tray with grain. The hay will fall through the bottom of the V and the goats can pull at it through the wire as well.

References

• Premier1Supplies: Build Your Own Feeders