How to Make Feed Bunks for Goats
Goats are one of the most wasteful creatures when it comes to feeding --- they seem to waste more than they eat if you do not have appropriate feeders to stop them from standing or jumping into their food. Building a feed bunker will save you money and frustration in the long run by reducing the amount of hay and grain the goats do not eat.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Paper
- 3 4-by-8-foot sheets of 1/2-inch plywood
- 1 8-foot 2-by-4
- 2 t2-by-4 studs
- Box of 1-1/2-inch gold sheet rock screws
- Jigsaw
- Drill with screw-driving bits
- 1/2-inch drill bit
Instructions
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1
Make a diagram on paper of a keyhole or whatever shape you would like the holes for your goats' head to be.
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2
Trace the pattern onto two sheets of the plywood at intervals of 2 feet. Cut the holes out using your jigsaw.
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3
Cut the two studs in half. Measure each piece for accuracy before cutting.
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4
Cut the piece of plywood that does not have the feeder holes in it in half so that you have two 4-by-4-foot pieces.
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5
Form a "v" with two of the stud halves and attach it to one of the 4-by-4-foot pieces of plywood. Drive screws into the 2-by-4s at 6-inch intervals. Repeat for the other end.
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6
Place one end up and attach the plywood containing the feed holes to the underside of the "v." Repeat for the other end of the feeder.
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7
Cut the 8-foot 2-by-4 in half to use as feet on the feeder.
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8
Screw one half of the 2-by-4 into the feeder at the bottom of the "v" on each side to form feet and add stability.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you are using this as a way to feed grain instead of hay, you can add a piece of rolled-up tin to the inside of the feeder which will hold the grain.
Cut the holes big enough for goat horns to go in and out of without getting stuck.
References
- Photo Credit cattle image by Nino Pavisic from Fotolia.com
