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Designing the proper hay feeder for your animals can save some serious headaches down the road. If your design does not take into account what animals will be eating from the feeder, you can end up with more hay on the floor than hay that ended up as food. Luckily, building a hay feeder that fits your needs is not only easy but also inexpensive. more »
Hay feeders are used to prevent waste and improve the efficiency of hay fed to livestock. Hay feeders can be commercially acquired or built by livestock owners who have the proper tools and shop equipment. Plans have been developed by several state extension offices. more »
A horse hay feeder is a slotted rack mounted to the wall of a horse's stall, usually made of metal but sometimes made of wood. The feeder keeps hay off the ground and allows hay to be dropped through the open top for the horse to pull through the slots and eat. There are also field hay feeders that are long metal stations built with the same idea in mind--an open top to load in the hay, tapering down to a V-shaped bottom. These hay feeders are larger and designed to feed a group of horses in a field. Finding a used hay feeder isn't difficult--you may have to advertise to let people know you're looking to buy their old rusty one when they're ready to upgrade! more »
When building a hay feeder, the most important factor to consider is the habits of the animals that will be eating from it. Certain species of animals are harder on feeders then others, making it a necessity to build an extra-durable model. Other species have certain physical features, such as large horns, that must be taken into account in the design process. The following directions pertain to hay feeders that are inexpensive, do not take more then a couple of hours to construct, and can accommodate both large and small animals. This design plan can easily utilize other materials or be modified for size and shape. more »
As ruminants (animals with four stomachs that chew a cud and primarily consume a plant-based diet), goats require a daily intake of roughage in the form of hay, especially during the winter when grass is typically not available for consumption. Although you can purchase quality goat hay feeders, they are usually quite expensive and can be unwieldy and awkward to move. Choosing to construct or use a homemade goat hay feeder is a decision that you can best make if you go into the experience with a little knowledge about materials and other important considerations. more »
Horses are natural grazers and should be allowed free access to either grass or hay 24 hours a day. In the winter when grass isn't available, hay should be available but kept off the ground to reduce spoilage and waste. Horses that are kept inside stalls should have safe access to hay as well. Horses are easily susceptible to colic or other illness after eating spoiled or moldy hay, so hay must be kept fresh and free of mold. A hay feeder can help protect and hold the hay. more »
Homemade goat feeders, for hay and grain, can be made with a few basic tools and supplies. In putting up your feeders, keep in mind your goats' basic behaviors and likes and dislikes. The type of hay feeder that would best suit your goats' needs will depend on whether your goats still have their horns or not. Either way, simple feeders can be constructed. more »
Round hay bales are the common method for feeding livestock and horses in many areas. If hay is simply placed on the ground without any feeder, a percentage of the feed will be wasted when the animals walk on the hay that falls from the bale as the animals eat. Hay bale feeders are available commercially or can be built by the livestock owner. more »
Horses need roughage, meaning grass or hay, to keep their digestive tracts healthy. In the winter or for horses in small pastures with little or no grass, free access to hay should be offered at all times. Hay is best fed to horses on the ground so that they can digest it easily and naturally; horses generally graze all day with their heads down. The downfall is that horses will pick up worms along with the hay from the ground. This can be remedied by building a feeder so your horses are only eating hay. more »
Each workday a beef farmer needs to check on the cattle to ensure their health and well-being. Starting with filling the water tanks each day, or if automatic waterers are in use, then verify they are functioning as they sometimes freeze in the winter or occasionally the plugs come out. The hay feeders are kept full, usually of round bales, which the beef farmer fills using a bale spear attached to a skid steer or tractor. Beef steers are usually grained daily for at least six weeks prior to butchering, but this varies depending on the breed of the steer. Steer stuffers may be filled by the farmer to allow for unlimited grain access by cattle or the farmer may feed grain once a day. Fresh straw or other suitable bedding is spread in barn areas for cattle to lie on. If lame, injured or sick beef cattle are observed during these daily tasks, the farmer may need to administer medication or call a veterinarian. more »
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