When looking for a sheep feeder or a goat feeder, it can be hard to find something low enough for the smaller animals to reach. Most options center around cheap plastic feeders sitting on the ground or something built from scratch in your spare time. (All farmers have plenty of that, right?) We decided to make a modified version of our small square bale feeder to function as a goat/sheep feeder. With legs only 8” long, it’s low enough that even the lambs and kids can get their fill. (For a taller version, check out our square bale feeders.)
For the hay rack on our goat feeder/sheep feeder, we used 3/8” steel rods fastened to a 1/8” steel rectangle tube frame. This feeder is designed to be filled – year after year after year. The grain pan under the hay rack is 32” wide and is made with 12-gauge steel. Four drain holes in the corners keep the goat feeder/sheep feeder free of standing water; less moisture = more years of use.
One big advantage of adding a hay rack over a grain trough is the reduced hay waste. Much of the loose hay that falls from the hay rack is caught in the trough, where it can still be eaten. When animals finish more of their feed, you use less of your money. That’s always a good thing.
Standard Features
At Farmco, every goat feeder/sheep feeder we build is carefully welded from 12 gauge steel, with reinforcements added for extra strength. Each small animal feeder is painted before leaving the shop, with a two-part polyurethane paint. All paint coatings are applied electrostatically to ensure even coverage. In short, we expect our small animal feeders to last for decades, even under tough farming conditions.
Farmco goat feeders/sheep feeders come standard with: