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How do you give hay?

2K views 14 replies 8 participants last post by  kbluebkeman 
#1 ·
Do yall use rolls or square bales? Say one goat got one square bale, about how long would it last? We always get a roll and leave it with the horses in there field, then fill up 3, 5 gallon buckets with hay and leave it under the goat shelter for them.

But of course them being goats they like to tip it over. And I've heard of them getting their necks caught in some hay feeders so i thought about just making my own. I was thinking 1ft off the ground, plywood bottom and top with a door on top, with little bars about an inch or 2 apart around the sides, with bigger posts in the corners? I might put plywood on one or two of the sides so i can push it up against the wall and hay wont fall out. How do yall think that would work before i attempt to build it? Lol. :) Anything i should change? It would stay under the shelter so it won't need to be rain resistant.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I generally feed off of 3 X 3 X 8 square bales, but I have been known to sneak into the hay shed and snag small squares on occasion (and when Dad isn't looking, as he hates baling small squares). I know what each flake weighs, and I feed the appropriate number of flakes to equal 5 lbs/adult doe in each pen. I use regular horse hay/grain combo feeders. If you do a search on this forum you will find a lot of home made hay feeders to choose from.

PS. We had a few weedy grass bales and put one of them in one of the pens to use as bedding under the shed. It weighed roughly 850 lbs, and 21 does + 1 buck ate it in roughly 4-5 days - possibly 6. We have been busy enough that I can't remember when they finished it.
 
#5 ·
Thanks, :) i think ill make one kinda like that pic but with a lid and smaller holes. I dont think i put it earlier but i only have 7 goats. 4 does, 2 doe kids, and a buckling, and i might be selling 2 so i won't need very much.

What kind of hay would be best? Alfalfa here is $17 for a square bale which is a little crazy and only tractor supply sales it. Then some local farmers sale it but we have to switch up a lot because they keep most of it for their horses and only sale a few bales, and its regular grass horse quality hay for $40 for a round bale. The round bales are alot cheaper and easier to feed both the horses and the goats with. But I've read on here a lot about alfalfa being the best for them. What is yalls opinion? Is there that big of a difference between the 2? Thank you for the help. :)
 
#6 ·
We have hardly any alfalfa around here, and what there is costs way too much for 23 goats. So, I just use good 2nd cutting grass hay and
mix alfalfa pellets with the grain that I feed to the lactating or preg. does. Everyone is healthy etc. (except for the one goat that picked up a cold at the county fair...)
 
#10 ·
Mine isn't alfalfa, but it is good quality grass hay in rectangular bales. I offer it free choice (a few flakes at a time) all day and all night because my goats don't get any pasture time. I built both our indoor and our outdoor feeders with my hubby's help. Neither is stunningly beautiful, but they both get the job done. My outdoor one looks similar to sokoservices'.
 
#12 ·
Thank you guys :)

I have 2 does that wont eat hay? If i put them in a dry lot for a few days and leave hay in there with them will they learn to eat it. Or should i not worry about it and just let them graze? I thought if i cut down on their grazing then the worms will go down and it will be easier to feed them in winter when they have to eat hay.
 
#13 ·
Ok so next problem.... How do you feed yalls loose minerals? I have it in one of those hanging troughs on the gate but its too big and i have to change it out if it rains and i forget to bring it in. So i thought about putting it in there barn but they are in there so much they will probably get bored and stand in it haha. Im thinking of making a little box or something so they can't waist it. Any ideas? How do yall do it?
 
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