Over the years we have tried out all of these DIY goat hay feeder ideas (and more - some of which were epic fails). From using cattle panels across the corner of a stall or repurposing chicken coops, here you will find the run down of many different ideas to try for your herd.
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Hay Feeder Must-Have's
Contrary to popular belief, goats will NOT eat anything and everything. In fact, they can be quite picky - hay on the ground, no thanks. Now that's not to say we haven't had a few odd balls trying to eat zip ties and plastic (looking at you Onyx!)
No matter what hay feeder you decide to use for your goats, there are a few important things to think about:
- Keep the hay up off the ground - hay that sits straight on the ground can become wet and moldy. Mold is super dangerous for goats. So, keep that hay high and dry.
- Keep out the elements - same principle as keeping it off the ground, you want it covered or contained so that it can't get wet if it rains or snows.
- Don't make them reach too high - you want to be sure the feeder isn't too high where they have to stand on their back legs and stretch to get in it. This can become dangerous if they get their heads stuck.
- Try to prevent waste - goats will yank that hay right out, drop it on the ground and then refuse to eat it. There are a few tips and types of feeders that help prevent waste - and keep a little more money in your pockets.
Hay Feeder Ideas
With all of that said, you can really use tons of different things to make your own goat hay feeder. Or, you can simply purchase a pre-made metal feeder or cloth bag feeder.
Here are a few of our favorite hay feeders that we have used with our herd.
Cattle Panel in The Stall Corner
This one is super easy to make. Simply clip a cattle panel to fit into the corner of your stall. Then use fencing staples to attach it to the stall walls.
A few watch out's here - make sure that where you clip the cattle panel it doesn't leave sharp edges. Also, we like to put a small board across the top of the feeder if it's low and goats can jump over and in.
It's also good to cut a pallet down and set it into the bottom of the feeder, or you can use a small drywall pan. This way the hay isn't sitting straight on the ground.
Pros: Cheap and easy to make.
Cons: Since it goes into the corner of a stall, it's not terribly big and you may need to make several or add other feeders if you have a large herd. They do tend to waste a bit in this set up.
Big Plastic Trashcan
Seriously though, I know you may be thinking this seems weird, but it works great for a small herd. We have used this type of feeder in with our bucks.
Simply buy a large plastic trashcan - the kind you would have that you put out on the curb for trash pickup. Cut a hole in the side - add chicken wire or cattle panel if desired to cut down on waste.
Pros: Fast and easy to make. You can fit an entire square bale right into the trash can. It's full contained and can be set outside the stall and easily moved.
Cons: Not great for more than a few goats. And, over time, they will tear it up and it will need to be replaced - ask me how I know.
Repurposed Chicken Coop
These work with those small chicken coops made for about 4 - 8 chickens that are just a rectangle on legs. They're about the perfect size for a bale of hay and you don't really have to do anything to them.
The little hatch on the front that's open is a great fit for goats to reach in and grab mouthfuls of hay out. We have used these several times from coops we made, but would work from store-bought ones as well.
Pros: Fully enclosed so it can be kept in or out of the stall and easily moved. Fits a bale of hay whole.
Cons: Not worth buying or making from scratch as it's timely and costly. So, this only works if you have an old one sitting around. It's only sized for a few goats to use.
Need some help to keep your goats healthy and maintained? The G.O.A.T Herd Management Binder has you covered from supplies to routine care reminders.
Large Dog Crate
We first used a large dog crate as a hay feeder sort of on accident. We had set up an isolation stall and needed something quick. Looked around and grabbed a small dog crate and popped some hay into it.
After we saw that it actually worked well, we started using an extra large one (think Great Dane size) in our kidding area. Flip it up on it's end that way the bottom with bigger holes is exposed and the gate is open on the top so you can just drop the bale into it.
Sit it up on a pallet to keep the hay off the ground and prevent any moisture from getting into it.
Pros: this works best for not too many goats. It's super fast, easy and portable.
Cons: There is quite a bit of waste since they can't reach their heads all the way in.
Standing Cattle Panel Feeder
This is great if you have a large herd. Simply take four cattle panels, secure them together into a square or rectangle. Zip ties, bailing twine or anything else you want to use will secure it well.
Then, place pallets into the bottom to raise the hay up some - this makes it so that they have to stick their heads into the feeder reducing waste. Place drywall pans onto the pallets to keep the hay dry and then add your hay.
Pros: Can be made any size you need for your herd. Waste is reduced since they stick their heads in to eat.
Cons: This can be big and bulky and take up a lot of room in a stall. Or, if put outside, it will need a top and protection on the sides.
Conclusion
You don't have to buy expensive hay feeders to have a nice feeding set up for your goats. These 5 examples we have here are ones we have tried that have worked super well for our herd over the years.
If you need more help keeping your goats healthy and well taken care of, check out the G.O.A.T. Herd Management System - worksheets, calculators, supply management and more to keep your goats in tip top shape while cutting down on time.
