Advantage feeders

[andybk]

Did when I first got a feeder, I did try it and had a couple ewes keel over, probably my fault in hindsight, but too scared to use barley since!

recon if you can get them on it with troughs building up to adlib , will be more palatable/ free-flowing in the feeder and can shut it down more , going to try it later in winter .

 

[andybk]

I think part of my prob with barley is that it had been treated for storage giving a slight smell

will have to be fresh sample , we used to caustic treat barley and wasn't that palatable needed feeding with fresh grain or with molasses ,

 

[hillman]

will have to be fresh sample , we used to caustic treat barley and wasn't that palatable needed feeding with fresh grain or with molasses ,

Found out 4t the hard way

 

[jjm]

Anyone feeding whole oats through their feeders?

Do the oats flow ok?

And do lambs do ok on them?

Looking at using them for the ewe lambs rather than barley.

I have been feeding oats for the past two years through our 3-1 feeders. They are mixed with a 3mm protien pellet from Carrs Billington. We have found the trough needs scrapping out once a day when you get it shut down to restrict the intake to approx 250g but this is not a problem really.
Overall I have ben delighted with the feeders. Gone are the days of getting knocked over by hungry sheep every morning and any thoughts of buying an expensive gator or similar to carry bagged nuts for winter feeding have all but disappeared.

 

[rhifsaith]

Took the plunge....... haven't ordered any crystalyx this autumn.

Have ordered 6x 800 model feeders instead

To add to the 2x 800 &1 x 1800 feeders I already have

Did you get any movement on the price?
Tempted with the 3800.

 

[exmoor dave]

Air riveter gonna be busy

 

[Jackson4]

I have been feeding oats for the past two years through our 3-1 feeders. They are mixed with a 3mm protien pellet from Carrs Billington. We have found the trough needs scrapping out once a day when you get it shut down to restrict the intake to approx 250g but this is not a problem really.
Overall I have ben delighted with the feeders. Gone are the days of getting knocked over by hungry sheep every morning and any thoughts of buying an expensive gator or similar to carry bagged nuts for winter feeding have all but disappeared.

Do you have the newer restricter on your 3in1 jjm? This is supposed to not block up as much? Has anyone got a picture of the newer type? What money are you paying for the protein pellet? Do you deal with Ryan at carrs? Dont know where in yorkshire you are. Does it get blocked up with wet pellets or dust from them?

 

[5312]

Are any firms in South Wales producing a 3mm high protein pellet? And what sort of price should they be?

 

[jjm]

Do you have the newer restricter on your 3in1 jjm? This is supposed to not block up as much? Has anyone got a picture of the newer type? What money are you paying for the protein pellet? Do you deal with Ryan at carrs? Dont know where in yorkshire you are. Does it get blocked up with wet pellets or dust from them?

One feeder has new restrictors and is better. £280/t for protein pellets, can become blocked after heavy driving rain but the get scraped out each morning as a matter of course.

 

[NZDan]

One feeder has new restrictors and is better. £280/t for protein pellets, can become blocked after heavy driving rain but the get scraped out each morning as a matter of course.

I fed high protein pellets to triplet and quad ewes pre lambing this year, probably won't again, yes it did make a difference but I found i did have to scrape it out which defeats the point in having a feeder. Plus I could have fed three times as much barley for the same cost and not had to scarp it out.
I may experiment with a mix of Barley, pke and Soya husks next year if I can get some cheap enough.

 

[Dealer]

I fed high protein pellets to triplet and quad ewes pre lambing this year, probably won't again, yes it did make a difference but I found i did have to scrape it out which defeats the point in having a feeder. Plus I could have fed three times as much barley for the same cost and not had to scarp it out.
I may experiment with a mix of Barley, pke and Soya husks next year if I can get some cheap enough.

Hi NZDan

Your pellet spec is important ideal spec

3mm in size with extra hardener to bind the pellet and a spray of fat after forming is ideal, this keeps the dust down and also helps with moisture resistance

mixing 250KG of 34% protein with 750KG of barley will give a ration of 17.9 % (barley estimated @ 10%)

ability to feed this @ circa 250 g per head per day or more, it will also include mins & vits

don't over stock the feeder and once a day to run your finger down it is a small price to pay for controlled feeding, if you have the newer white adjuster guard this in its inverted position prolongs the build up of dust before blocking and cleaning may be needed less frequently.

 

[Dealer]

One feeder has new restrictors and is better. £280/t for protein pellets, can become blocked after heavy driving rain but the get scraped out each morning as a matter of course.

Have the creep panel in the mid position the ewes will still get in but the rain prevented from getting in.


So your ration will be costing circa £153 per ton @ 18% protein

Based on Barley being £110 per ton

Protein 250kg @ 34% = £70

Barley 750KG @ 10% + £82.50


Flexibility in feeding from 250g or more per head per day.

 

[working claas]

Looking to feed inlamb ewe lambs on 3in1 feeder but want to make sure all are eating, heard of people putting food colouring in feed, what is the best way to do this?

 

[exmoor dave]

Looking to feed inlamb ewe lambs on 3in1 feeder but want to make sure all are eating, heard of people putting food colouring in feed, what is the best way to do this?

+1 interested in this

 

[Dealer]

you need a very concentrated food grade die, put a small layer of food in the feeder then add the die (mixed with feed enough for 2 days) then cover with a small amount of normal feed, the idea being that as the animals eat from the feeder they will have colouring on the mouth & face.

Alternative is to have a marker spray near the feeder and mark each ewe if they come to the feeder once they will come often, after a Cpl of days you will spot the shy ones, introducing the feeder earlier will encourage use.

don't over stock the feeder each feeder has a recommended number this is to discourage bullying and give shy feeders an opportunity to feed.

 

[yorkshire8]

Ive ordered five feeders hope to feed in lamb ewes with whole barley oats and protien pellets. Fingers crossed that it all goes to plan.

 

[TelesnaAg]

Lick feeders are used by the thousands in Aus...but the drama i see your having with rain is my concern...some use an apron with rubber hanging down...once sheep are trained in using feeder they add apron...most are home made but rare to see one...

No one makes protein balls in Aus that i know of?...lupins are used usually with barley...

Good thread...

Ant...

 

[5312]

I fed high protein pellets to triplet and quad ewes pre lambing this year, probably won't again, yes it did make a difference but I found i did have to scrape it out which defeats the point in having a feeder. Plus I could have fed three times as much barley for the same cost and not had to scarp it out.
I may experiment with a mix of Barley, pke and Soya husks next year if I can get some cheap enough.

How much straight barley could you safely feed?

 

[exmoor dave]

Lick feeders are used by the thousands in Aus...but the drama i see your having with rain is my concern...some use an apron with rubber hanging down...once sheep are trained in using feeder they add apron...most are home made but rare to see one...

No one makes protein balls in Aus that i know of?...lupins are used usually with barley...

Good thread...

Ant...

The rain issue is massively reduced if feeding whole grains, even with protein pellets mixed at 3 to 1

Apron sounds a good idea

 

[yellowbelly]

Apron sounds a good idea

It will help to keep the pigeons out too. This decoy hawk worked for a couple of weeks until the fudgers sussed out it wasn't going to attack 'em