How many calves per creep feeder?

[Bossfarmer]

GRass is running out now and im a bit short on creep feeders, will one creep manage to feed 30 calves or will i just end up with the first 5 or 10 eating it all?

Bruised barley mixed with protein worling out at 18%

 

[livestock 1]

GRass is running out now and im a bit short on creep feeders, will one creep manage to feed 30 calves or will i just end up with the first 5 or 10 eating it all?

Bruised barley mixed with protein worling out at 18%

1 should do 30 calves no bother keeping something in it is more important

 

[Whitepeak]

I've got 35 to one feeder, filling it every 3-4 days

 

[Bossfarmer]

So ill need to keep it filled? Only problem is i dont want them.eating much more than 2-3 kg/ day

 

[Bossfarmer]

Each

 

[Hilly]

I have had some
Creeps out for weeks and they hardly touch the feed , good blend as well , i have minerals and mag licks near to attract the cows to them but they hardy eat anything what am I doing wrong ? Id like to see them eating it

 

[Hilly]

So ill need to keep it filled? Only problem is i dont want them.eating much more than 2-3 kg/ day

Why ? If your going to do it bang it into them

 

[livestock 1]

Chuck some bags of coarse mix in something tasty then they will eat anything

 

[livestock 1]

So ill need to keep it filled? Only problem is i dont want them.eating much more than 2-3 kg/ day

Change to a blend it’s come down a bit

 

[Hilly]

Chuck some bags of coarse mix in something tasty then they will eat anything

Thats what i have in .

 

[livestock 1]

Try some varleys coarse mix or Solway would do
Or is that what you’ve already done?

 

[Hilly]

Try some varleys coarse mix or Solway would do
Or is that what you’ve already done?

Davidsons .

 

[Bossfarmer]

By saying i wanted them to eat 2-3 kg each i meant i dont want some of them eating double/three times that, just wanting them all to get a bit,

 

[David1968]

So ill need to keep it filled? Only problem is i dont want them.eating much more than 2-3 kg/ day

So what you're saying is, you want a lazy option

Creep feeders have to be adlib once they get going.

If you want to ration them you need to find a way of separating them and using troughs. Fence off a small area where you're feeding the cows. Put a creep gate in it and a feeder with some really nice smelling haylage inside with the troughs, and cross your fingers.
Once the bolder ones get used to going in, a few extra gates can be set up to force the reluctant ones in, and leave them to find their own way out.

It's either make the effort with troughs, or spend more on feed.

 

[Whitepeak]

I have had some
Creeps out for weeks and they hardly touch the feed , good blend as well , i have minerals and mag licks near to attract the cows to them but they hardy eat anything what am I doing wrong ? Id like to see them eating it

I always try to position the feeder close to a water trough initially, the cows and calves will come to water and hopefully go in the feeder whilst they are there. I also only start with a bucket full at a time to keep it fresh, building up as they take more and more.

Doesn't always work, had one calf last winter who never did eat creep. He'd go in the feeder to sleep and even nibble hay under the side, but never touched the creep feed! He was on his own after housing, whether that made a difference I don't know

 

[ISCO]

3 in 1creep feeder would be the way to go if you are patient enough to get it set right.

 

[livestock 1]

3 in 1 feeder if you are trying to regulate barley
It’s not worth the hassle in my opinion those 3 in 1 feeders get wrecked easily

 

[Hilly]

I always try to position the feeder close to a water trough initially, the cows and calves will come to water and hopefully go in the feeder whilst they are there. I also only start with a bucket full at a time to keep it fresh, building up as they take more and more.

Doesn't always work, had one calf last winter who never did eat creep. He'd go in the feeder to sleep and even nibble hay under the side, but never touched the creep feed! He was on his own after housing, whether that made a difference I don't know

Mine are on hill land and have 2 miles of river to drink from , probably part problem they can be 1 mile from a creeep as they are today as change in weather has moved the herd ….

 

[livestock 1]

Mine are on hill land and have 2 miles of river to drink from , probably part problem they can be 1 mile from a creeep as they are today as change in weather has moved the herd ….

I had similar problems I shifted the ewes away from one lot of cattle put the creep in where they are usually hanging about but a lot haven’t spent much time round it since. A few hundred acres to choose from

 

[Hilly]

I had similar problems I shifter the ewes away from one lot of cattle put the creep in where they are usually hanging about but a lot haven’t spent much time round it since. A few hundred acres to choose from

Yes I put the creep where they hang about then the weather blows the cows miles away …… inbye farmers have it so easy …. Lol