Sheep hayrack on wheels (IAE probably)

[Scribus]

I'd be feeding about 300 max, but I keep them in A & B flocks and then some other groupings. I guess the max on one feeder would be 60 to 70 which, for me - weather depending - means a bale lasts about six days. Which is very convenient.

You say little loss and mention an equine feeder, the apertures and the relatively tight fit don't indicate that to me. Have you used them with sheep? Perhaps mine are just messier eaters that most... I'm minded that my used of un-chopped hay may be a major factor; we'll see.

Yes I've been using them, sheep and cattle versions. There will always be a wee bit left in the bottom but if you lift the bell to move it that will often get eaten anyway.

 

[haybob]

Hard to avoid wastage really but in some situations I have left a few strings attached to bales to help hold them together for a few days. Will need to cut it out when it gets slack and watch nothing gets tied up in it!

 

[David.]

I have a small cattle ring feeder, around which I have welded a steel strap band, about a foot above the skirt to stop the sheep climbing in. This is topped off with a square cover, made from profiled sheets screwed to a wooden frame, which then ties securely to the top ring.
I drop a bale in on it's side, because they waste far less when bales sit on their side; and the sheep will graze the bale away, down to a central core that finally just needs to be knocked over so they can clear up. Almost no waste.

 

[Danllan]

I have a small cattle ring feeder, around which I have welded a steel strap band, about a foot above the skirt to stop the sheep climbing in. This is topped off with a square cover, made from profiled sheets screwed to a wooden frame, which then ties securely to the top ring.
I drop a bale in on it's side, because they waste far less when bales sit on their side; and the sheep will graze the bale away, down to a central core that finally just needs to be knocked over so they can clear up. Almost no waste.

I'll admit that I haven't put a bale in on its side; which is rather daft, because I do that with the cattle sometimes. I'll give it a go later in the week. Having had a look at them again this morning, I am minded that my ewes really are messy eaters compared to others... this could be another factor to cull on.

 

[exmoor dave]

You can just about fit a 4 stringer in 6 feeders with very careful stacking, usually have 7 feeders here....but one blew away ?

 

[neilo]

You can just about fit a 4 stringer in 6 feeders with very careful stacking, usually have 7 feeders here....but one blew away ?

View attachment 861484

That brings back awful memories of my yoof, but at least you don’t appear to have mud to trudge through carrying the hay.

Surely not a photo from this winter?

 

[exmoor dave]

That brings back awful memories of my yoof, but at least you don’t appear to have mud to trudge through carrying the hay.

Surely not a photo from this winter?

Yeah this afternoon.


Every time I use them, reminds me of my Yoof too ?, filling them with little bales, stacked in a exact way as per dads instructions

 

[Danllan]

...Surely not a photo from this winter?

Yeah this afternoon...

Exmoor is an arid desert compared to here!

 

[exmoor dave]

Exmoor is an arid desert compared to here!

NE corner = rain shadow

Mind you, we've not been immune this year and have lost a significant number of lambs this last 2 weeks ?

 

[David.]

Just as follow up.

 

[ShooTa]

i like the lid - ive done something very similar with a bit of wooden fence panneling - but it would need to be stronger and held down if it wernt in its very sheltered spot that its now residing.

 

[2YardOfLard]

I'm utterly p!ssed off with the amount of hay my ewes are wasting and am now considering wheeled hayracks.

Quite apart form the waste of feed, it's bl**dy annoying having to clear up the stuff. I've been using ring feeders because it's just easier to put a bale out for a given number of ewes for a given number of days. Years ago I stopped using the smaller vertical barred ones, instead using the slightly larger diagonally barred ones. An improvement in efficiency, but not perfect.

So this season, for an experiment with one lot, I've put a vertical barred one inside a diagonally barred one. This stops the almost inevitable 'awkward' ones from getting in and trampling and sh!tting on the feed when it gets down toward the bottom. But... there is still a lot of wastage, a little between the two rings, and a lot around the outside. It's pretty hard to accurately guess just how much is wasted, but I think 10% is a very conservative estimate. I've avoided the wheeled hayracks because of the extra work involved but, if they mean less waste, they are going to make long-term sense - I guess it's costing me about 10 bales a year as is, plus the irritation and time necessary to clear up.

So, I'll be grateful for any thoughts on how useful and efficient - or not - the wheeled ones are. I replaced my old wheeled creep feeders a while back, new = IAE, and I'm pleased enough with these and will be equally happy if the hayracks work as well.

Thanks in advance.

We use IAE wheeled racks. We've probably more wind than most farms (!) & we've never had one blow over - you just put them end-on to it & a breeze-block against the wheel to stop them rolling along. They warp slightly with time & you need to start using a cotter pin or similar to keep the lid shut. We use short ones & more of them, because Mrs Lard finds them easier to move about but we're probably on a smaller scale than you.

 

[David.]

i like the lid - ive done something very similar with a bit of wooden fence panneling - but it would need to be stronger and held down if it wernt in its very sheltered spot that its now residing.

That was knocked up in 1/2 hour, and is now on it's 6th winter.
Feeder was blacksmith made 40 yrs ago, tin fell off and I bodged a replacement skirt 20yrs ago, from the side of an old oil tank.