Sheep ring feeders

[FrazzledMummyFarmer]

Any tips?
Whenever I use them, they eat the middle and top as far as they can but then the bottom seems so tight they can't pull it out. I have to open the feeder up and pull out around the bottom then close it up and restuff the feeder if that makes sense. Once they've eaten that, I'll need to go in again to spread the middle of the bale to the outsides. Is this normal or do any of you wise folk have any tips you'd care to share ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

drop the bale in the other way round or get a cradle ring feeder

 

[primmiemoo]

I don't use the pins on some ring feeders, or just use one, because the maker has been so stingey with dimensions. Some bales do flop into the spaces, and need pulling, too, which is similar to what you're having to do.

Take binder cord, and draw the two halves together, tying at above sheep head high, making sure heads can't get trapped in the triangular space that's made. It's easier to undo them to sort out hayjams.

Cradle feeders are good. Modulamb's 4 piece ring feeder is better, ime. Oval shaped with two straight feeder pieces to connect to the curved ones make it more versatile.

 

[hally]

Get your baler man to chop th silage

 

[Dkb]

Jfc bell feeders are very good and durable against weather but aren’t cheap

Putting the bale in the other way is a good idea that I never thought of.

 

[David.]

I made some 3 feed space sections, to fit into std 6ft sheep rings, probably makes them more like 7ft. Enables you to drop bale in on its side instead of its end, which makes the bale easier to clear up without waste.

 

[livestock 1]

Do the cradle feeders not end up with the silage stuck where the sheep can’t pull it out? I’ve never had any but the people that have had them reckon they have to pick the bale up again half way through the sheep eating it to loosen it up

 

[David.]

Cradle feeders will be complicit in killing sheep if you do not check them twice a day. The sheep eat away at the underside and leave a mushroom of feed which can be heavy if feeding silage, you have to be there to topple this mushroom before it falls over and traps a ewe by the neck and strangles her.

 

[michael N123]

I made some 3 feed space sections, to fit into std 6ft sheep rings, probably makes them more like 7ft. Enables you to drop bale in on its side instead of its end, which makes the bale easier to clear up without waste.

I make them out of 3 now aswell and after they’ve eaten abit tighten it up to 2... it’s the only way with modern chopped bales

 

[Bury the Trash]

They are way too tight for sheep to pull out.
How bout Pull the bale apart to loosen / unroll first on conrete somewhere away from the flock then use a grab to take to thd ring feeder.
Or do like I did and make a bale unroller (or buy one can use as a spike as well) and unroll it right into the feeder.

 

[Stw88]

We put 3 halves together, you can then get more ewes round and theres very little gets wasted. Only downside is you have to pull the middle out at the end as they cant teach it.

 

[Al R]

I’ve never had ewes not eat a whole bale unless some tw@ has jumped ontop of the bale or jumped into the feeder and shat on the haylage. Might have to move the last 10kg in the middle for them to eat it but usually move the feeder for a new bale and some ewes will eat the last of what was left.

 

[michael N123]

whats the best make of ring feeder for not falling to bits after a couple winters ?

 

[Al R]

whats the best make of ring feeder for not falling to bits after a couple winters ?

I’ve got some IAE they must be, the 4 hole types are thinner than the old 3 hole types but far easier for wheeling across fields and most have done 15 years and only had 1 break/bend which was from someone putting a tractor on it to pull it apart while half a bale had gone rotten after a few months in it.

ps, I don’t chop anything, I find it’s a big mess, harder to handle to get perfect placement and intakes went to high..

 

[Bob]

Got some Ritchie rings with thick pins. Best I have Iae seem to bend and fall to bits

 

[Boydvalley]

Spike the bale 2/3 up and hold above feeder. Remove net, let/shake bottom 2/3 fall in, drop the rest. End up with tall pile of silage but at least they can eat it.

Modern balers pack them too tight for round feeder silage feeding. Hate feeding round silage.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Can honestly say Ive never had a problem with this unless I'm trying to feed something that isn't quite up to sheep standard. Although I gave up on pinning the rings together years ago. When 250 mule ewes are attacking the bale before the wrap is off I have to resort to good old bale string! The extra spread from that perhaps lets them pull the bottom out?

 

[MOG]

Bought one of these last year. Now spread a bale between 3-4 feeders. No more waste.

 

[Valtra Man]

Same here, bought a hustler bale unroller. One bale between several rings, no crushing, no climbing to eat off the top soiling the sides and no tight centre to pull out. Swapped a bale slice for it, used to put one bale between two with the slice but the unroller is a far better job.
As for the free standing feeders that break sheep’s necks tie a piece of cord from one side to the other and it will stop the bale falling. You do need to push it over the following day though.

 

[Spudie]

Same here, bought a hustler bale unroller. One bale between several rings, no crushing, no climbing to eat off the top soiling the sides and no tight centre to pull out. Swapped a bale slice for it, used to put one bale between two with the slice but the unroller is a far better job.
As for the free standing feeders that break sheep’s necks tie a piece of cord from one side to the other and it will stop the bale falling. You do need to push it over the following day though.

How's the Hustler with well chopped silage, also does it matter which way the bale goes in?
Cheers