Snackers

[Al R]

Rob Astley trailers make their own snackers, the ones you see on eBay are polish copies. Rob Astley will can also put a shoot for filling buckets on theirs.

CLH looks like the best of the plastic hopper types. I'm still on filling bags but they are wearing a bit thin with me, especially when I don' take the trailer and bungee them on the racks. You can guarantee one will fall off at the worst possible moment

You can’t put them on your foot wells on the quad? I often carry 60-70kg on either side of the bike. Where I used to work I used to do 3-4000acre slug pelleting on a quad older than myself that was a wreck but I had a fishing basket on the front and that would hold 75kg of pellets in it. Could be an idea for you?

 

[neilo]

Took over a year to get a VAT receipt from him years ago. I'd never deal with him again though tbf the snacker was good enough.

I bought a cheap quad trailer of theirs via Charlies. The first thing I had to do was redrill all the holes for the tailboard to fasten up. It still needs a good sideways shove to fit sometimes. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back, much as i prefer to support local suppliers.

When I had to feed out in 2012, I did a good bit of research (on here and elsewhere). It struck me that the logic was a million miles ahead if you have any number to feed. How the hell do you count drops accurately in several mobs of a decent number, at the same time as inspecting the ewes and watching you don’t drive over any?
I bought one and couldn’t fault it tbh, and it would certainly be my first choice again (unless someone copied one, of course). I didn’t feed for the next three years, so sold it to a fellow TFF member.

I’d think it was the best snacker available (at a price obviously) but any snacker will create issues if you are outdoor lambing and want to take the same vehicle round lambing ewes to quietly ring lambs etc.

 

[Al R]

I bought a cheap quad trailer of theirs via Charlies. The first thing I had to do was redrill all the holes for the tailboard to fasten up. It still needs a good sideways shove to fit sometimes. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back, much as i prefer to support local suppliers.

When I had to feed out in 2012, I did a good bit of research (on here and elsewhere). It struck me that the logic was a million miles ahead if you have any number to feed. How the hell do you count drops accurately in several mobs of a decent number, at the same time as inspecting the ewes and watching you don’t drive over any?
I bought one and couldn’t fault it tbh, and it would certainly be my first choice again (unless someone copied one, of course). I didn’t feed for the next three years, so sold it to a fellow TFF member.

I’d think it was the best snacker available (at a price obviously) but any snacker will create issues if you are outdoor lambing and want to take the same vehicle round lambing ewes to quietly ring lambs etc.

We stop snacking 3-4 weeks before lambing so only feed for a month but even then if you go down to 7/8kmh the rest of the year their right behind the quad hoping for something to drop :/ I’ve never had a ewe go under the snacker and we don’t have the bar. I could never keep count while checking every backside to see if they’ve slipped a lamb or another problem with the ewe. In some fields we have to count the ewes to make sure their all there too :/

The ability to feed on fresh ground daily and take the ewes to shelter on rough days is a huge positive to snacking.

Has anyone ever fed ewes with lambs? With such a high lambing % I might do it with some lots?

 

[Nithsdale]

Rob Astley trailers make their own snackers, the ones you see on eBay are polish copies. Rob Astley will can also put a shoot for filling buckets on theirs.

CLH looks like the best of the plastic hopper types. I'm still on filling bags but they are wearing a bit thin with me, especially when I don' take the trailer and bungee them on the racks. You can guarantee one will fall off at the worst possible moment

Go and look at them all and get back to me with that... I've looked over them all before I picked up my one 2nd hand. Theirs and Wessex are just the same, as are the Polish copies...

CLH are (almost) identical to Portequip, except for plastic colour... and the metalwork/chassis of both is the same as the Port Agric chassis design.

 

[Lovegoodstock]

Did years back when had a real cold wind whipping the grass off, had real problems with lambs going lame by being knocked about by hefty ewes, touch wood havnt had to feed since then but would use 3 in 1 if I did. Still have a drum snacker, mainly use on cattle, we just bag out of feed bin and throw in back of gator/ pickup if feeding multiple bunches, and far quicker if doing cattle with more feed required that a single snacker would hold

 

[Nithsdale]

... I’ve never had a ewe go under the snacker and we don’t have the bar. I could never keep count while checking every backside to see if they’ve slipped a lamb or another problem with the ewe. In some fields we have to count the ewes to make sure their all there too :/


Has anyone ever fed ewes with lambs? With such a high lambing % I might do it with some lots?

I've had a few ewe 'bounce' off the mudguards as they try to dive in, infront of the wheels to get the feed. They soon learn though, Iv not ran one over yet.

I go out do my rounds first thing in morning then once everything is caught up in the morning I go out and feed ewes - first rounds are 7am, but I'll usually feed ewes 10am... I also take my shearing tally counter to count heaps. No need to count just watch and look the ewes whilst that right thumb counts away

I fed everything post lambing with the snacker last year (2017) due to the late spring/drought. Worked no problem the lambs are at their worst 10 day old as they charge around without a clue... but they soon learn from mum where the feed is - they get onto it quick.

Ewe hoggs were easy to get onto feed this winter because they remembered what it was from spring

 

[goodevans]

no

Am I the only one who uses a snacker to carry feed around the sheds then?

 

[goodevans]

Am I the only one who uses a snacker to carry feed around the sheds then?

no

 

[TL100]

Go and look at them all and get back to me with that... I've looked over them all before I picked up my one 2nd hand. Theirs and Wessex are just the same, as are the Polish copies...

CLH are (almost) identical to Portequip, except for plastic colour... and the metalwork/chassis of both is the same as the Port Agric chassis design.

Rob Astley snackers are welded together whereas the polish zagroda ones are bolted together for a start...

I haven't seen the Portequip/Port Agric but a CLH is stronger than all the others I've seen with a plastic hopper.

 

[scholland]

Chapman electric one here, works really well and seems well made. Good bit cheaper than logic.

 

[Bill dog]

My brother has the portequip snacker. Has a real problem keeping the sluice gate shut on the way up the road to the field( about 1/3 mile.
Has been known to set off , sluice rattles open, and dumps all the cake on the road !
He has yet to work out how to operate baler twine or a bungee cord !

 

[Gator]

Logic one here, electrc counter. No problem feeding rolls. Have a main live switch and the counter switch, just have to remember to switch the counter offer first and not the main one after each batch otherwise they get a bloody good feed . Soon empties the hopper

 

[shearerlad]

Logic snacker here. It’s a 1995 model. I bought it on eBay a few years ago for about quarter the price of a new one.
I had to replace the motor last spring but I don’t suppose that’s too bad for it’s age.
Only thing is mine doesn’t have a counter on the box. Just gotta count the thuds as the slider shuts.

 

[neilo]

Logic snacker here. It’s a 1995 model. I bought it on eBay a few years ago for about quarter the price of a new one.
I had to replace the motor last spring but I don’t suppose that’s too bad for it’s age.
Only thing is mine doesn’t have a counter on the box. Just gotta count the thuds as the slider shuts.

Presumably you could just fit a new control box if that bothered you enough?

 

[alwayslearning]

Have a logic Chapman looks stronger.

 

[Al R]

I may have an old counter, I’ll have a look to see if I’ve still got it. for some reason it didn’t count 1-1 on the new quad? It was fine on the 6-7 quads before though?

Logic snacker here. It’s a 1995 model. I bought it on eBay a few years ago for about quarter the price of a new one.
I had to replace the motor last spring but I don’t suppose that’s too bad for it’s age.
Only thing is mine doesn’t have a counter on the box. Just gotta count the thuds as the slider shuts.

 

[Nithsdale]

My brother has the portequip snacker. Has a real problem keeping the sluice gate shut on the way up the road to the field( about 1/3 mile.
Has been known to set off , sluice rattles open, and dumps all the cake on the road !
He has yet to work out how to operate baler twine or a bungee cord !

Needs a stronger spring.


Surprised though... that's not the Portequip's biggest weakness

 

[abitdaft]

My brother has the portequip snacker. Has a real problem keeping the sluice gate shut on the way up the road to the field( about 1/3 mile.
Has been known to set off , sluice rattles open, and dumps all the cake on the road !
He has yet to work out how to operate baler twine or a bungee cord !

Tighten the nuts on the open/shut lever.

 

[Bill dog]

If he hasn’t worked that out for himself yet, there is little hope ! But I enjoy watching the utter muppetry !

 

[shearerlad]

I may have an old counter, I’ll have a look to see if I’ve still got it. for some reason it didn’t count 1-1 on the new quad? It was fine on the 6-7 quads before though?

As @neilo says I’m actually not that fussed. Biggest mob is getting 50 drops atm. Not that hard to count. I missed a fully wired harness at roup barn door last month