The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: TG on December 06, 2010, 01:12:21 pm
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I have seen hay racks used on farms that hang on the fence. Does anyone know where I can get them from ?
All I can find on the internet are small ones that straddle a hurdle or industrial size wheel along ones ( at industrial size prices !)
I am only getting 3 sheep so don't need anything too big.
Thanks
TG
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i got mine from carrs billington - think they have branches all over. where are you?
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I got one from Ascott Small holder supplies.
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Check where you are going to get your feed from, they should supply feeders as well as feed. We have a hurdle one for the goats and just nailed it to the wall and you can fix a homemade top to them to keep most of the rain off.
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i got mine from carrs billington - think they have branches all over. where are you?
Not far from Leek in Staffs. There is one there so will try that first.
Good idea about the lid too.
Thanks
TG
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Hi
If you're good at DIY theres a brilliant book 'Smallholders DIY' by Michael Roberts Pub by Gold cockerel Series. We made our hay rack this winter for our 4 sheep. It looks like a small old fashioned railway carriage! - they love it. it cost us about £70.00 for the big bits of ply and screws that we needed; then its just the time to make it.
CTC
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I got my 8 foot one from ebay and I only have 4 sheep but the goats seem to love it too. I'd had a search registered for ages for a local one, maybe 6 months, then the wait paid off. I paid less for that one than the 4 foot one that was for sale.
I know not much help as you need it now but just in case you can wait it can pay off. I just couldn't bring myself round to paying new prices.
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In one paddock I use 3 galvanised hurdles in a rectangle without the 4th side and put two split hay racks over that. The sheep can get the hay from both sides and it stops 9too much0 squabbling!
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mccaskies in sterling sells them or agri parts
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They are rediculously priced for a bit of galvanised metal so I decided to make my own from pallets. It took me all of 30 minutes and cost me nothing! I stripped the bottom sleepers off the pallet, leaving the spacers still attached. Then with the planks that I removed I constucted a frame and stapled some galvanised sheep netting to it. the stripped down pallet forms the back of the rack and the frame with netting rests on the bottom spacers off the ground with the top edge tilted forwards. the frame is held at this angle by some side struts made from bits of salvaged timber from pallets nailed from the middle and top spacers to the sides of the frame. The whole structure is light enough to carry from field to field when needed and leans against the post and rail fence and secured to the top rail of the fence with some baler twine.
I'll be honest I was forced to knock it together this morning as all our grazing is covered in deep snow today however the sheep have taken to it and it looks as if it will last for a long time!
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Don't hang the racks high above the sheeps' heads or the hay seeds will fall into the sheeps' eyes and may cause eye infections.
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They are rediculously priced for a bit of galvanised metal so I decided to make my own from pallets. It took me all of 30 minutes and cost me nothing! I stripped the bottom sleepers off the pallet, leaving the spacers still attached. Then with the planks that I removed I constucted a frame and stapled some galvanised sheep netting to it. the stripped down pallet forms the back of the rack and the frame with netting rests on the bottom spacers off the ground with the top edge tilted forwards. the frame is held at this angle by some side struts made from bits of salvaged timber from pallets nailed from the middle and top spacers to the sides of the frame. The whole structure is light enough to carry from field to field when needed and leans against the post and rail fence and secured to the top rail of the fence with some baler twine.
I'll be honest I was forced to knock it together this morning as all our grazing is covered in deep snow today however the sheep have taken to it and it looks as if it will last for a long time!
any chance of a photo?
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I made my first one with a piece of second hand weld mesh (the type used for reinforcing concrete I think) - stapled the bottom to the shed wall with fencing staples, and tied the top with baler twine so it hung at an angle. Worked well for years.
all the best
Sue