The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Clay on March 10, 2023, 12:38:18 pm

Title: Sheep ring feeders
Post by: Clay on March 10, 2023, 12:38:18 pm

Which are best and why?

The standard circular sheep ring feeder with horizontal bars or the diagonal type ( on a slant )

Thanks

Opps my error vertical bars (not horizontal)

Title: Re: Sheep ring feeders
Post by: landroverroy on March 10, 2023, 01:47:20 pm

Horizontal bars are for horned sheep.
Polled sheep (ie without horns) can feed from feeders with horizontal, sloping or vertical bars.

Title: Re: Sheep ring feeders
Post by: shep53 on March 10, 2023, 07:01:49 pm

Depending on your breed of sheep   ,as said horizontal bars are designed for horned breeds and small  types can get into the feeder very easily ,vertical  bars are for non horned breeds  (  horned breeds can use but can get stuck or break a horn ) and again  small or narrow types can get into the feeder or get stuck half in , diagonal bars  really only for non horned  and difficult for any sheep ( but not all ) to get into the feeder .  Ring feeders work best with big  bales  but you can use small bales by spreading around the ring  ,most sheep cannot reach a big bale centre in a ring  . Small bales would be better in a hay rack

Title: Re: Sheep ring feeders
Post by: Clay on March 10, 2023, 07:15:20 pm

Thanks for that Shep53

Title: Re: Sheep ring feeders
Post by: shep53 on March 10, 2023, 07:44:07 pm

If you google IBC  there are different ideas on how to turn one into a sheep hay feeder