The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: OhLaLa on March 03, 2013, 02:15:12 pm

Title: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: OhLaLa on March 03, 2013, 02:15:12 pm
Much as I'd love a nice portable hay rack for the sheep, nothing is available in my location, so I will have to turn to making a hay rack. Does anyone have any ideas as to the best way I could go about this?
It's been previously suggested to me to use standard horse hay racks (which I  have aplenty), but I am against using these as A) the sheep like to climb, and may get their feet caught in them, and B) I don't like the idea of the hay being above their heads (dust and particles dropping).
At the moment it's on the floor and we get a lot of wastage.
Ta for any ideas.
PS: They are needed for internal and external areas.
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Bionic on March 03, 2013, 02:19:57 pm
I have just bought 2 plastic laundry baskets for my indoor pens at £1 each from a discount shop. I am going to attach them with plastic ties.
The look as if they will work well
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: ScotsGirl on March 03, 2013, 02:54:31 pm
Brilliant idea why didn't I think if that! Let us know if they work or get broken. Might try it for my rams if it works
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Bionic on March 03, 2013, 03:49:21 pm
Scotsgirl, I would like to take the credit but I think it was Suziequeue who suggested it first.
Ewes are coming in within the next couple of days so I will know if it works before too long
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Herdygirl on March 03, 2013, 09:01:24 pm
We have found that wooden hurdles along one side of our open barn, fixed with spacers onto the outside hurdles which we use as temporary walls, works well. you can get a fair amount of hay in there and the sheep can get at it easily with not much waste
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Old Shep on March 03, 2013, 10:39:51 pm
its amazing what you can do with a bit of spare stock fence and some baler twine  ;) ;D  just tie it onto a field fence or gate and hey presto!
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: hexhammeasure on March 04, 2013, 02:32:24 am
take the plastic liner out of an IBC tank - thats it made

Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: colliewoman on March 04, 2013, 04:26:58 pm
An old wooden cot with the sides pushed in at the bottom has just done me 2 winters. Had to make a new rack as I now have more sheep :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: OhLaLa on March 04, 2013, 06:54:51 pm
An old wooden cot with the sides pushed in at the bottom has just done me 2 winters. Had to make a new rack as I now have more sheep :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:
Ahhhhh noooooooo - what a great idea - bad news is I just sold one last weekend (it would have been ideal for the job as well).
And I've had the thing in the spare room for ages too.............
Ah well, too late now.  ::)
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: littlelugs on March 04, 2013, 07:11:48 pm
these ones are quite easy to make http://uglydogsfarm.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/sheep-feeder-design.html (http://uglydogsfarm.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/sheep-feeder-design.html)
 
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Brucklay on March 04, 2013, 07:18:19 pm
Littlelugs - they are like the ones I made for my sheep with a ply life to keep out the wet, they fit a small bale but now I buy small round bales so have to go back to the drawing board!!

Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: toaster on March 04, 2013, 07:45:06 pm
Love some of these ideas, the cot is just genius!
I have quite a bit of this stuff so made racks from that http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/251199640963?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0 (http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/251199640963?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0)
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: FiB on March 05, 2013, 08:52:54 am
we have an old stair gate and some 2 inch mesh lashed to an old gate in a jaunty V (with baler twine of course) with a caravan gas bottle compartment lid as a roof!  Works brill but takes half an hour to move when we move fields. 
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Chris H on March 09, 2013, 12:42:12 pm
I got a wooden cot from a charity shop, took out every other rung worked fine till Bob the ram took out the other rungs on one side so he can now sleep in the cot! Maybe I need to get him a mobile to help him sleep :excited:
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Andrea on March 09, 2013, 01:14:54 pm
My hubby made them out of old pallets  work very well and only cost us for the nails
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: littlelugs on March 09, 2013, 02:25:05 pm
Just looking at my sheep bible again (lambing iminent!) and tim tyne has a section in there about hay racks they look quite good too!
Title: Re: Design needed re making a Hay Rack for Sheep
Post by: Pasture Farm on March 10, 2013, 08:27:36 am
A four foot hurdle on a slope (so looks like a V from the side) agains a fixed hurdle or fence and a bout 15inch at the top kept in place with twine  =    l/  <--- Side view