The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 10:00:27 am

Title: in or out
Post by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 10:00:27 am

i have hay feeder out in the padock area for my goats,
does it need to be brought in over night does the frost etc damage it
in anyway.
many thanks langdon.
 ;) :goat:

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: Roxy on February 12, 2010, 03:47:20 pm

I leave my feeder out all night, when it is in use, as I would not have the time in the morning before work to put it out, and its never come to any harm.  I do remove any hay though unless its mid summer, to stop it getting damp.  If you were not using the feeder for any length of time, then yes, put it under cover.

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 03:51:01 pm

when i seen a reply i said to myself i bet its roxy!!
what can i say? you are a *  ;) :goat:

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: Roxy on February 12, 2010, 04:01:06 pm

And did you add .....yes, the know it all has  to reply to all my posts ...... :)

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 04:08:35 pm

lol thats why you are on here!!!

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 07:11:35 pm

i think i explained myself wrong in that post!!(as usual sometimes)
i meant just the hay, blimey im not going to drag a feeder in and out,
i drag enough big branches every day for the goats from our lane!
i was talking about the nutrition value of the hay e.g
i guessed with frost harsh weather it may reduce it in some way?
one more thing! do you put out the same hay again next day
or do you put out fresh all the time.
again my thinking is that once you keep it dry some how, you could put it back?
as allways corrections please!!!! ;
langdon  ;)  :goat:

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: jameslindsay on February 12, 2010, 07:14:19 pm

Providing the hay you remove and put back out is fresh looking enough I don't see a problem. However, if they don't like the looks of it you know goats they just won't eat it.

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: langdon on February 12, 2010, 10:26:44 pm

ta ;)

Title: Re: in or out
Post by: Roxy on February 12, 2010, 10:28:24 pm

James is right - goats can be fussy when it comes to their food.  I certainly would not waste the hay, and definitely use it again the following day.  If they refuse to eat yesterdays leftovers, bag it up in feed bags, and put it by the gate with a sign on saying "nice rabbit hay for sale £1 a bag"!!

I tipped one of the feed tubs on the floor one day.....scooped it up and gave it the goat.  Would it eat it?  No way, not when its been on the floor.

Some of my goats are less fussy than the others though.