The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: maybelle on March 01, 2011, 07:44:20 pm

Title: Hay racks
Post by: maybelle on March 01, 2011, 07:44:20 pm
What do most of you use to put your hay in? Do you use home made racks or shop/internet bought ones?
I think I am wasting a lot feeding it on the floor  ;)
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: jaykay on March 01, 2011, 07:57:09 pm
Feed store bought ones. Yes, a lot gets wasted if it goes on the floor. I use the 'hook over the hurdle ones' and for outside made wooden tops for them (it rains a lot here  ::)) One of last years' kids now sleeps in one of them in the byre  :D
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: Brucklay on March 01, 2011, 08:07:12 pm
I get mine from http://www.frenchall-goats.co.uk/ (http://www.frenchall-goats.co.uk/) they are very well made, our first ones are about 4 years old and are just as good as the day we got them - lots of sizes for different places - there is some waste - but till I get my next one, hopefully soon I made a timber one and so much more waste in that pen!!!
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: Cinderhills on March 01, 2011, 09:04:46 pm
I use a wall mounted one and a hay net.  They like to use both.  I wouldn't use a net if they had horns, and luckily they don't even want to nibble the net either.  A lot ends up on the floor but I don't mind too much as it makes really snuggly bedding.  :)
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: fizzgigg on March 01, 2011, 09:22:16 pm
i use a home made 1 with a child gate that we got give for our sprog but it didnt fit so a couple of horozontal pices of 2x1 and bing a free hay rack does the job perfect
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: maybelle on March 01, 2011, 09:29:29 pm
Thanks all. I don't think I will go for the haynet option as mine have horns.
Brucklay- I have looked at those on that site, will have to save the pennies as £25 but if you say they still look new and are 4 years old then it is definately worth it.
I don't have any stairgates as my kids are in their twenties.
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: Brucklay on March 01, 2011, 09:35:05 pm
Yes - I'm saving up for my next and yes all mine have horns so hay nets were out before thought about - and I'm sure there are ways to do thing cheaper as needs much as I have done but I would recommend Peters as they are galvanised and with the lids really great - I now have 5 saving for 6th
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: Anke on March 02, 2011, 12:49:02 pm
MIne just have the standard Pannier ones that can be accessed from both sides (it's the way the goatshed is built, pens are nxt to each other). OH just made a mesh cover so they don't pull out too much hay. Still tons of it get wasted....

I got some of mine from Ascotts, but local farm suppplies does them too. I use them on my sheep pens too.
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: VSS on March 02, 2011, 06:55:44 pm
MIne just have the standard Pannier ones that can be accessed from both sides (it's the way the goatshed is built, pens are nxt to each other). OH just made a mesh cover so they don't pull out too much hay. Still tons of it get wasted....

I got some of mine from Ascotts, but local farm suppplies does them too. I use them on my sheep pens too.

Pannier type racks are really versaltile - we have a good stock of them. Have used them for sheep, calves, and cows. We also have so longer hay racks that are designed to hang on a gate. These are good if there are a number of animals feeding from the rack.

As for wastage, well thats just goats for you ;)
Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: little blue on March 02, 2011, 08:35:46 pm
we bought a huge one off e-bay, a large V shape.   quite large holes, so some waste, but as Max is only small & Cesar has horns it was our best option (though not cheap!)   
it broke its wooden batten, but we've just replaced it....   before I put hay into a large trug, so they could all get their heads in (though nobody shares with Cesar!)

Title: Re: Hay racks
Post by: ballingall on March 02, 2011, 11:43:22 pm
We mostly have the pannier type, that go over hurdles. They are great and hard wearing. I have not replaced any of mine that I have bought, and I started collecting them over 10 years ago. If you buy them from agricultural suppliers at an agricultural show, they will sometime have a show discounts so it is a little bit cheaper than normal.

Also have some from ascott and got some lidded ones from Frenchall goats at Christmas- I ask for weird things like hayracks for presents!

Used to have mostly homemade ones at our old house, but that was helped by having wooden walls all the way up, so it was easier to hammer things in. Now we have metal walls after 4ft high. Used asticles (sp) (the wood between glass panes in proper old fashioned greenhouses- had an endless supply of them), and cover them in the thick mesh wire netting that is in dismond shapes. Worked quite well.

Oh and I have a tiny home made wooden one for kids!

Beth