Author Topic: Loose mineral container/feeder (Read 6683 times)

Foobar · « **on:** August 03, 2012, 01:28:23 pm »

I'm looking for a *rain proof* outdoor feeder for loose minerals / salt (for sheep).
Can be standalone or gate hung, I'm not bothered.

Anyone got any ideas? ... otherwise I'm gonna have to design and make my own

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clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2012, 10:21:20 pm »

I'd be interested in any answers too

SteveHants · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2012, 11:49:25 pm »

Is it for hard blocks?

An old tyre is pretty good, or I sometimes cut a section off an old garden hose and run a string through to tie them to fences.

Mallows Flock · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2012, 07:18:31 pm »

Mine refuse to eat loose mineral. I have tried many times using excellent high quality mineral straights and they pooh pooh it! It might be wise to try them first!!!
I have a brill hang over gate green plastic trough thing - I think it's for cattle, which I hang over a hurdle tied to fence posts for strength and changeable height (good for differing sized breeds or from lambs to ewes) then put my pre-bend shelter over the top. I do this for hang-over hay racks too! The hang over troughs are great as they are split in too so water one side and mineral (block in my case) the other or hay in one side, nuts in t'other. Works a treat.

Mallows Flock · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2012, 07:21:40 pm »

kind of like this but I have 4' ones under the pre-bend!
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=c16c8311-e6c1-46c5-9458-04be1d66b074

SteveHants · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2012, 12:05:48 am »

Quote from: Mallows Flock on August 04, 2012, 07:18:31 pm

Mine refuse to eat loose mineral. I have tried many times using excellent high quality mineral straights and they pooh pooh it! It might be wise to try them first!!!
I have a brill hang over gate green plastic trough thing - I think it's for cattle, which I hang over a hurdle tied to fence posts for strength and changeable height (good for differing sized breeds or from lambs to ewes) then put my pre-bend shelter over the top. I do this for hang-over hay racks too! The hang over troughs are great as they are split in too so water one side and mineral (block in my case) the other or hay in one side, nuts in t'other. Works a treat.

If they aint licking the block, you an safeley assume they dont need it. Its odd, sometimes they go crazy for them and others they bareley touch em.

Mallows Flock · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2012, 12:07:41 am »

Oh the blocks they like... they lick them occassionally with gusto...it's loose they won't touch. I think its the molasses they get greedy for in the buckets.

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2012, 10:25:04 pm »

Mallows - which loose minerals were you giving them? Was it the ones Pat Coleby recommends?

Mallows Flock · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2012, 11:21:40 pm »

Quote from: clydesdaleclopper on August 05, 2012, 10:25:04 pm

Mallows - which loose minerals were you giving them? Was it the ones Pat Coleby recommends?

Gosh - I don;t know who Pat Coleby is. Should I be ashamed about that. Googling now! LOL
Its Naf straights... garlic, nettle, seaweed, biotin, molasses liquid, calcium, vitamin E and selenium all mixed together. looks like a lick bucket yet less firm (not compressed I guess). it worked out loads dearer doing it this way anyway so I am not that unhappy they prefer the buckets.

Foobar · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:26:15 am »

It's for garlic and seaweed, and salt.

And yes, I know they will eat.

Mallows - I'd love to see a picture of your shelter over the top plz

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Foobar · « **Reply #10 on:** August 06, 2012, 10:32:30 am »

I give folks a better idea of what I'm after - here are a couple of things that I've seen that are close ...
http://home.btconnect.com/bdsupplies/mineral_feeder.htm -- too big though for my needs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-Pound-Mineral-Feeder-Sheep-Goat-Llama-/250474663754 -- not rain proof enough

I'm after a ready-made one, otherwise I'm gonna knock myself up something like this: http://www.freechoiceminerals.com/feeder.php