Author Topic: Hay Racks for Sheep  (Read 3096 times)

OhLaLa

  • Joined Sep 2010
Hay Racks for Sheep
« on: January 13, 2014, 12:44:03 pm »
Our sheep love to sit in their hay. I'd rather they ate it.
So, as I've got quite a few horse hay racks I am wondering if they might be suitable for the sheep?

Three designs (can't think of a way to describe better):
Corner, galvanised, upright fronted.
Corner, galvanised, squared fronted.
Wall, galvanised, squared fronted

My concern is that the upright style might get a lambs head stuck, and the square style might get a leg stuck. The square type are very similar in style to the ones that are double sided for use on hurdles/gates (except mine are single sided and fix to a wall/barn).

Does anyone have any experience of using these, if ok to use, at what height?

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Hay Racks for Sheep
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2014, 01:10:25 pm »
I'm assuming these are for indoor use?  If so, any would be ok but I'd avoid corner ones as you can't get as many heads around a corner rack (or maybe use more than one).  And if you are worried about the size of the holes, line it with some square mesh wire that has smaller holes.  And put a lid on it to stop any stupid animals jumping in. :)

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Hay Racks for Sheep
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2014, 05:06:54 pm »
I have used corner and straight hay racks on the field shelter walls.  The sheep use them with no problem but I would sight them so the lowest part is at head height - to avoid grass seeds falling in their eyes :thumbsup:

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Hay Racks for Sheep
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2014, 05:13:02 pm »
Can you put a wooden shelf with a small lip below the rack?  A lot of the stuff that normally ends up on the floor will be caught in it and then you can simply put in back in the rack.

katie_thorpe

  • Joined Jan 2014
Re: Hay Racks for Sheep
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2014, 07:03:06 pm »
We have used a wall mounted horse hay rack for 2 years now with no problems with stuck heads or feet. We mounted it so its a head height with a small gap above so they couldn't jump in the top of it.

 

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2025. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS