How to make a sheep feeder
Sheep are animals that almost always eat exclusively dry feed, silage and various root crops. The main problem with such feeding is that food tends to get enough sleep from the feeder when the animal eats. This is why you need a sheep feeder that will keep "extra" feed consumption to a minimum. Not every farmer knows how to build their own sheep feeders.
DIY sheep feeder
Materials from which you can make feeders
Sheep feeders are usually made at home by the farmers themselves, since it is very difficult to find suitable containers for food, and if you do find it, it will not be cheap. That is why it is easier to build a structure with your own hands from improvised means. The following materials can be used:
- any wooden planks or bars;
- arenas;
- any possible metal sections.
Experienced farmers advise using wooden bases.
- You will need 4 wooden beams, the length of which is at least 130 cm and the thickness of at least 60 x 60 mm.
- Two beams must be fastened together with a cross, and then with a good support. The main support will be attached to the center, and there will be more cruciform supports on the sides of it. If the finished structure is turned over, you can see the V-shape of the entire support. If it does not work, something was not correctly attached, it is better to start over, following all the instructions.
- When all fasteners are in place correctly, a small block is needed, the approximate size of which should be 40 x 40 mm. Such strips need to be nailed together at a distance of 26-31 cm.
In fact, a lot depends on what exactly you are going to feed your pets. The sheep's head will easily crawl through such holes, the animal will be able to get itself hay, grass and oats, but other food will remain all in the feeder and will not roll on the floor (ground).
Manege feeder
A sheep feeder can be lighter and more practical. If an old playpen is lying around at home, you do not need to do anything, since the drinking bowl is almost ready. To build a large animal bowl, both a plastic and wooden playpen will do. Most farmers recommend placing the arena on any platform with an approximate height of 60 cm. This will make it much easier for the sheep to get any food, especially hay, grass, oats. At the same time, other smaller food does not spill out, and the animal does not tread on it.
If the sheep feeding area is outside or near a paddock, it is best to set up a shelter so that food does not get wet or spoil. Due to the fact that the arenas of the old production are made in such a way that the strips between them are at a distance of 6-10 cm between them, some will need to be removed so that the sheep are comfortable to eat. The best option is 10 cm between the planks.
Metal feeder
Many farmers may accidentally find metal sections from a "lance" fence or old window grates at home.These materials are great for building an excellent feeding trough for your sheep. At the same time, such a metal base, and later on the structure, is the most reliable, durable and strong. Such a design will withstand wind, frost, rain and snow.
- Metal parts (2 sections from the fence and 2 grilles for the windows) must be connected to each other at an angle of 90 °, this requires welding.
- In order for the base itself to be completely stable, you need to attach 4 additional props to it.
- They put such a feeding trough with a "ridge", having previously welded 4 props to it.
The appearance of such a feeder is very interesting and beautiful; it is suitable for any type of feeding, including hay and oats. The main plus of the drinker is that the owner can independently adjust its size. If you need to build a small bowl, it makes sense to take small metal bases, if a large one, the opposite is true.
When keeping a large herd, you can make several long bowls at once and connect them together. It is extremely important to correctly count the number of holes and sheep. There should be 2 sheep per hole. They can easily take turns eating. In addition, mobile, portable, compact feeders can be made using the same system. It is advisable to make them for 1-2 sheep and folding. This is especially useful when traveling with pets, for example, to a show or while grazing. Small sheep cannot always get their own food, so these feeders are very useful.
Dry food feeder
Veterinarians advise to constantly give sheep dry food:
- grain bases;
- cobs of corn;
- silage;
- various root vegetables.
Unfortunately, the above feeders are not very suitable for this. It is better to do others for this type of feeding. For this type of bowl, you need wooden planks and bars. What size they will be, it is up to the farmers themselves to decide, starting from the size of the herd and the room where they are kept.
- The first thing to do is to connect the wide and oblong troughs with the help of large nails. For the convenience of the sheep, they can be attached in front of a small and narrow wooden line.
- Then, stable and wide legs must be nailed to such a structure, so that the sheep cannot turn over the feeders, scatter all the food on the floor and methodically trample it into the ground.
In winter, you need to give the sheep feed on a regular basis, since in the cold period they should have stability and constant food. In any case, the trough should always be full so that they have unhindered access to it.
All types of silage and root crops should be given only in a room where animals are kept, since they can freeze in a feeder outside, and then they will stick to a wooden base. These types of feeders and a variety of do-it-yourself drinking bowls for farmers will be inexpensive and will be convenient for both animals and owners.
A few secrets for a good feeder
If you look closely at the behavior of sheep and rams, you can replace that they choose each blade of grass for 20 minutes. That is why it is best to make a separate feeder for each feed, so that the animals can regulate their own diet. In addition, the feeder can actually be made according to the drawings, which was designed for one-time feeding. Its essence lies in the fact that the average volume of one feeding is 250-300 g. Such feeding should be enough for sheep.
Secrets of a Good Feeder
When the first portion is eaten, the second portion is automatically poured out immediately. Of course, there is also a minus here: it is difficult to calculate so that the second and third portions are eaten not by one sheep, but by three different ones. But such feeders are interesting in that after all, 300 g of dry food for sheep is the norm, and they gorge themselves. Building this type of feeder will save the owner from all the hassle. He will only have to add food a couple of times a day.
Feeder - nursery
Nursery is one of the most popular feeding options.They can be constructed in 20 minutes. Moreover, it is a universal option, as it is suitable for absolutely any type of feed. It is made of simple racks, on which, in turn, one solid bottom is attached, it is better that it be made of wood or metal. If you want to use metal, you should make sure that the animal does not get hurt.
In addition, you will need gutters and gratings. The ideal distance between the slats of the grilles is 10 cm. They must be installed with an inclination inside. For concentrated feed, it is necessary to make gutters with an upper width of 15 cm, the lower one should be 13 cm, and a depth of 12 cm. Pay attention to the "instructions":
- Such a feeder must have a bottom, preferably made of wood.
- The distance between the planks should be about 10 cm.
- If you feed the livestock with concentrated feed, the chute is performed according to the following scheme: width - 15 cm, depth - 12 cm.
- If stands for such a feeder are meant, their height should be 10 cm.
For small lambs, the trough is built a little differently. It is made in the form of a large plank trough on a stand, the height of which is 10 cm. Small slats are hammered on top so that the pets cannot scatter food throughout the territory. A total of 26 linear centimeters are calculated for an adult sheep, and 16 centimeters for a lamb. The main thing is that all materials are safe and the sheep in no case can get hurt by them. Of course, the materials must be environmentally friendly. Do not use bars and metals that have previously been chemically treated.
A do-it-yourself feeder is a simple and cheap way to do exactly what is perfect for your animals and the area where they live, and will also help to significantly save on feed.