DIY Hay Feeder For Goats and Other Livestock

A simple but unique DIY Hay Feeder for our goats. In the video I'll go over the dimensions, how I built it, how it functions and then show you some good old goat footage! Then at the end I'll talk about what is next in this goat project (rainwater harvesting, hay storage, milking stand).
As Always, Thanks for watching.... and let me know if you have any questions!
Joe
Music sourced via Epidemic Sound subscription OR the KZbin Audio Library... credits as follows....
The Den by Georges Town
A Gentle Invitation by Dawn, Dawn, Dawn
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----------- DIY, Random Projects, Rainwater Harvesting, Welding, woodworking, outdoors... and whatever else I find interesting :)
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Homesteadonomics
HC 70 Box 4770
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#goatfeeder #hayfeeder #nigeriandwarfgoats
Tags: hay feeder, goat feeder, DIY hay feeder, goats, nigerian dwarf goats, nubian goats, mini nubian goats, baby goats, dairy goats, goats playing, homesteading, cable spools, goat playground, homesteadonomics, how to

[@homesteadonomics]

Check out my NEW Homesteadonomics T-Shirt Designs here! www.bonfire.com/homesteadonomics/

[@carllallemand5774]

Love watching the goats.

[@homesteadonomics]

They sure are entertaining!

[@KathyaKalinine]

I love your videos! Keep them coming! And, no need ever to apologize when you’re providing free tutorials and content. You’re doing an amazing job! 😊

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Kathya😊🙏

[@shaunamain4362]

Thanks for the ideas and the laughs! 😂 Loved watching them play in their playground!

[@darinbennett3638]

Joe...you created an Air BnB for the goats! Your creative and implementation abilities are absolutely second to none! Your homestead is a great example for so many of us. Keep up the great work and thanks for allowing us to be part of the journey.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Darin! I’ve actually had the Airbnb thing in my head since I made the shipping container playhouse. Always thought it might be interesting for someone wanting to see if living rural, on rainwater and in a tiny structure would be appealing…. And now they could try their hands at goat milking too😂

[@darinbennett3638]

@@homesteadonomics you've definitely built a destination that people would come to for an Air BnB experience along with the farm/homestead. You could create several of them and then host workshops with your expertise in building/welding/etc.. Excellent job in all you. Happy for you and proud of you for the channel you created!

[@fillg]

I could watch goat parkour for hours. Oh yeah, the feeder is nice too. 👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Yeah they are pretty dang cool to watch😂👍

[@MrBobisadog]

Man I could watch your goat videos every day. They crack me up!

[@homesteadonomics]

They sure are entertaining😂🙏

[@gregmize01]

Your solutions are always creative and inspiring! 🐐

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Gregory! 😊🙏

[@stuartkorte1642]

Great idea. Always a joy to see the little guys hopping and climbing on things.

[@homesteadonomics]

Yes, they are super entertaining😂👍

[@OfficiallyFran]

This is the best and simplest feeder I've seen. Thanks

[@gregkahle9046]

Your little reddish brown goat is quite the acrobat! Great idea, feeding them from the outside. Way to go Joe!

[@homesteadonomics]

She sure is! They’re a ball to watch😂

[@marytucker9404]

That has to be one of the nicest goat feeders I have ever seen. Forney, TX

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you so much Mary! And great to hear from Texas…. I lived outside Harlingen for a while when I was a young boy… right in the middle of a giant citrus orchard. Pretty cool place to play!

[@unaffiliated_x9279]

That's one classy looking goat feeder! Cheers brother

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you very much!

[@iteotwawkiaiff8948]

Very nice!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@tommillia7816]

Watching this from Africa, Kenya, amboseli on the Slopes of Kilimanjaro. Am Maasai n we have many Goat's out here, I actually have over 80 Goat's myself.. I must tell you your goat's would be living in a Goat's Best Mansion if you did comparisons of Goats sheds in the world. Won't be surprised they got a pool too...😜 Anyways nice shed n all. Good work out there n all the Best to you n your family. Regards from Maasai land. God bless

[@jewdd1989]

I miss watching the builds but I live all of them regardless if filmed or just demonstrated. Can’t wait to see the hay barn 👏🏽

[@homesteadonomics]

Don’t worry….I’ll never stop doing DIY projects and build videos😉👍

[@stephencantbewrong8250]

Okay....no goats for me...but your ideas are great!! Love the goats running around playing king of the mountain.

[@homesteadonomics]

Yeah they are very entertaining for sure😂

[@jdgibs3446]

I really like the goat manger/feeder. I'm disabled in a wheelchair. Planning on raising rabbits, goats, sheep or calves. this will make my goal feasible. I do have help in the morning but, can finish alone in evening. I appreciate your creative designs and your sharing. Blessings to you and your family.☝🙏👐💪

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you JD! I’ve always been interested in rabbits as well. I’ve heard they are second to none in protein production and are very easy to manage as well! I’d love to hear what you end up going with!

[@dustman96]

Lucky you getting rain already. Only got a few drops so far near downtown. Above average monsoon predicted for this year. Good work as always.

[@homesteadonomics]

Yes, it’s been a nice surprise so far. Working on a little rainwater install too….so the timing is really perfect😂

[@Synistercrayon]

Efficiency at its best. Love it!!

[@StMyles]

Wow that was a pretty innovative idea for a hay dispenser. Looking forward to the hay barn build and other projects.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you St Myles😊🙏

[@mandyleeson1]

Those goats look so content. Good job.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Mandy!

[@EmpressVicky0116]

That is a wonderful set up for the goats. They are well stimulated and look like well taken care of.👍👍👍👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you! We are trying to do our best and learn along the way!

[@markrjones]

My goats are jealous! I love your projects, Joe. Been following a long time. I draw a lot of inspiration from your projects.

[@homesteadonomics]

Well thank you Mark! And I also thank you for staying with me too! I always recognize your name and greatly appreciate it😊🙏

[@kb6lcw99]

Great idea!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@MsSephrena]

Clever idea for the feeder - Always look forward to your vids - Thanks for sharing....

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you very much!

[@66ECHO]

Have had goats for a bit and have been procrastinating building a permanent hay feeding system. I absolutely love your design and am very grateful for the vid. I’m sure my wife will put my version on her KZbin channel but I will be sure give you credit. Brilliant work.

[@homesteadonomics]

Well if she does send me a link….I’d love to check it out 😀👍

[@beachlife9419]

Not to bad, love it , makes feeding a lot more simple

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@DesertNails]

Very cool

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@blackberryhideout5793]

Happy goats for sure!

[@homesteadonomics]

With Marley caring for them they won’t be lacking any love or attention😊

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Very nice great idea! Miss all your build projects!! Always love watching!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Loren!

[@janetdupree6353]

This is a very good blending of form and function-well done.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you very much Janet!

[@GoRosieM]

Very good design. Glad to see you are enjoying the goats and that Marley is doing so well with them. Best wishes always from Oklahoma.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you so much Rosann! And great to hear from the great state of Oklahoma🙏😊

[@jdlambert8043]

Smart

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you JD!

[@khamsibq]

Awesome and inspiring

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@mmx3662]

Another outstanding video! Just love all your creative builds to keep Belle, Meadow and Peaches entertained and fed! Marley is such a great helper and takes such good care of her "girls"! :)

[@thomasmckelvey8961]

Yessir, those are some happy goats! : )

[@homesteadonomics]

We are aiming to keep them happy and content. Because it seems they only get even more onry if they’re not happy 😂

[@886jules1]

I love this design (and I don't even have goats). Your projects are always inspiring. Thank you!

[@homesteadonomics]

Well thank you so much Jules! I do appreciate you watching🙏😊

[@patriciabeyer7824]

Nice hay feeder.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@dickdavidson3616]

That is a handsome goat feeder you have there. Looks like you really enjoyed that design and build eh.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you! And yes, I enjoy tinkering and figuring things like this. Therapeutic in a way too

[@slagmaker6780]

every video you make is a great video!

[@rickcassell9613]

Another great video, the feeder works great , u didn’t let me down on your intel on your rain direction, your always thinking. 👍👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Oh yeah, we don’t get normal rain here. Always at an angle it seems. And the back side of it is the predominant direction it comes from, Plus I think it looks cool😅

[@markm6488]

Everything looks great!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Mark!

[@bondpaz]

That’s really awesome! Very clever design. 😊❤️👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Pamela! I see goats in your future too😉👍

[@bondpaz]

@@homesteadonomics I sure love them. 😁❤️

[@AloneinRemoteAlaska]

Very nice Joe! Of course! 🤣 When you mentioned a feeder I was wondering if it would have a roof but I don’t know how often it rains there. Being able to feed from the outside definitely is a great idea considering how they were attacking that hay when you put the first batch in. 🤣 It will be exciting to see what animals start coming around to visit the goats! 😁

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you! Yes, although we don’t get rain much except for our monsoon summer rains and our winter rains….it’s good to keep it shaded too. And about the animals coming in..,, it’s always neat to go and check the camera and see…kinda like a Christmas present. Of course when there’s nothing new then it’s like that present of socks or underwear you got from an aunt or uncle😂

[@AloneinRemoteAlaska]

@@homesteadonomics 🤣🤣

[@catgynt9148]

Thanks Joe, another opportunity to see your creativity in action. Have you considered extending the goat shed lines outward for your hay storage. Adding sliding doors on both sides allowing easy access for feeding the goats. Rainwater harvest could be concatenated into the same cistern. Wishing you and your family a blessed week, gentle weather and restful evenings. Peace brother.

[@homesteadonomics]

So I actually have thought about extending it on the fence line. But the big issue is that I ran out of the older ‘aged’ roofing that I used on the goat barn structure… and extending it and using new roofing would bug me😂 So the plan now is to move the rain roof structure down to the goat yard and situate along the fence line as hay storage, shade and rainwater harvesting capabilities.

[@JOECorsoNova]

Love your videos and the quality of your work! Your neat and practical with your builds, I’m very jealous, in a good way of course! All the best!

[@homesteadonomics]

Well thank you Joe! I appreciate that very much! - Joe😉👍

[@stevenkennedy]

Outstanding!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Steven!

[@TedAlexander24]

Joe it would be so interesting to be behind the scenes just watching you produce your videos. Always professional! And no wonder your whole family was involved with the preparations to start raising goats. Seems to be a project that requires a lot of preparation and attention to detail.

[@homesteadonomics]

I did one a while back. But it was a long time ago. As as for the goats…. Oh yeah they’d had been an involved project for sure! I built most of it but my girls have been doing almost all of the milking, feeding, care, etc,. But still very rewarding!

[@hattiemercer5764]

great video ☺️👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Hattie!

[@coloredredleathergoods]

Clean! Love your work brother!

[@theheritagehousesc]

Love it! Smart design!

[@adelacoburn1396]

Awesome feeder, nice video.

[@BigSkyAtNight]

I love watching the goats & what you’re doing for them. I noticed they are “connected” to your garden.. it’d be fun to see a little tour of your animal & garden area now that you’ve made do many changes/additions. Also, how’re the rain swales and the native garden doing? It’s been a few years since we’ve seen them!

[@robertbenson9070]

I wished I lived down there! ❤️ That area!! Your daughter is very smart! Keep going on home education!!!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Robert! We are trying to raise her the best we can and while we ‘originally’ anticipated having her do high school in a regular school…. The crazier things get in this world, it’s only confirming that we are going to stay the course with our homeschooling and homeschool group activities.

[@CoyoteWindRanch]

Love it!

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@jamesblissett9452]

Cool design. 👍🏻

[@Yeshuaschosen]

Brilliant!

[@ZOV-NSK]

Замечательно!👍

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you!

[@greeneileen]

Very nicely done! You might want hay storage near where you feed to cut out the wheelbarrow step.

[@sandypratt8951]

❤️👍👍👍

[@homesteadonomics]

😊🙏

[@ManJay3220]

Smart idea!!

[@bravezoom]

i really like it a lot and thank for the update is useful

[@kezzatries]

Good job mate Like ya work

[@olelenalundepluck3840]

You are quite the craftsman. Have you thought of having a book made of all of your designs?

[@matt_1984_]

Might consider swapping that para cord with some jack chain. I know nothing about goats, but everything i've ever heard is they'll eat anything. I'd be worried about them eating the paracord then when you go to feed, it doesn't have that stop and blam, it opens up and slams into the ground. All in all a very neat design.

[@homesteadonomics]

Yeah I’ve actually been thinking of that, because your so right….they’ll chew anything it seems😂

[@peterhatch1583]

😊👍

[@homesteadonomics]

😊🙏

[@peterhatch1583]

@@homesteadonomics you have great idear and your build thks

[@One_Crazy_Dog_Mum]

Goat heaven there Joe❣️ I knew you’d be doing a water system for the goats too, do you have enough steel to extend the current barn for the food storage? That would increase your water harvest capabilities as well. 🐐🐐🐐

[@homesteadonomics]

You know what…sadly my steel is dwindling down fast. I’ve only got the really bent and twisted pieces so it’s hard to pick through and cut what I need. BUT it is still free… with the expensive of a abrasive wheel or two to cut them down. And for the structure….I’m actually thinking of repurposing my old rain roof project and bringing all that structure over. With the prices of everything going to the moon… I’ve got to be even more resourceful

[@One_Crazy_Dog_Mum]

@@homesteadonomics prices are crazy here in Australia too, we’re in the middle of a home renovation but luckily we got the majority of our supplies at the start of lockdowns, I do get heart palpitations when we need to head back to Town for more supplies with the price of fuel alone. 😳

[@markb.1259]

Another great project! Do you have any problems with the goats chewing through the orange cords on the sides of the feeder?

[@jamesonstalanthasyu]

oh yeah, the mountain lions. I hope that the wire on goat hours holds up if the cats get pulling, and the goats on the other side pushing on the other end in panic.

[@mattchilders3123]

Deer and alfalfa... Yep. Go together like peanut butter and Jelly...

[@wantblackwolf]

Cute little farmer you have there. Are you 100% rain water? Only asking because of all the lakes that are drying up over that way. Seen some videos of Lake Mead, it's crazy. It makes me thankful I live in NY.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you! She’s our little angel😊 As for rain…. We are between 85-90% depending on the year. We could go 100% but would have to limit our gardening a bit. As for lake mead…. That is a more complex issue than the news would freely report. The communities that are supplied by the reservoir consume more and more each year and the damn also releases varying degrees of water that are not always reported accurately. Both of which affect levels and help toy contribute to an obfuscation of the truth in many ways. Is there a drought…sure, we live in a desert. But where I’m at we are far from it and does not affect what we harvest. And you may be surprised to hear this, as the news does not like to report good things, but last years monsoon was one of the best on record in southern Arizona. Of course that doesn’t bode well for lake mead/Vegas media driven stories😂 And as for NY, yes a beautiful place with abundant water which is definitely a huge plus. But for me, a bit too dense of population for my liking. But definitely a great place to be be able to grow things😊👍

[@wantblackwolf]

@@homesteadonomics Interesting info on Lake Mead. I live Upstate NY in dairy farm country so the population isn't bad. Just have to pick the right time of day to do shopping. Also my neighbors are far enough away that I never hear or see them, corn field across the road helps with that.

[@homesteadonomics]

@@wantblackwolf sounds like you live in the good part! 😊👍

[@nadiamerghache3278]

👍🏻😍merci

[@beachlife9419]

We have 6 goats all together

[@homesteadonomics]

Awesome! We hope to increase ours to about 5-6 when we are able to breed the momma in about 4-5 months.

[@beachlife9419]

Great weed eaters too lol

[@Gunfighter25.5]

Have you ever calculated how much water you catch in a year?

[@homesteadonomics]

Well yes and no…. Because we are limited in our capacity we can’t catch all of it during our monsoons, so we overflow for a bit. The total capacity at one time is roughly 13k gallons…. So most monsoon seasons we will be overflowing for the last several rains so I can’t truly calculate what we are catching and not being able to keep. I know that is kinda vague…haha…. But it’s that our capacity to hold differs from our ability to collect. For example last years monsoon we got nearly 20” of rain in a bit over 2 months. Which equates to about 25000 gallons. So much of the monsoon our tanks were just overflowing. Of course I was trenching and directing water around to trees and such. But in a down year we may get less than 5-7 inches in that same span…. And in that case our tanks are enough for what we get. It’s been my hope to add tanks eventually or to build a proper cistern. But we are like any other family… it’s a financial thing first. And this last year is not making it any easier🤦‍♂️

[@suzettecalleja3122]

Maybe I missed this. What kind of beet, sugar beet or just the regular red beets?

[@homesteadonomics]

We get ‘shredded beets’ from our local feed store and sometimes tractor supply. Comes in 25lb bag. One brand we’ve been getting is ‘LaBudde shredded beet pulp’ and the other brand is “standlee smart beet shreds’. They seem about the same. I’d get one or the other but our wonderful world leaders are making such things difficult these days😏

[@eutimiochavez415]

Do u have any problems with mice where u store the hay ?

[@homesteadonomics]

So far we have not….but we are still pretty new to all of this. But to combat that we do have cats that roam around all day… so they keep any mice and rats at bay.

[@jessicamuelle1]

Do you have a video of how you made the goat barn?

[@homesteadonomics]

Sure do…. Just scroll back in my videos tab. They are in chronological order there😊👍

[@artemisiagentileschi2400]

Nice looking feeder, but mine would get their horns stuck in the wire.

[@homesteadonomics]

Yeah depending on the goat that is possible. These are 4x4” squares. If it does become an issue i would likely replace with vertical bars likes some of the commercial ones.

[@kashifraaza8962]

Hi i m kashif from india & i love ur videos..i would like to make same small farm in my backyard..can u plz send me ur desien?

[@puirYorick]

I hope your security pen is never tested by an adult mountain lion.

[@Peter-gh5tz]

Is it wise to allow the baby goats to stick their heads through the wire to eat the grass? A predator will quickly work out when to attack

[@homesteadonomics]

Our dog is roaming pretty much all day. And the goats are locked up at night…. Which I showed at the end.

[@MisterWebb]

Can you not let them graze?

[@MisterWebb]

I don’t give my goats any feed, they just graze. In winter I cut down evergreen brush and tree and that’s what they eat. Am I doing it wrong?

[@homesteadonomics]

Nothing wrong that I can see. We are just keeping their feed very consistent due to the milking. As it affects flavor. But when she’s out of milk we plan to have them browse around a bit👍

[@cleokey]

Luckiest goats on the planet imo. Looks like it will hold up a long time. 🙂

[@homesteadonomics]

Thank you Alan… we are trying to do our best. They are quite the entertaining little critters😂

[@ClickyBuzzClick2ConnectBuzz]

WOW‼️BEST VIDEO that I've ever seen on goats👍👍👍 Awesome! Thank you for sharing 😎