Feeding Round Hay Bales to Sheep and Goats

[@SimplyJanHomestead]

Just found your channel through the suggestions. We only have three sheep and have really enjoyed them. I'm aways looking for better ideas on how to feed and manage them. The feeder video was awesome by the way and so was this video!! Thank you!

[@rollingofarm]

Thank you!

[@AnnaTidwell2016]

I don’t have a better feeding system, but wanted to say “hey”! 🙃

[@michaelripperger5674]

I think you misspelled it … Hay!

[@giverny28]

I have a mixed herd, some are polled, some have horns. I have had to rescue goats who stuck their head through the fence, so that is something i know I'll need to trouble shoot from the beginning. But it's well worth the effort I think. I do use goat panel in my "regular" hay feeder. The holes are built for knot headed, horned critters, full of envy...ie goats. It isn't built for round bales. I cut a round and then manually fill all my feeders. It's so much work though! It's just staggered pallets fastened together with baling twine on the corners. That way i just untie, load up, move, reassemble. The stagger allows the feeder to have "legs" elevating it off the ground. Two parallel are vertical. 2 are horizontal. Gives about 1-1.5 foot clearance. Then a half panel layed diagonally inside the box. Again, just tied into place. You could do a bouble sided feeder too & use that second half. That world make an inverted v. I only do 1 sided so the kids have a cozy shelter while everyone else is out grazing. Then the same type of roof you built. Like i said, it's fine for portability, but it's labor intensive. Since I already have the parts, I'll try this. Seems like a dream for winter when they aren't clearing like they do in the warmer months. I'll take note of how the hay falls with the smaller holes. Maybe a ratchet strap would need to be used since the welded wire will have much more resistance. It's all about trying things out and making things work when you farm though. 😊 I already use portable systems, so I know this will be a great fit here. Great video!

[@elizabethblane201]

In future videos, please show us some "goat/sheet TV" in which you show the animals actually demonstrating how the feeder works. We city slickers like to watch animals eating.

[@mtower235]

Appreciate this. I was thinking on this but wasn’t sure

[@chirembavideo]

Thank you! I am wasting a fortune on baled hay for my goats, because my neighbor mows my field and puts it all in rounds that I haven't figured out how to use. I think you have just saved me a bunch of $, going to try it out for 2023. Appreciate your time sharing this with us newbies.

[@rollingofarm]

Glad to help

[@watermelon8565]

You don’t happen to be in ga do you?

[@cathygainge3033]

I've just put my 1st round bale in with my goats. It was an experiment to see how it went. Lots of waste but your idea is very much what I'd come up with to combat that. Being a visual person, seeing you put it together is so helpful. Thanks!

[@earldeen4490]

Super simple and totally makes sense. I am going to make mine exactly like yours. Thanks so much!!

[@rollingofarm]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hl8256]

I'm glad I found your channel. Great ideas.

[@rollingofarm]

Glad you like them!

[@repgtr7]

That is just super smart. I saw another person with similar ideas on a video like yours. I am just amazed at your system.

[@rollingofarm]

Thanks.

[@thomashughes1467]

old rear tractor tires work good to set round bales on and they will last forever

[@hectorskmetija3015]

I have Cameroon horned sheep, so even though the taupe was a good idea, for my little buggers 🥰 they would eat the taupe and string 🤣 so im having to stick with small bales and my not edable frame. But i do collect the waste hay and use it for my chickens bedding 👍

[@danno1800]

You did an excellent job of showing how you did this. Thanks - much appreciated…

[@WonbyGrace2]

I had goats and yes they get stuck now I have sheep and I use the IBC totes with the plastic removed and it works great the bottom is metal and I use square bales I wish they had big totes to fit the round bales. Thanks for posting great cideo

[@WTHomestead]

Do the goats get their heads stuck in the grid of the IBC totes? I have horned goats and I’m having a tough time figuring out a safe hay feeder. Frustrating!

[@therealsideburnz]

@@WTHomestead we feed out of ibc cages. one of our bucks has horns and he has gotten stuck. I went around and cut out every other rung from the cage. Between this and the goats learning we have had very few problems. Periodically someone with small scurs will get stuck, but they are easy enough to free and are no worse for the wear

[@WTHomestead]

@@therealsideburnz good information. Thank you!

[@johnfessenden3771]

That seems like a real good system!

[@nathandettweiler9560]

Great videos! Where was you about 2yrs ago lol I've raised goats most of my life just getting started into the sheep like them a lot better. I live in the guntersville area I'll be in touch!

[@desblack4563]

Thankyou cobba. I'm in the riverland in south Australia. Love the idea and going to use for My small herd of 10 happy Boer cris Nubian/ alpine goats. I'm happy. Thanks and have a healthy new year. 😊

[@meganv4027]

Hi! Thank you for sharing!!

[@Lindseyfarms270]

Number 70 subscriber just north of you in Kentucky im using a hay cradle

[@brandonhroza5876]

First time to channel and that is a great idea

[@rollingofarm]

Thanks

[@Wadaryu1000]

Awesome advice - thanks mate.

[@rollingofarm]

No problem 👍

[@kevindixson1743]

When the weather is dry, you can get lots less waste by unrolling the hay.

[@RusticSoDakFarm]

Might have to give this a try. Thanks

[@jame1seire]

Thanks for your great work Bob. God Bless and Keep and Yours. Merry Christmas!

[@rollingofarm]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too.

[@PaulLadendorf]

excellent! Thanks!

[@rollingofarm]

You're welcome!

[@billyj.swain4sranch718]

Perfect idea, ty 🇺🇸🙏🏼💙✝️🚜🐑

[@jcscott3117]

Definitely going to try this

[@sheliafarmer]

Somebody gave me their old cage to their PARROT, I raised the front panel about 8 inches, tied top tightly but tied bottom so it can move in and out , my goats have horns and they put the head in just fine, also had a left over crib bed I've set it up inside their stall and put hay in that with extra rails to make squares or they pull it all out on grade and yep they will not eat it, also I have dogs that like to hike their legs and pee on everything these methods get the goats food up off the ground

[@missouritraveler6401]

Lots of good idea's !!!!

[@RickActual]

Great idea. Thank you

[@johnhammett-f8w]

cool idea

[@JohnFaus-t5o]

I need some ideas for some beef and a couple milking Holstein. We have a shielded bottom with slanted spaced bars . There wasting the hay also we have an older 1 with half the bars rusted off but the base is good and it's larger in diameter than the new 1. I'm thinking of putting the larger down as well with the smaller 1 holding the bale. Can u think of any other ideas to prevent the stock from wasting hay.

[@rollingofarm]

Sorry, cattle require a lot heavier set up than I have experience with.

[@jasperetale6916]

Excellent and practical.

[@jimbuford4147]

I am a new subscriber and like your ideas and narration. I only have goats but instead of cattle panels I used the panels that have 4x4 openings only. What has been your results with feeding bermuda? I feed too much grain especially to lactating mommas. Thanks

[@rollingofarm]

I use the 4x4 for my gravity fed hay feeders, but since they can only reach the hay that is pressed up against the panels it doesn’t work as well on the round bale feeders (but it is safer in that they can’t get their head stuck). Mine eat Bermuda pretty good. It is a fine stem (which they like), but I don’t think it is their favorite.

[@notashamed7563]

Great job! Very well prevented!

[@rollingofarm]

Glad you liked it!

[@richardhawkins2248]

Nice! Thank you.

[@richardmundo9709]

Thx

[@Livin.in.abundant.grace...]

Thank you for this video

[@rollingofarm]

My pleasure

[@JohnMartinez-sm1sk]

Great video

[@gregoryd326]

Nice idea!!

[@rollingofarm]

Thanks

[@PaulLadendorf]

You don't have a problem with the sides getting wet and molding?

[@rollingofarm]

Not really. The sides are being eaten quickly enough that it doesn’t really have time to mold.

[@grade-aland2388]

Good idea going have try this.

[@Platoon3090]

New subscriber.

[@rollingofarm]

Welcome aboard!

[@ViginiaRogers]

Will keep in barn. They are fed daily

[@iwantosavemoney]

Ketchum hay feeder what I have been thinking about but this is cheaper

[@ajacarrigan8077]

Thanks for the video! We have horned boer goats that I am in search of an easy DIY off the ground feeder for them. We also have horned Highland cattle. Do you think this would also work for them?

[@rollingofarm]

I'm not sure about the Highland cattle, but it is cheap enough to try and see how they do. It will work for most horned goats, but you do have to watch to make sure you don't have one that's horns are just the right length to get stuck.

[@mapratt]

A little late, but I don't think highland mouths will be able to get hay through that size grid. Tongues maybe!

[@mapratt]

Thank you so much! I can't get square bales this year and have to adjust how I feed my Icelandic sheep

[@tnhomestead]

Wonder if I can flip one up using a hay spear on a 3 point hitch

[@rollingofarm]

Yes you can. I did it for years with a 3 point hay spear before I had a loader. But it is a little easier with a loader.

[@jeannemiller306]

I hope you make some more videos

[@KarenCrown]

What is the attachment on your tractor that has the prongs that allow you to pick up the round ale?

[@rollingofarm]

We just call it a “hay spear”.

[@SarahJones-xl1px]

So I have a question. I just got my first sheep as a companion for my horse and I’ve seen and heard things about potential bloat if you overfeed sheep. I have slow feeders for my horse, so he grazes all day. Is that harmful for my sheep if she grazes with him all day long? I’ve seen videos, and Did some research that says sheep should only eat so much hay in a day before it’s harmful so I’m just trying to figure out how to be able to graze my horse all day and if that’s okay to have my sheep graze as well, or if I have to figure out a system that works for both of them to separate the hay rations. Thank you!

[@rollingofarm]

Sheep can bloat on lush clover on pasture especially if they gorge themselves on it. I would think the chance of bloat very low on dry hay. There could be a risk if you are feeding rich alfalfa. Otherwise I would say free choice hay should be fine.

[@SarahJones-xl1px]

@@rollingofarm awesome thank you so much for your help!!

[@hoggettfarmer9652]

Do you get snow? Lake Erie pummels us every winter and I bale graze in about 3-4’ of snow. Want to try this but looks even more labor intensive than rolling bales out.

[@rollingofarm]

We do not get much snow.

[@ViginiaRogers]

How do I order a roll?

[@propertyonline6011]

Video on cleaning.

[@drewdundas9657]

My sheep have horns

[@rollingofarm]

If you use this design, you would just have to watch them and make sure that they’re not prone to getting hung.

[@HaloVision1]

so you can feed them dead hay

[@mattallen9546]

all hay is just dead grass

[@HaloVision1]

@@mattallen9546 what about the green hay because what i got told is the green hay is what you post to feed them i guess that dead latter so what pont but okay you can feed them brown hay

[@andrem1238]

@@HaloVision1 what in the world are you talking about? Hay is hay...if it's too old it begins to rot due to moisture and decay and will turn dark in color

[@HaloVision1]

@@andrem1238 okay thank you saying that but you have to stor hay for a year if you ceep in dry like in a barn it shordent go bad? and the best hay is wen its green because it has more nutrients do you know when that fades away?

[@akatsukiawsome13]

It looks yellow because it is sun bleached. Underneath that layer is the green hay

[@Lawiah0]

Not Required

[@jeffglueck3385]

We have an animal sanctuary here in TN (www.piccolofarms.org) and want to try this for our goats and sheep. Can you share what size cattle panel you use for a 4x5 round bale?

[@rollingofarm]

Usually a 16' will just fit around a 5' bale. Sometimes I have use an additional 4' piece if the bale is too fat for 16' to wrap around.