Anyone use hay bags for goats?

Kala

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We're looking for alternatives to our hay manger as they destroy them and waste alot of hay. Anyone use hay bags successfully with goats?
 

chels24

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I thought about it at one time, but decided against it. My goats have horns and I was worried one of them would get caught in it and hang its self.
 

Kala

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Yea, I thought about that. Goats are crazy good at finding every way possible to get in trouble aren't they? But ours are dehorned, we only have two for milk and that's way than enough for us! :lol: So we won't be getting anymore (that may still have horns) anytime soon.
 

miss_thenorth

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Check out Freemotions thread-- she has one on here somewhere with pics of her hay feeder. I do the same thing with my sheep cow and goat. (basically). In there stall,the wall is made of horse fence. on the human side of the fence, I have attacheda board which is hinged onto the fence. I put hay on the board, swing ity up and latch it with bungee cords. They have to pull the hay through the fence ( the squares are about 1" by 2"). No hay is wasted. Free has pics onhere somewhere that can give yo a visual.
 

Kala

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miss_thenorth said:
Check out Freemotions thread-- she has one on here somewhere with pics of her hay feeder. I do the same thing with my sheep cow and goat. (basically). In there stall,the wall is made of horse fence. on the human side of the fence, I have attacheda board which is hinged onto the fence. I put hay on the board, swing ity up and latch it with bungee cords. They have to pull the hay through the fence ( the squares are about 1" by 2"). No hay is wasted. Free has pics onhere somewhere that can give yo a visual.
Found it!
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3755&p=1
 

ThreeBoysChicks

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Are you talking about the hay nets? If so, take it from me, they are not a good idea. I put one in and thankful was working from home that day. Because, about 15 minutes after it was empty, one of my whethers had both front legs in it and he was suspended off the ground. Only his hind legs were on the ground. I waited 15 minutes, thinking he would get himself out of it.

Nope, he freaked and was making it worse. I went and rescued him and no more hay bags.
 

aggieterpkatie

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I use a small-holed hay net for my lambs and kids. I love it and wish I had more of them. I haven't had any get caught in it.
 

chubbydog811

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aggieterpkatie said:
I use a small-holed hay net for my lambs and kids. I love it and wish I had more of them. I haven't had any get caught in it.
This is what I've been doing too, though mine are the large holed nets.
The trick is to make sure they are high enough so that if they jump up, they can't get caught. I keep mine about 3 1/2' high for 2 month old kids and a yearling doe. They haven't gotten caught yet! Saves much more hay, and it's easy to replace.
 

Mossy Stone Farm

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I do use hay bags for my babies, they clip on the hog panels. Since they really don't know much about hay when little , they can't walk thur and waste it..Never had a problem with them getting caught or stuck..

I order mine on line from a gal who makes them in Oregon i think:/ i'd have to check
 

Goatmasta

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There is a difference between "hay nets" and "hay bags". The "hay bags" are a solid material with a hole in the middle. I see lots of people using them at shows. I have never seen anyone using the nets. I have not used either.
 
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