My Sheep Journal~ I'm a grandma! Black Betty had twins!!!

[aggieterpkatie]

I've read of others doing that, but I haven't personally done it. I think it's a great idea! I don't really have a way to do that unless I move my hay shed into their pasture, so I just carry what they need twice a day, which is usually only a couple flakes each time.

 

[Beekissed]

Here is a pic of my self-feeding setup:

They seem to be feeding throughout the area of the stack, which is a relief. I was afraid they would eat a few deep holes here and there and I would have to shift some hay to be able to keep the cattle panel firmly across the stack.

 

[freemotion]

Cool! What is the jug hanging on the right of the pic?

 

[Beekissed]

That is a 5 gal. jug I've cut the side out of to hold my loose minerals. I use sea kelp and coarse salt for minerals. This keeps it dry when it is in the pasture...I usually just tie it to a tree.

On the other side of the shed, you can just barely see a black thingy...that is a hanging/hooked bucket that is just the right size for a mineral block. Sometimes I change things up and get a sheep/goat block.

 

[abooth]

That is awesome. I have been trying to work out some sort of manger/hay rack to throw a few bales in. Right now I just use a haynet and I have to fill it every day or every other day. I may try out something like what you've got there. Maybe I could use just some welded wire fencing. I have some that has 2" by 4" holes. Would that be enough for them to grab the hay through you think?

 

[Beekissed]

I think that would work better than the bigger squares of the cattle panels...but you'd have to keep it pretty tight against the hay, I'm thinking.

I know someone who uses cattle panels around a round bale and just tightens it as they eat further in and the bale diminishes.

 

[abooth]

Cool, my brother is coming today for Thanksgiving. He is not farm inclined but I plan to get him to help me build something for my hay. Can I post a pic on your thread once I get it done? Is that trespassing or anything? lol

 

[Beekissed]

Most definitely, Abooth!!

I had originally hoped that this thread would be a learning thread about sheep....please post your pics and any other things you pick up or know that helps the rest of us learn more!!!

 

[Beekissed]

Cool, my brother is coming today for Thanksgiving. He is not farm inclined but I plan to get him to help me build something for my hay. Can I post a pic on your thread once I get it done? Is that trespassing or anything? lol

So....did you get your hay feeder built? I'd love to see it!!

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I like that! It's very similar to something we've been working on with round bales. Do you get a pretty good deal on the square bales? We didn't have any way to pick up the rounds but back in September we found a guy just a few miles away who will deliver only two at a time (that's about all we can store under the roof) since he's so close. We're still supplementing with square bales of alfalfa but at $35/4X5 round (including delivery charge) it's really helped to cut down on cost. It would fit nicely in your feeder!