small sq feeder

[jimmyg]

Anyone here feeding small sqs to their cattle? If so are you using some sort of off ground feeder for that? I was thinking that there would be much less waste than dumping the hay on the ground. If youre using a feeder Id like to see a picture as Im interested in welding something up for that purpose.

[G3farms]

I used to feed squares and would just throw the flake out on the ground. Trick is to throw the flakes far enough apart so that the cows can not stand and eat one flake and crap in the next flake. Never did like just thowing out a whole bale for them to rumage through. Make them clean up what ever is thrown out every night, if they leave some cut back.

As far as a feeder is concerned, have used a round bale feeder, they work so-so.

Check out a tracor supply catalog or a co-op for some ideas.

Good luck

G3

[jimmyg]

Thanx G3...Ive seen the scatter method youre talking about and Im sure it works but still theres a fair amt of waste and to mitigate that you have to stand around. That can be good if you have the time and don't mind getting wet sometime.

Looked at TSC yesterday and didnt see anything that wold fit the bill. Still have to run by the Coop for a look see.

Was thinking about a trough feeder like setup but still havent had any ideas that really gelled.

[vicegrip]

Was thinking about a trough feeder like setup but still havent had any ideas that really gelled.

If you post a pic or two of what a square looks like and your
feeding area, some non-agri-minded fellow might have just the ticket.

Sometimes a good idea comes from the least expected party, but
frankly if it were me, I'm not familliar enough with the feed
and the surroundings to contribute.
Best wishes
VG

[John56]

I use the old square hog water tanks that will hold 7 bales side by side. Also us some of the oblong and round water tanks. They won't hold water, but work good for hay. There is still a little waste, but nothing like feeding in a ring or feed bunk. Best of all haven't paid anything, as most people just want them hauled off.

[Zrexxer]

If you post a pic or two of what a square looks like and your
feeding area, some non-agri-minded fellow might have just the ticket.VG

LMAO. If you have to show someone what a square bale of hay looks like, somehow I doubt they're suddenly going to present some epiphany of agricultural genius.

[Amos F.]

I will get some pictures of the best one we have for minimizing waste. It is wooden, not steel, but I did duplicate it to make a steel feeder with the same head stand holes and will include a picture of it. The height is the trick to it, you want the cows to reach in and eat the hay in the feeder not back up and pull the hay out into the manure/paddock area.

[szbar]

Try this site. They have quite an assortment of ag related plans. I honestly haven't looked for a sm square feeder specifically, but there are many feeder plans:www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/BEEF_PLAN.htm

[tickintimebomb]

IMG_0068.jpgIMG_0069.jpgIMG_0070.jpg

Sorry the pics aint the best but i will try and get the other 2 uploaded and figured out

Hope this helps

[tickintimebomb]

71.jpg


I hope this one turns out better,

I used 1/2 inch scrap rebar i kept tripping on and got tired of it so i figured i would put it to better use, I spaced the front bars 6 inch apart, and most the time I have a 5 ' feed tub under neath it when i am finishing cattle out to butcher not only will it catch the hay dropped but doubles as a feed tub at the time prior to butcher