Sooo i decided to get some Nigerian dwarfs from a family friend who breeds them.
Ive always done a lot of homework before i jump into anything so i knew going into it that the goats can not eat chicken food because it will make them sick, and they will do anything to get to the food. I was hoping that my pop hole would be small enough that the goats would not try to get in, but like i said they are Nigerian dwarfs, and they are 2 months old so they are tiny. so after about 2 days they found their way in and i couldn't keep them out.
I decided I would go lock the chickens inside every night at about 6:30 so they could eat, and during the day i would simply take their food away. They have free range and I give them plenty of scratch and veggie scraps throughout the day so I figured this wasn't a cruel method. But after about 2 days I realized they were ravenous in the evening when I would put the food down, and they were eating the goat ration which is kind of annoying. So i decided to make a goat proof chicken feeder. People all over say its impossible, but i have proved them wrong
my first attempt was half successful, my wether couldn't get his head in but my doe could. she's smaller cause she was a triplet. plus my leghorns wouldn't eat because their combs didn't fit through the hole. so I revamped the design and now every ones happy! well the doe isn't, she's kind of confused. but she'll get over it
I took some short wire fencing that i use to keep rabbits out of my garden and wrapped it around the feeder. then i cut holes above the feeding trough area and used a drimmel tool to file down the edges. I assure you it's not sharp, i ran my finger across everything and had no discomfort or issues.
Heres some pics!!
I'm going to add a cover so that when the goats are big they cant reach their heads into the top part of the feeder. But I'm stoked on this right now!!
Ive always done a lot of homework before i jump into anything so i knew going into it that the goats can not eat chicken food because it will make them sick, and they will do anything to get to the food. I was hoping that my pop hole would be small enough that the goats would not try to get in, but like i said they are Nigerian dwarfs, and they are 2 months old so they are tiny. so after about 2 days they found their way in and i couldn't keep them out.
I decided I would go lock the chickens inside every night at about 6:30 so they could eat, and during the day i would simply take their food away. They have free range and I give them plenty of scratch and veggie scraps throughout the day so I figured this wasn't a cruel method. But after about 2 days I realized they were ravenous in the evening when I would put the food down, and they were eating the goat ration which is kind of annoying. So i decided to make a goat proof chicken feeder. People all over say its impossible, but i have proved them wrong
my first attempt was half successful, my wether couldn't get his head in but my doe could. she's smaller cause she was a triplet. plus my leghorns wouldn't eat because their combs didn't fit through the hole. so I revamped the design and now every ones happy! well the doe isn't, she's kind of confused. but she'll get over it
I took some short wire fencing that i use to keep rabbits out of my garden and wrapped it around the feeder. then i cut holes above the feeding trough area and used a drimmel tool to file down the edges. I assure you it's not sharp, i ran my finger across everything and had no discomfort or issues.
Heres some pics!!
I'm going to add a cover so that when the goats are big they cant reach their heads into the top part of the feeder. But I'm stoked on this right now!!
