Jacob Sheep
IDEAL FARM'S-FEEDER INSTRUCTIONS- |
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Hi all,
I finally have the modified feeder instructions up for the feeders that we build and use here at IDEAL FARM. They seem to keep the fleeces cleaner and so far no one has gotten their heads stuck, horns broken, or eyes damaged using this design. I also have noticed far less wasted hay! A couple of notes- >>>>>>For the least amount of waste, I only feed maintance diet ewes what they can clean up in one evening. They are only fed once per day at around 5PM-7PM depending on how hot it is. Ewe lambs are fed twice a day, and only enough that it is all cleaned up between feedings, so that allmost all the stems are consumed. Slaughter lambs are fed free choice and all the non-soiled stems are cleaned out of the feeders and fed to the ewes who are on a maintenance diet. I feed pregnant ewes free choice, and pull out all unsoiled stems for storage until after weaning when I feed them as a maintance diet. I have yet to use these feeders for the rams, although the one time we left the rams in the empty ewe pen the first thing they did was nock the empty feeder through the electric fence and go eat the lawn! >>>>>>If you back the feeder up to electric fencing put two T-posts behind it. My sheep seem to thoroughly enjoy pushing it so hard against the fencing that it streches the high tensile, also if the feeders get absolutely soaked with rain and pushed up againsed electic fencing they will conduct electricity! That's not fun for anyone! The original plans come from the Canadian Plan Service for their "HAY AND GRAIN FEEDER FOR SHEEP." To be able to understand the instructions/ modifications below you will need to bring up the original Canadian Plans Service PDF from the link. We quickly recognized when we where constructing the first feeder that many of the measurements where not correct or logical, so we redid the measurements to make them work. The basic plans with some tiny tweaks make the feeder below which is supposed to feed 9 but more comfortably feeds 7-8 depending on the horns and fleece length on the individuals.
For the basic feeder above we used all recycled lumber from other projects. The changes that where made, where as follows: >Step 10) The Guard Rail. We skipped it as it looked like a good place to break off horns. >Step 6) The Sloping Plywood. Measures 7'8.25" (7ft.8 1/4in) long by 22" tall. You will need to make two Rectangular cutouts measuring 1.5" X 7.75" (1 1/2in. x 7 3/4in. ) To fit it past the back legs. >Step 7) The Trough bottom. Measures 8'Long x 13" deep. Leg cutouts measure 3.25" wide x 5" deep. (3 1/4in. x 5in.) >Step 8) Plywood back. Measures 8' long x 13" deep. We shortened it one inch to keep the three peices being cut from one 4' x 8' peice of plywood. >Step 12) Enclosed Sides. Measure 16" x 22.25" and 16" x 7". We decided to enclose the sides for a more finished look that the sheep couldn't get their horns broken in. On some of the feeders we cut the peices to close the slight gap at the back and on others we didn't, I haven't noticed any hay escaping through the hole. Another good idea would be to follow the suggestion on the oringinal instructions to put a 1" x 6" x 7'9" plank on the front. Small sheep and lambs do like to crawl underneath and knock the sloping plywood out, although they mostly accomplish this if you do not enclose the bottoms of the sides like in the picture on the left.
It's pretty obvious that I overfed last night, there isn't usually that much waste. The sheep don't eat as well when it reaches 105* by 10AM, so I'm going to have to adjust accordingly. >Step 13) Woolsaver Panel. The last (so far) but, not least important feature is the woolsaver panel. It measures 7'8.5" x 24" and is mounted 12 inches up on the inside of piece 11. I just used 2.5in star wood screws to hang it with. The screws are also the ones that mount the front slats of which there are approximately 19 per feeder. I also used some additional screws to screw it on the inside to the front legs for extra support. The panel not only keeps wool cleaner, but discourages the sheep from standing in the feeder to reach over the top to eat.
Next venture- building tops! I hope I made it simple enough, I know the original plans are rather confusing, so good luck. Have fun saving your sheeps fleeces, faces, and feed! Lynette Frick IDEAL FARM Jacob Sheep www.idealjacobsheep.com |