They were exactly what we were looking for, a Saanen and an Oberhasli, both two years of age and ready to be bred. Luckily we had just butchered our turkey flock and had a large fenced in space with a barrel-vault shed that was now vacant. With a little bit of work on the fence the goats were ready to move in. At first we placed loose hay on the floor of the hut for them, but quickly realized how much was wasted and knew we needed to build a feeder or creep.

Barn Layout • Sheep Shed • Hay Self-Feeder • Open-Air Shed

This poultry feeder is light, inexpensive, simple in construction, easily filled and cleaned, keeps feed dry, and serves somewhat as a shelter for the birds.

Perhaps the best reason for the popularity of self-feeders, aside from their saving of labor or backache, is that pigs are especially adapted to self-feeding. As a rule, pigs do not overeat when they first use a self-feeder, and for this reason are little troubled with digestive disorders. Self-feeders are a boon to fall pigs, too, for hand-feeding them leaves a long stretch during cold winter nights when their little stomachs crave feed. A self-feeder at such times is an excellent pantry for them.