6 Best Lightweight Trough Feeders For Easy Moving that Reduce Feed Waste
Explore 6 top lightweight trough feeders designed for easy moving. These efficient models help you minimize costly feed waste and simplify daily chores.
Moving feeders around is one of those small chores that adds up. A heavy, awkward feeder stuck in the mud can turn a quick task into a frustrating wrestling match. The right lightweight trough feeder changes that dynamic, saving your back, your time, and a surprising amount of money on wasted feed.
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Why Portable Trough Feeders Save Time and Feed
Moving your feeding area is non-negotiable for good animal and pasture management. A lightweight feeder makes this daily or weekly task simple instead of something you dread. You can easily pull it onto fresh ground, preventing the buildup of mud and manure that turns a feeding station into a soupy, unsanitary mess.
This portability directly translates to feed savings. When a feeder stays in one spot, spilled grain and hay get trampled into the dirt and wasted. By moving the trough to clean grass, any spilled feed is more likely to be eaten. It also reduces parasite exposure, as you’re not forcing animals to eat in the same spot where they defecate, breaking the life cycle of common internal parasites.
Little Giant Hook Over Trough for Portability
The hook-over trough is the definition of simple efficiency. These feeders, typically made of durable plastic or galvanized metal, have built-in hooks that let you hang them over a standard fence rail, gate, or corral panel in seconds. There’s no hardware, no assembly—just hang it and fill it.
Their greatest strength is versatility for temporary setups. Need to feed a few animals in a holding pen or a temporary paddock? This is your tool. They are perfect for goats, sheep, and even calves. The main tradeoff is stability. A particularly rowdy animal can sometimes knock them loose, spilling the contents. They also tend to be smaller, making them better for supplemental grain rather than a primary hay feeder.
Tuff Stuff Rubber Trough: Durable and Flexible
You can’t talk about lightweight and durable without mentioning black rubber feeders. Made from recycled tires, these shallow troughs are practically indestructible. You can drive over them, leave them out in a blizzard, and they won’t crack or shatter. Their flexibility is a huge asset in cold climates where hard plastic can become brittle.
Because they are ground feeders, they work for almost any animal, from pigs to sheep. While light enough for one person to carry, they have enough heft that they don’t get pushed around easily by most livestock. The biggest consideration is that they sit directly on the ground. This means you must be diligent about moving them to prevent feed from getting soiled, and they can be tipped over by a determined animal.
Behlen Country Poly Bunk Feeder for Goats
The classic bunk feeder design gets a modern, lightweight update with polyethylene construction. These feeders stand on short legs, elevating the trough to a comfortable height for goats and sheep. Keeping the feed off the ground is a major advantage for cleanliness and reducing waste from contamination.
Many poly bunks feature a V-shaped bottom, which cleverly funnels feed toward the animals as they eat, ensuring they can get every last bit. They are smooth, easy to clean, and won’t rust. The primary downside is that, like any plastic exposed to the elements 24/7, UV degradation can make them brittle over many years, but for the price and convenience, their lifespan is excellent.
High Country Mini Bunk: Ideal for Small Herds
Not every hobby farm needs a 10-foot bunk feeder. For those with just a few goats, a small flock of sheep, or a couple of bottle calves, the mini bunk is the perfect solution. These are typically two to four feet long and offer all the benefits of a larger bunk—raised trough, durable poly construction—in a compact, manageable size.
The key is matching the feeder to the herd. A mini bunk prevents you from over-investing in a feeder that’s too large and difficult to store. It provides just enough space to prevent competition among a small group. Trying to make a mini bunk work for too many animals is a false economy; it will lead to fighting, and timid animals will be chronically underfed.
Fortiflex Fence Feeder for Easy Installation
Fence feeders offer the ultimate convenience in a permanent or semi-permanent pasture. Models like those from Fortiflex are designed with brackets or molded slots that allow you to mount them securely to a fence post or rail. This gets the entire feeder up and out of the way, creating a clean, accessible feeding station.
The biggest benefit is hygiene. Animals can’t stand, walk, or defecate in a feeder that’s mounted a foot or two off the ground. This drastically cuts down on feed contamination and waste. The main limitation, of course, is that you are tied to your fenceline. This style is less ideal for intensive rotational grazing systems that rely on temporary electric netting.
Brower Poly Trough Feeder Reduces Feed Waste
Some feeders are specifically engineered to save you money, and Brower’s designs often lead the pack. The most important feature to look for is a feed-saving lip. This is a simple but highly effective rim along the inside edge of the trough that curves inward, making it difficult for an animal to push, root, or sling feed out onto the ground.
While it may seem like a small detail, that little lip can translate into saving several bags of expensive feed over the course of a year. When you’re running a small operation, every dollar counts. Investing a little more in a feeder designed for efficiency pays for itself quickly. It’s a prime example of how the right piece of equipment isn’t an expense, but an investment in reducing your operating costs.
Choosing the Right Feeder Size for Your Flock
The most common mistake is buying a feeder that’s too small. This creates a bottleneck and guarantees that your most dominant animals will eat their fill while the more timid ones get pushed out. This leads to uneven growth, stress, and potential health problems.
A good rule of thumb for sheep and goats is to provide 12 to 18 inches of linear trough space per animal. This gives everyone enough elbow room to eat peacefully. So, a 4-foot (48-inch) trough is suitable for about three animals eating simultaneously. If you have six goats, you either need an 8-foot feeder or two smaller ones placed far apart. Don’t just count heads; observe your animals at feeding time to ensure everyone gets their fair share.
Ultimately, the best trough feeder is the one that fits your specific management style and herd size. By choosing a lightweight, portable, and well-designed feeder, you’re not just buying a piece of plastic or rubber. You’re investing in a tool that makes your daily chores easier, keeps your animals healthier, and stops you from throwing money away on wasted feed.
