6 Best Small Hole Hay Feeders For Goats To Reduce Waste On a Homestead Budget
Reduce costly hay waste with a small hole feeder. We review 6 top budget-friendly options for goats to help you save money on the homestead.
You’ve just forked a pile of expensive hay into the feeder, and five minutes later, half of it is on the ground, trampled into the mud and manure. Every goat keeper knows this frustrating and costly cycle. The solution isn’t feeding less; it’s feeding smarter with a system that makes every flake count.
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Why Small Hole Feeders Save Money and Hay
Goats are notoriously picky eaters, but they’re also incredibly wasteful. Given the chance, they will pull out a huge mouthful of hay, nibble the tastiest bit, and drop the rest. That dropped hay is immediately considered bedding, and they won’t touch it again. This is where a small hole feeder changes the game entirely.
By forcing a goat to pull hay through a small opening—whether it’s a net, grate, or bag—you prevent them from grabbing more than they can eat in one bite. This simple change dramatically reduces the amount of hay that ends up on the floor. Less waste means your expensive bales last significantly longer, directly saving you money over the season.
Beyond the budget, there’s a health benefit. Hay on the ground gets contaminated with urine, feces, and parasites, which can lead to health issues if ingested. A good feeder keeps the hay clean, dry, and off the ground, ensuring your herd is eating wholesome forage, not their own filth. It’s a win for your wallet and a win for your animals’ well-being.
Tarter Equine Hay Basket: Top Durability
When you need a feeder that can withstand headbutts, horns, and the general chaos of a goat herd, the Tarter Equine Hay Basket is a serious contender. Made from heavy-gauge steel, this feeder is built to last a lifetime. It’s often marketed for horses, but its durability makes it a fantastic, if unconventional, choice for a tough goat herd.
The design is simple: a large basket with a metal grate that sits on top of the hay. As the goats eat, the grate lowers, keeping the hay compressed and accessible only through the small openings. This ground-level feeding position is also more natural for goats. This is a "buy it once, cry once" investment.
The main tradeoff is cost and portability. This is not a cheap feeder, and its heavy steel construction means you won’t be moving it around daily. It’s best for a permanent or semi-permanent feeding station in a dry lot or barn. If you have destructive goats with horns and you’re tired of replacing plastic feeders, this is your long-term solution.
Little Giant Feeder: Versatile Wall Mount
The classic wall-mounted hay feeder is a staple in barns for a reason. The Little Giant feeder, typically made of steel wire or solid metal, is a space-saving workhorse. By mounting it to a stall wall or a sturdy fence post, you keep the hay completely off the ground and contained in a specific area.
This feeder is ideal for smaller shelters or individual kidding pens where floor space is at a premium. It keeps aisles clear and makes it easy to portion out hay for specific animals. The slatted design functions as a small-hole system, forcing goats to work for each bite and reducing what they can pull out and drop.
However, be mindful of your herd’s specific needs. Goats with large horns can sometimes get them caught in certain wire designs, so choose a model with vertical bars rather than a grid if that’s a concern. While they contain hay well, goats can still manage to pull some out the sides, so placing a shallow trough or pan underneath can catch the last bits of waste.
Derby Originals Hay Bag: Most Portable Option
For homesteaders who use temporary paddocks, practice rotational grazing, or travel with their goats, a hay bag is the most flexible option. The Derby Originals Hay Bag is a popular choice due to its tough fabric construction and variety of hole sizes. You can hang it from a fence post, a tree branch, or the side of a trailer with equal ease.
These bags are lightweight, collapsible, and incredibly affordable. You can own several for the price of one rigid feeder, allowing you to set up multiple feeding stations to reduce competition within the herd. Their portability makes them perfect for separating a sick animal or providing extra forage in a temporary location.
The clear downside is durability. A determined goat, especially one with a chewing habit, can destroy a fabric hay bag over time. They are best viewed as a consumable item that will need replacing every few seasons. For low-intensity use or for keepers who prioritize flexibility over ruggedness, they are an unbeatable value.
High Country Plastics Feeder: For Tough Goats
If you want durability without the weight and rust potential of steel, a heavy-duty molded plastic feeder is an excellent middle ground. The High Country Plastics Wall Feeder is designed to take a beating. It won’t shatter in the cold or dent from a powerful headbutt, making it a reliable choice for boisterous herds.
The solid, rounded design also presents fewer safety hazards than some wire feeders. There are no sharp edges or welds to worry about, and the smooth surfaces are incredibly easy to clean and disinfect. This feeder is a great "set it and forget it" option for a permanent barn or shelter setup.
While tough, it’s not indestructible. An extremely bored or aggressive chewer might eventually gnaw on the edges, but for most herds, it will stand up to years of daily abuse. It offers a fantastic balance of safety, longevity, and waste reduction without the premium price tag of heavy-duty metal options.
Shires Deluxe Haynet: Best Budget Feeder
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one. A basic haynet, like the Shires Deluxe Haynet, offers the highest level of waste reduction for the lowest possible cost. For just a few dollars, you can get a tool that forces goats to eat slowly and deliberately, ensuring almost no hay ever touches the ground.
Haynets are perfect for homesteaders on a tight budget or for those who need to outfit multiple stalls without breaking the bank. They are lightweight, easy to fill, and can be hung almost anywhere. The slow-feeding nature of a small-hole net is also beneficial for a goat’s digestion, mimicking a more natural grazing behavior.
The primary considerations are safety and durability. A haynet must be hung high enough that a goat cannot get a hoof tangled in it, even when it’s empty. Additionally, like fabric bags, nets can be chewed through over time and will eventually need to be replaced. But for pure, cost-effective waste prevention, nothing beats a simple haynet.
Hay Chix Hay Net: For Maximum Waste Reduction
Reduce hay waste and promote healthy digestion with the Hay Chix slow feed hay net. Made from durable, UV-treated marine-grade nylon, this half bale net features a patented closure for easy filling and secure feeding.
When your primary goal is to eliminate hay waste above all else, the Hay Chix Hay Net is the top-tier choice. These nets are known for their exceptionally small holes and incredibly tough, knotless netting. They take the concept of a slow feeder to the next level, making it nearly impossible for a goat to waste a single stem.
This feeder significantly extends the life of a bale by forcing animals to eat slowly and continuously over many hours. This is not only efficient but also excellent for their ruminant digestive systems. For high-value hay like alfalfa, the savings from using a Hay Chix net can pay for the net itself in a single season.
The tradeoffs are price and animal frustration. These are premium nets with a price to match, and some goats may find the tiny holes frustrating at first. It requires an adjustment period. But for the homesteader focused on ultimate efficiency and providing constant forage access, this feeder is the gold standard in waste reduction.
Matching the Feeder to Your Herd’s Needs
There is no single "best" hay feeder for every goat or every homestead. The right choice depends entirely on your specific situation. Before you buy, ask yourself a few key questions to narrow down the options:
- Horns or No Horns? Goats with horns are at higher risk of getting stuck in feeders with square wire grids. Opt for vertical slats, solid plastic feeders, hay bags, or nets.
- What’s Your Budget? A haynet might cost $10, while a heavy-duty steel basket could be over $200. Decide if you prefer a lower upfront cost with eventual replacement or a larger one-time investment.
- How Destructive is Your Herd? An older, gentle doe doesn’t need the same bomb-proof feeder as a young, rambunctious buck. Be honest about your animals’ behavior.
- Permanent or Portable? If you need to move the feeder between pastures or stalls, a lightweight bag or net is ideal. For a permanent barn setup, a heavier wall-mounted or freestanding unit is more practical.
Ultimately, the goal is to find the sweet spot between cost, durability, safety, and waste reduction that works for your farm. You might even use different types of feeders in different situations—a wall feeder in the barn and a hay bag for the pasture.
Choosing the right feeder is a small decision that pays big dividends, saving you hundreds of dollars in wasted hay over the years. By observing your herd and understanding your own management style, you can select a tool that works for your goats, your budget, and your homestead.
