6 Best No Waste Trough Feeders For Sheep That Save Money on Feed
Reduce feed waste and cut costs. Our guide reviews the 6 best no-waste trough feeders for sheep, designed to minimize spillage and maximize savings.
You’ve seen it a hundred times: sheep with their heads buried in a trough, happily flinging expensive grain onto the ground. That feed gets trampled into the mud and becomes nothing more than costly bedding. Choosing the right feeder isn’t just about convenience; it’s a critical financial decision for any small-scale shepherd.
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Why Wasted Feed Costs More Than Just Money
The most obvious cost of wasted feed is the direct hit to your wallet. Every scoop of grain or flake of hay that ends up on the ground is money thrown away. Over a year, this can easily add up to several hundred dollars, enough to cover vet bills or buy a new ewe.
But the hidden costs are often more damaging. Piles of uneaten feed are an open invitation for rodents, birds, and other pests that carry diseases into your flock. This mess also creates a damp, unsanitary environment around the feeder, which is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria that can cause hoof rot and other infections.
There’s also a significant nutritional cost to consider. When sheep can easily sort through their feed, they tend to pick out the tastiest bits (usually the corn) and leave the less palatable but essential nutrients behind. This selective eating undermines the purpose of a balanced ration, leading to potential health deficiencies and uneven growth across the flock. A good feeder forces them to eat what’s given.
Tarter Galvanized Bunk Feeder: A Durable Classic
The Tarter Galvanized Bunk Feeder is the definition of a farm workhorse. It’s a simple, heavy-duty trough made from galvanized steel, built to withstand the daily abuse of a hungry flock. Its weight and wide-set legs make it incredibly stable, so even the most boisterous sheep won’t be able to tip it over and spill a full load of feed.
The design is intentionally simple and effective. A V-shaped bottom helps funnel the feed toward the center, making it harder for sheep to push it out with their noses. The depth is sufficient to discourage them from easily flinging grain over the sides while they eat.
This feeder is a fantastic choice for a permanent or semi-permanent setup in a dry lot or barn. However, its main tradeoff is its weight and material. While durable, galvanized steel will eventually rust, and it’s too heavy to be considered truly portable for intensive rotational grazing systems.
Little Giant Fence Feeder: Versatile & Rust-Proof
For smaller flocks, temporary pens, or separating specific animals, the Little Giant Fence Feeder is an incredibly practical solution. As the name suggests, it hangs securely on a fence rail or gate, keeping the feed off the ground and saving valuable floor space. This is perfect for lambing jugs or for feeding a ram separately.
Its best feature is the material. Made from a tough, rust-proof polyethylene, it can handle extreme temperatures without cracking and is exceptionally easy to clean. You can scrub it thoroughly without worrying about chipping a protective coating, which helps maintain better hygiene.
The compact size is both its strength and its weakness. It’s ideal for one to three sheep, but you’ll be refilling it constantly for a larger group. This feeder excels in targeted feeding situations but isn’t designed to be the primary trough for an entire flock.
Behlen Poly Bunk Feeder: Hay & Grain Combo Saver
The Behlen Poly Bunk Feeder offers a great all-around solution, especially for those who want one feeder for multiple feed types. Its deep, rounded design contains grain and pellets effectively, but it’s also spacious enough to hold a decent amount of hay. The smooth poly surface prevents feed from getting packed into corners and spoiling.
One of the biggest advantages of poly is its weather resistance and safety. It won’t rust like steel, and it doesn’t get dangerously hot in the summer sun or bitterly cold in the winter. This makes it a more comfortable and safer option for your animals year-round.
The feeder’s tapered sides and deep basin work together to keep sheep’s heads inside while they eat. This simple geometric feature is surprisingly effective at reducing the "head-tossing" that sends feed flying. It’s a lightweight yet sturdy option that hits a sweet spot between durability and portability.
Sydell Hay & Grain Feeder for Maximum Hay Savings
Feed up to 10 sheep or goats with this durable, weather-resistant feeder. Its fence-mounted design saves space and simplifies feeding time.
If your biggest frustration is watching expensive hay get turned into bedding, the Sydell Hay & Grain Feeder is engineered to solve that specific problem. It combines a V-shaped hayrack with a grain trough underneath, creating a highly efficient, two-in-one feeding station. This design is a classic for a reason: it works.
The magic is in the vertical bars of the hayrack. They force sheep to pull out small mouthfuls at a time, preventing them from grabbing a huge clump and dropping half of it. Any leaves or small bits that do fall are caught in the trough below, not wasted on the ground.
This level of efficiency comes at a higher upfront cost and requires a more permanent installation. It’s a larger unit that’s not meant to be moved frequently. You must also ensure the bar spacing is safe for your breed—too wide and lambs can get through, too narrow and horned animals could get stuck.
Sioux Steel Econo Bunk Feeder: Movable & Efficient
For shepherds practicing rotational grazing, feeder portability is non-negotiable. The Sioux Steel Econo Bunk Feeder is designed for this reality. It features a durable poly liner set within a steel frame, offering the benefits of both materials in a package that one person can reasonably move.
The hybrid design is smart. The poly liner provides a smooth, rust-proof, and easy-to-clean surface for the feed. The steel frame gives it the rigidity and stability needed to stand up to daily use without being excessively heavy.
This feeder provides an excellent balance of cost, durability, and mobility. While it may not have the sheer weight of a heavy-duty steel-only feeder, its design is more than adequate for most hobby farm flocks. It’s a practical choice for managing pastures and ensuring your sheep are eating where you want them to.
Tarter Creep Feeder: No-Waste Feeding for Lambs
Feeding lambs separately from the ewes is one of the best ways to ensure they get a strong, healthy start. The Tarter Creep Feeder is a specialized tool designed to do this perfectly, preventing waste of expensive, high-protein starter feed. It features a covered hopper that protects the feed from rain and a fenced-off feeding area.
The no-waste genius of this feeder is its exclusivity. Adjustable horizontal bars create openings that are large enough for lambs to slip through but too small for adult ewes. This stops the ewes from bullying the lambs away and gobbling up the nutrient-dense feed meant for the next generation.
While it’s a specific-use item, a creep feeder is a phenomenal investment. By guaranteeing that your lambs get the nutrition they need without competition, you promote faster weight gain and healthier development. This directly translates to better outcomes, whether you’re raising replacements for your flock or animals for market.
Choosing the Right Feeder for Your Flock’s Needs
There is no single "best" feeder for every farm. The right choice is the one that fits your management style, flock size, and environment. Before you buy anything, take a moment to assess your specific needs.
Start by considering your biggest challenges and priorities. A few key questions can guide your decision:
- What is your primary feed? If you’re mainly feeding grain, a deep trough is key. If hay is your biggest expense, a rack-style feeder is essential.
- Where are you feeding? For a permanent barn setup, a heavy steel feeder is great. For moving between pastures, a lighter poly or hybrid model is a must.
- How large is your flock? Ensure there is enough linear space for all sheep to eat at once without excessive crowding, which itself leads to waste and potential injury. A good rule of thumb is about 12-16 inches of trough space per adult ewe.
Think about the behavior of your animals. If you have particularly aggressive eaters who like to push, a heavy and stable feeder that can’t be tipped is your top priority. If you have horned breeds, carefully check the design of any hayrack to ensure there are no spots where a head could become dangerously trapped.
Ultimately, view a feeder as a long-term investment in efficiency. The money you spend upfront on a well-designed feeder will be returned to you many times over in saved feed, improved animal health, and reduced labor. Stop feeding the ground and start feeding your flock.
The right feeder does more than just hold food; it’s a fundamental tool for good animal husbandry. By minimizing waste, you save money, reduce the risk of disease, and ensure your animals get the balanced nutrition they need to thrive. It’s one of the simplest and most effective upgrades you can make on a small farm.
