6 Best Adjustable Creep Feeders For Different Sized Lambs That Prevent Bullying
Ensure uniform flock growth. Our guide reviews 6 adjustable creep feeders designed to prevent bullying and provide equal feed access for lambs of all sizes.
You’ve seen it happen. The biggest, boldest lamb shoulders its way to the feeder, hogging the best spot while the smaller ones get pushed aside. This pecking order is natural, but it leads to uneven growth, potential health issues for the timid lambs, and headaches for you. A quality creep feeder is more than just a feed container; it’s a management tool that ensures every lamb gets a fair chance.
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Key Features of an Anti-Bullying Creep Feeder
The single most important feature is adjustable entry bars. These vertical or horizontal bars create openings small enough for lambs to slip through but too narrow for adult ewes. Critically, their adjustability allows you to widen the gaps as your lambs grow, ensuring they always have access without letting the bigger, more dominant lambs from a slightly older group take over.
Look for a design with multiple feeding stations. A long trough or several distinct holes prevents a single bossy lamb from guarding the entire food source. The more access points, the less competition. This simple design choice diffuses tension and allows multiple lambs to eat peacefully side-by-side.
Finally, consider the construction. A sturdy lid or overhang is non-negotiable for protecting expensive creep feed from rain and droppings, which saves money and prevents illness. Whether you choose galvanized steel for its durability or heavy-duty poly for its rust-proof nature, the feeder must be tough enough to withstand pushing, rubbing, and the general wear and tear of livestock.
Tarter 6-Bushel Creep Feeder: For Large Flocks
When you’re dealing with a larger group of lambs, feeder capacity becomes a top priority. The Tarter 6-Bushel model is built for this scenario, holding around 300 pounds of feed. This means less time spent on daily refills and more confidence that your lambs won’t run out of feed on a busy day.
This feeder is a heavyweight, constructed from galvanized steel with a sturdy frame. It’s not something you’ll move easily, so think of it as a semi-permanent fixture for the season. Its double-sided design provides ample feeding space, and the adjustable feed gate lets you control the flow to reduce waste. The creep pens on both sides are adjustable, accommodating lambs as they grow from tiny newborns to weanlings.
The tradeoff for its capacity and durability is its lack of portability. This is the feeder you set up in a main pasture or a large holding pen, not one you’d shuttle between small rotational paddocks. It’s a serious piece of equipment for a hobby farmer who is scaling up their flock and needs efficiency.
Sioux Steel Poly Creep Feeder: Weather-Resistant
Steel is tough, but it can eventually rust. The Sioux Steel Poly Creep Feeder solves this problem with a heavy-duty, molded poly bin. This makes it completely rust-proof and surprisingly durable, capable of handling the elements year after year without degrading, thanks to UV inhibitors in the plastic.
The poly construction also makes it lighter than its all-steel counterparts, offering a good balance between sturdiness and maneuverability. It typically features a steel frame and creep pens for rigidity where it counts, while the poly hopper keeps the feed protected and the unit’s overall weight down. Cleaning is also simpler, as feed is less likely to cake onto the smooth plastic surface.
This feeder is an excellent all-around choice for those who farm in wet climates or simply want to avoid the long-term maintenance associated with painted or galvanized steel. It provides the anti-bullying features of adjustable bars and multiple feeding spots with the added benefit of superior weather resistance.
Behlen Country Poly Lamb Feeder: Portable Design
For farmers practicing rotational grazing or who need to move feeders between different pens, portability is paramount. The Behlen Country Poly Lamb Feeder is designed with this in mind. Its smaller capacity (often around 3 bushels) and lightweight poly construction make it manageable for one person to move.
This feeder is ideal for smaller flocks or for separating different age groups of lambs. You can easily drag it to a fresh patch of pasture, ensuring your creep feeding area stays clean and sanitary. The compact design doesn’t sacrifice the essential features; it still includes adjustable entry bars to keep ewes out and a covered trough to protect the feed.
The obvious tradeoff is capacity. You’ll be filling it more often than a larger, stationary model. However, for a small-scale operation, this can be a benefit, as it encourages you to check on the lambs more frequently and ensures the feed is always fresh. It’s the perfect tool for an agile, hands-on management style.
CountyLine Single-Sided Feeder: Space-Saving
Not every farm has wide-open pastures. Sometimes, you need to set up a creep area in a barn, a lean-to, or along a narrow fence line. This is where a single-sided feeder shines. The CountyLine Single-Sided Feeder is designed to be placed flat against a wall or fence, maximizing usable space in tight quarters.
By having feeding access on only one side, you can create a creep pen that doesn’t obstruct walkways or gates. This is incredibly practical for winter lambing inside a barn or for managing small groups in temporary pens. Despite its smaller footprint, it still offers the core anti-bullying feature of adjustable bars.
The limitation is clear: it offers half the feeding space of a comparable double-sided model. This makes it best suited for smaller groups of lambs. If you try to serve too many animals with it, you’ll recreate the very bullying problem you’re trying to solve. It’s a specialized tool for a specific layout.
Little Giant 2-in-1 Fence Feeder: For Small Pens
If you only have a handful of ewes, a large, dedicated creep feeder is overkill. The Little Giant 2-in-1 Fence Feeder offers a simple, budget-friendly solution. This durable poly feeder is designed to hang directly on a fence or panel, making it incredibly easy to install and move.
To use it as a creep feeder, you simply build a small creep area around it using standard livestock panels with an opening only lambs can fit through. The feeder itself has multiple compartments, which helps separate lambs and prevent one from dominating the entire supply. It’s a modular approach that works perfectly for someone with two to five ewes.
This isn’t a solution for a large flock, and it offers less protection from heavy rain than a fully covered feeder. But for a micro-farm, it’s a practical and affordable way to give your lambs the nutritional edge they need without investing in a large, dedicated piece of equipment.
Priefert Creep Feeder Panel: A Modular System
Sometimes the best solution isn’t an all-in-one product, but a system that adapts to your needs. The Priefert Creep Feeder Panel is exactly that. It’s not a feeder, but a 6-foot-long panel with built-in adjustable entry bars. This allows you to turn any set of standard panels into a custom-sized creep pen.
The beauty of this system is its flexibility. You can create a small, square creep pen or a long, narrow one depending on your space. Inside the pen, you can place any kind of trough or feeder you already own, from a simple ground trough to a hanging bucket feeder. This lets you use existing equipment and design a space that perfectly fits your flock and layout.
The main consideration is that you are buying one component of a system. You still need to provide the other panels and the feeder itself. However, for farmers who value customization and want to build a creep area that can grow or change with their operation, this modular approach is an excellent and highly effective choice.
Proper Feeder Placement and Lamb Training Tips
Where you put the feeder is just as important as which one you buy. Place it in a high-traffic area where ewes and lambs frequently rest, but not so close to the main water or hay source that it causes congestion. Lambs should feel safe entering the creep area, so avoid dark, muddy, or isolated corners of the pasture.
Training lambs to use the feeder is usually straightforward. Their natural curiosity is your best tool. For the first day or two, you can try propping or wiring the entry bars wide open so they can enter and exit freely with their mothers. Once they know food is inside, you can set the bars to the correct lamb-only width.
If they’re still hesitant, lead one or two of the braver lambs through the opening. The others will quickly follow their lead. Sprinkling a small amount of the creep feed on the ground just outside the entrance can also entice them to investigate. Be patient; they will figure it out within a day or so.
Choosing the right creep feeder isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the one that best fits your flock size, your space, and your management style. By preventing bullying and ensuring consistent nutrition, you’re not just feeding lambs—you’re investing in a healthier, more uniform, and ultimately more productive flock. It’s one of the simplest changes that can make the biggest difference come market or breeding time.
