6 Best Sheep Feeders For Small Flocks In Winter That Prevent Hay Waste
Keep your small flock fed and your hay bill low this winter. We review the top 6 sheep feeders designed to minimize waste and maximize efficiency.
You toss a few flakes of good, green hay into the paddock on a frozen morning, and within minutes, the sheep have trampled half of it into the mud and snow. It’s a frustratingly common scene for anyone raising a small flock through the winter. Wasted hay isn’t just a hit to your wallet; it’s a failure in your feeding system that can impact animal health and create unnecessary work. Choosing the right feeder is one of the most effective ways to protect your investment and ensure your flock gets the nutrition they need when pasture is a distant memory.
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Why Winter Hay Waste Is a Problem for Flocks
Wasted hay is money you are literally throwing on the ground. When you’ve paid a premium for good quality hay to get your flock through the lean months, seeing it used as bedding or a toilet is maddening. A poorly designed feeding system can easily waste 30-40% of every bale, a cost that adds up incredibly fast over a long winter.
The problems go beyond the financial loss. Hay that gets trampled into mud and manure becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold. Sheep forced to eat soiled hay are at risk for serious health issues, including listeriosis (circling disease) from moldy feed or internal parasites from ingesting contaminated forage. This creates a cycle of poor health that can be difficult and expensive to break.
Furthermore, significant hay waste creates a management nightmare. The ground around the feeding area turns into a soupy, frozen mess that’s terrible for hoof health and a chore to clean up in the spring. It also makes it nearly impossible to accurately gauge how much your sheep are actually consuming, complicating your efforts to ensure they’re getting adequate nutrition during the most critical time of the year.
Tarter Galvanized Bunk Feeder with Hay Rack
This is a classic, versatile design for a reason. It combines a V-shaped hay rack on top with a solid bunk trough below, all made from durable galvanized steel. The design encourages sheep to pull hay through the vertical bars, which slows them down and reduces the amount they can drop at one time.
The real waste-saving feature is the bunk underneath. Any leaves, seeds, and small bits of hay—the most nutritious parts, often called "fines"—that fall through the rack are caught in the trough instead of being lost on the ground. Sheep can then easily clean up these tasty morsels. This two-in-one functionality also makes it perfect for feeding supplemental grain or minerals in the same space.
This feeder works best for small square bales and is ideal for flocks ranging from about five to fifteen sheep, depending on the length of the feeder. While it drastically cuts down on waste compared to ground feeding, determined sheep can still pull out mouthfuls and drop some over the side. For best results, place it in a sheltered location to keep rain and snow out of the bunk.
Behlen Country Bale Feeder for Small Bales
If your primary goal is to keep an entire small square bale clean and off the ground, this type of feeder is an excellent solution. It’s essentially a sturdy metal basket with slanted bars, designed to hold a whole bale securely. The sheep must work to pull hay through the bars, which mimics natural grazing behavior and keeps them occupied.
The containment is nearly total. Because the bale is fully enclosed, the sheep cannot stand, sleep, or defecate on their feed, which is the biggest source of waste and contamination. This design is incredibly effective at preserving the quality of the hay from the first bite to the last. It’s a great "set it and forget it" option for a weekend, reducing the number of times you have to trudge out in the cold.
However, consider your flock’s specific needs. Some designs have bar spacing that may be too tight for large-headed rams or certain horned breeds. Also, if your flock is very small (fewer than 6-8 sheep), they may not finish a whole bale before it gets stale or weathered, so you might only want to put in half a bale at a time.
Little Giant Fence & Wall Feeder for Hay
For the shepherd with a very small "backyard" flock of two to five sheep, individual hanging feeders can be the perfect fit. These are typically made of heavy-duty plastic or wire and are designed to hook securely over a fence rail or be mounted to a stall wall. They hold just a few handfuls of hay, enough for one or two animals at a time.
The primary advantage here is control. By providing multiple small feeders spaced apart, you eliminate competition and ensure that more timid sheep get their fair share. This is also an invaluable tool for managing individuals with specific dietary needs, such as a pregnant ewe requiring alfalfa while the rest of the flock gets grass hay. They keep the hay perfectly clean and contained.
The tradeoff is labor. These feeders need to be refilled at least once or twice a day, which can be a significant commitment during harsh weather. Their small capacity makes them impractical for flocks larger than a handful of animals, but for targeted, waste-free feeding on a micro-scale, they are hard to beat.
Premier 1 Supplies Collapsible Hay & Grain Feeder
Specialty suppliers like Premier 1 often offer thoughtfully designed equipment based on years of feedback from shepherds. Their feeders are frequently lightweight, portable, and built specifically with sheep behavior in mind. Many models feature a collapsible design, making them easy to move and store in the off-season.
The key benefit is efficiency. The bar spacing, trough depth, and overall height are typically optimized for sheep, which maximizes access while minimizing waste. Their portability is a huge asset for pasture management; you can easily move the feeder to a new patch of ground every few days to prevent the creation of a muddy sacrifice area. This is a crucial practice for maintaining pasture health and flock hygiene.
Of course, specialized equipment comes at a higher price point. You are paying for better design and, often, lighter materials. This lightweight construction can sometimes be a negative, as a group of pushy ewes might shove the feeder around if it isn’t staked down or weighed down. Think of it as an investment in a highly efficient system that saves hay, time, and pasture.
CountyLine Round Bale Feeder for Small Flocks
Most people associate round bale feeders with cattle, but certain designs can be adapted for a larger small flock (15+ sheep). The key is to avoid standard cattle rings, where sheep will walk inside and destroy the entire bale. Instead, look for a "hay-saver" or horse-style feeder that has a solid metal skirt around the bottom 2-3 feet.
This solid skirt is the game-changer. As sheep pull hay from the top, all the valuable leaves and small stems that fall are caught inside the feeder on the clean metal floor, not trampled into the mud. This single feature can reduce waste from over 50% to less than 10%. It allows you to provide a large amount of feed at once, dramatically reducing your daily labor.
This is not a solution for everyone. First, you need a tractor with a spear or front-end loader to move and place the round bale. Second, your flock must be large enough to consume the bale within a week or two to prevent it from molding, especially in damp weather. If you have the equipment and the numbers, this can be the most labor-efficient winter feeding method available.
DIY Keyhole Feeder: A Waste-Reducing Project
For the handy farmer, building your own feeder offers the ultimate in customization and waste reduction. A keyhole feeder is a wooden or metal box that holds hay in the center. The sides have specially shaped openings—wider at the bottom, narrower at the top—that allow a sheep to put its head completely inside to eat.
This design is arguably the most efficient at preventing waste. With their heads inside the feeder, it’s physically impossible for sheep to drop hay on the ground or pull large clumps out. It completely eliminates trampling and soiling of the feed. You can build it to the exact size your flock needs and space the openings to prevent bullying.
Building one requires basic carpentry skills, a solid plan, and careful measurements. The dimensions of the keyhole opening are critical; it must be large enough for your biggest ewe but shaped correctly to prevent them from pulling their head out too quickly or getting stuck. This is a fantastic weekend project that pays for itself in saved hay within the first season.
Feeder Placement for Winter Weather Protection
The world’s best feeder will still waste hay if you put it in the wrong spot. Placing a feeder in the middle of an exposed field, subject to driving rain and snow, guarantees a portion of your expensive hay will become a soggy, unpalatable mess. The feeder itself is only half the solution; placement is the other half.
Always position your feeder to take advantage of natural or man-made windbreaks. The leeward side of a barn, a dense stand of evergreen trees, or even a solid board fence can provide significant protection. This not only keeps the hay drier but also encourages the animals to eat comfortably, rather than grabbing a mouthful and running for shelter. An ideal setup involves placing the feeder under a simple roof overhang or inside a three-sided run-in shed.
Pay close attention to the ground. A feeder that stays in one spot all winter will create a deep, mucky quagmire that’s terrible for hoof health. Place your feeder on the highest, driest ground available. If you can, create a simple gravel or wood chip pad to provide a solid footing. If not, commit to moving the feeder every week or two to a fresh patch of ground to distribute the impact and prevent any one area from becoming unusable.
Ultimately, the best winter feeder is one that fits your flock size, your budget, and your management style. Reducing hay waste isn’t just about pinching pennies; it’s a fundamental part of good animal husbandry that leads to healthier sheep, cleaner paddocks, and less work for you. By thinking of a feeder as a tool for flock management, not just a hay holder, you can make a smart investment that pays dividends all winter long.
