6 Best Large Capacity Goat Feeders For Homesteaders That Minimize Waste

Watching goats toss a fresh flake of alfalfa onto the ground and then refuse to eat it is a special kind of frustration for a homesteader. It’s not just the wasted money; it’s the wasted effort and the knowledge that your animals could be getting better nutrition. Choosing the right feeder isn’t about fancy equipment—it’s a strategic decision that directly impacts your budget, your workload, and the health of your herd.

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Why Waste-Reducing Feeders Matter for Goats

Goats are notoriously picky and wasteful eaters. They are browsers by nature, meaning they prefer to pull feed from above, and they have a strong instinct to avoid anything they perceive as contaminated. If hay or grain touches the ground, especially if it gets stepped on or soiled, they will often refuse to eat it. This behavior is the root cause of immense feed waste on many homesteads.

A poorly designed feeder enables this waste. An open tub or a simple ground trough allows them to pull out entire mouthfuls of hay, drop half of it, and then trample the rest. This wasted feed represents a significant financial loss over time. More importantly, it can lead to health issues from consuming soiled feed and creates a messy, unsanitary environment that attracts pests and requires more frequent mucking out.

Investing in a feeder designed to minimize waste is one of the highest-return investments you can make. It’s not just about saving money on feed, though that is a major benefit. It’s about ensuring your goats get the full nutritional value of what you provide, reducing your daily cleanup chores, and maintaining a healthier, cleaner living space for your animals.

Tarter Goat Hay Feeder: Top Hay-Saving Design

The Tarter Goat Hay Feeder is a classic for a reason. Its design directly confronts the way goats waste hay. The V-shaped slatted rack forces them to pull hay through the bars, which means they can only get a small amount at a time. This simple barrier prevents them from yanking out huge clumps and throwing them around.

What truly sets this design apart is the integrated catch basin at the bottom. Any leaves, small stems, or "fines" that fall as the goats eat are caught in the trough instead of being lost on the ground. This feature alone can save a surprising amount of high-quality feed, as the most nutritious parts of the hay often crumble off. The goats can then easily clean up these tasty morsels from the pan.

Built from heavy-duty steel, these feeders are designed to withstand the abuse that goats dish out. They are heavy enough to resist being pushed around and can serve a good number of animals simultaneously from both sides. While they represent a higher upfront cost, the dramatic reduction in hay waste means they often pay for themselves within a season or two, making them a smart long-term investment for any serious goat keeper.

Behlen Country Poly Bunk Feeder for Large Herds

When you’re feeding grain or pelleted rations to a group, a bunk feeder is the way to go, and the Behlen Country Poly Bunk Feeder is a standout. Its primary advantage is the durable, one-piece polyethylene construction. It won’t rust or corrode like metal, and the smooth surface is incredibly easy to clean, which is critical for preventing the buildup of old, moldy feed.

The design is simple but effective. The V-shaped bottom helps funnel feed towards the center, making it easier for goats to clean up every last bit and reducing the amount left in corners. The wide, stable legs prevent tipping, even when a few bossy does are jostling for position. This stability is key for group feeding, as a tipped feeder means instant, total waste of that meal.

This feeder is all about capacity and efficiency for larger herds. You can lay out a line of feed that allows multiple goats to eat comfortably side-by-side, reducing competition and stress. It’s a straightforward, no-frills solution that does its job exceptionally well, offering a durable and sanitary way to deliver grain or supplements with minimal fuss.

Little Giant Fence Feeder for Cleaner Feeding

For smaller herds, targeted feeding, or keeping minerals available, the Little Giant Fence Feeder is a practical and effective tool. Its main waste-reducing feature is its elevation. By mounting directly to a fence or gate, it keeps feed completely off the ground, eliminating contamination from mud, manure, and bedding. This simple act of lifting the feed ensures more of it gets eaten.

These feeders are typically made of tough, molded plastic, making them lightweight yet durable. The hooks allow for easy installation and removal, so you can bring them in for cleaning or move them to different pens as needed. This flexibility is a huge asset on a dynamic homestead where animal groups might change.

While not designed for feeding a large herd all at once, they excel in specific scenarios. Use them in a buck pen, a kidding stall for a doe and her new kids, or for providing free-choice minerals. The enclosed design helps contain the feed, and the height encourages a more natural eating posture while preventing goats from stepping in their food.

Sydell Wall Feeder: Space-Saving and Efficient

Space is often at a premium in a homestead barn or shelter. The Sydell Wall Feeder is engineered for this reality, mounting directly to a wall to keep floor space clear. This not only makes for a tidier barn but also prevents the feeder from being knocked over or moved around by rambunctious goats.

Many Sydell models feature a combination design with a hay rack on top and a grain trough below. This dual-purpose setup is incredibly efficient, allowing you to provide both types of feed in one compact location. The hay rack portion often uses vertical bars or a wire grid to slow down consumption and reduce the amount of hay that gets pulled out and dropped.

The built-in trough underneath the hay rack acts as a catch-all, saving the valuable leafy bits that fall. This integrated system is a powerful waste-reducer. By securing the feeder to a solid structure and combining feed types, you create a clean, organized, and highly efficient feeding station that saves space, time, and money.

Behrens Steel Tub: A Durable, Simple Solution

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. A heavy-duty, galvanized Behrens steel tub is a multi-purpose workhorse on any homestead, and it can serve as an effective, low-waste feeder if used correctly. Its primary advantages are its incredible durability and its low cost. You can’t break it, and it will last for decades.

The key to minimizing waste with a simple tub is management. Do not overfill it. Provide only enough grain or pellets for one feeding, so the goats are motivated to clean it up completely. The tub’s weight and low center of gravity make it very difficult for them to tip over, which is a major source of waste with lighter buckets or pans.

While it doesn’t have the fancy hay-saving features of other designs, its simplicity is a strength. It’s easy to dump out, scrub clean, and move around. For homesteaders on a tight budget or those who value multi-functional equipment, a solid steel tub is a reliable and practical choice for delivering grain rations with minimal fuss and surprising efficiency.

Brower Galvanized Trough for Group Feeding

For those who prefer the longevity of steel for group feeding, the Brower Galvanized Trough is a tough, traditional option. Built from heavy-gauge galvanized steel, these troughs are designed to handle the rough-and-tumble environment of a livestock pen. They resist cracking in cold weather and won’t be chewed on like some plastic alternatives.

The design often includes features that subtly reduce waste and improve safety. A V-bottom helps concentrate the feed, and a feed-saver lip along the top edge can help prevent goats from pushing feed out of the trough. This small detail makes a noticeable difference in the amount of grain that ends up on the ground. The trough’s weight also provides excellent stability.

Choosing between a poly bunk and a galvanized trough often comes down to preference and environment. Steel offers unmatched durability against physical abuse, while poly offers superior resistance to corrosion and is easier to sanitize. For a large, active herd, the sheer ruggedness of a Brower trough makes it a dependable, long-term solution for efficient group feeding.

Key Features in a Low-Waste Goat Feeder

When you’re evaluating any feeder, whether it’s on this list or one you’ve found elsewhere, focus on the features that directly combat waste. The specific model is less important than understanding how it works to keep feed clean and edible. A good feeder is an investment, not just a container.

Look for these key characteristics:

• Catch Trays or Basins: A pan or trough beneath a hay rack is the single most effective feature for saving nutritious hay fines.
• Hay-Slowing Grates: Slanted bars, wire mesh, or other barriers force goats to eat more slowly and prevent them from pulling out large wads of hay.
• Elevation: Getting the feeder off the ground is non-negotiable. Whether it hangs on a fence or has sturdy legs, elevation prevents contamination from manure and bedding.
• Durability and Weight: Goats will stand on, push, and rub against their feeders. It needs to be made of tough material (heavy plastic or steel) and be heavy or secured enough that it cannot be tipped over.
• Ease of Cleaning: Smooth surfaces without tight corners are essential. A feeder you can’t clean properly will harbor mold and bacteria, leading to feed refusal and potential health problems.

Ultimately, the best feeder for your homestead will depend on your herd size, your barn layout, and the type of feed you’re providing. By prioritizing these waste-reducing features, you can ensure your choice is a smart one that benefits both your animals and your bottom line.

Investing in a well-designed feeder is one of the clearest examples of working smarter, not harder. It transforms wasted feed into better animal health and turns a daily expense into a long-term saving. By choosing a feeder that works with your goats’ nature instead of against it, you’ll spend less time mucking out wasted hay and more time enjoying a thriving, healthy herd.