6 Best Goat Feeder Troughs For Goats That Prevent Common Issues
The right goat feeder trough prevents waste and contamination. Explore our top 6 picks designed to keep feed clean and minimize herd competition.
You toss a flake of expensive alfalfa into the feeder, and within minutes, half of it is on the ground, trampled into the mud. If you’ve raised goats for more than a week, you know this scene all too well. Choosing the right feeder isn’t just about convenience; it’s a critical decision that impacts your feed bill, your time, and your herd’s health. The best goat feeders solve problems before they start, turning feeding time from a frustrating chore into a simple, efficient task.
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Key Features in a Waste-Reducing Goat Feeder
A good feeder does more than just hold food. It actively prevents goats from wasting it. The most common issues are goats pulling hay onto the ground, standing or pooping in their grain, and bullying smaller herd mates away from the trough. Look for designs that make these behaviors difficult or impossible.
Features like hay racks or grates force goats to pull out smaller bites, dramatically reducing dropped forage. For grain, a V-shape or a narrow trough makes it harder for them to shovel feed out with their noses. Some feeders incorporate a top bar or "reel" that spins, effectively preventing goats—especially mischievous kids—from climbing in and soiling the contents.
Material and construction are just as important. Heavy-duty plastic (poly) is durable, won’t rust, and is easy to clean. Galvanized steel offers excellent longevity but can be heavier. The single most overlooked feature is how easy it is to clean. A feeder with smooth surfaces and no tight corners will save you countless hours of scrubbing, which is a huge win on a busy hobby farm.
Tarter Equine/Goat Feeder with Hay Rack
Feed your livestock efficiently with this durable, 18.5-gallon steel hay feeder. Its wall-mounted design saves space, while rounded edges ensure animal safety during feeding.
This combination feeder is a workhorse for a reason. It features a V-shaped hay rack above a solid trough, addressing two needs in one piece of equipment. Goats pull hay from the top, and any leaves or small bits that fall are caught in the trough below, where they can be eaten instead of trampled.
This design is a fantastic hay-saver. It slows down consumption and keeps the bulk of your expensive alfalfa or orchard grass off the ground. The bottom trough is perfect for adding grain, pellets, or minerals, ensuring everything gets consumed. Because it’s a single, often heavy unit, it’s very stable and difficult for even the pushiest goats to knock over.
The main tradeoff is its size and cost. These feeders are bulkier and represent more of an upfront investment than a simple trough. While they significantly reduce waste, a determined goat can still pull some hay out onto the floor. Still, for a small herd in a dry lot or barn, the feed savings often pay for the unit within a season or two.
Little Giant Hook Over Trough for Versatility
Feed multiple animals at once with this durable, hook-over trough. Its galvanized steel grid provides six feeding slots and easily mounts on standard boards or wire panels.
Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. The hook-over trough is a lightweight, durable plastic feeder with built-in hooks that allow you to hang it almost anywhere—a fence panel, a stall door, or a cattle panel gate. This portability is its superpower.
These troughs are ideal for grain, pellets, or minerals. By hanging the feeder at the proper height, you prevent goats from stepping in it. You can easily move them to separate a doe that needs extra rations, provide a mineral supplement in a different pasture, or set up a temporary feeding station. They are also inexpensive, making them a great starting point for new goat owners.
Their limitation is hay. They are too small and shallow to effectively feed hay without significant waste. Think of these as specialized tools for concentrate feeding, not an all-in-one solution. For a hobby farmer needing to manage specific nutritional needs within a herd, having a few of these on hand is a no-brainer.
Behlen Country Poly Fence Line Bunk Feeder
If you’re tired of getting mobbed at feeding time, the fence line bunk feeder is a game-changer. This long, narrow trough is designed to be mounted along a fence, allowing you to pour feed from outside the pen. This simple feature improves safety and dramatically speeds up your daily chores.
The primary benefit is reducing competition. The long design provides ample space for multiple goats to eat side-by-side without the intense shoving and head-butting that happens around a small, central feeder. This ensures that more timid goats get their fair share. The heavy-duty poly material is nearly indestructible and exceptionally easy to wash out.
This is a more permanent setup. You’ll need a straight stretch of sturdy fence to mount it to, so it’s not as flexible as a portable trough. It’s also designed almost exclusively for grain, pellets, and chopped forage, not long-stem hay. For anyone managing more than a handful of goats, the efficiency and peace it brings to the herd at feeding time is well worth the installation effort.
Premier 1 Supplies Hay and Grain Wall Feeder
For maximum hay-saving efficiency, especially inside a barn or shelter, a wall-mounted feeder with an integrated grate is hard to beat. This design forces goats to work for their food, pulling hay through small openings in a metal grid. This mimics their natural browsing behavior and makes it nearly impossible for them to grab huge mouthfuls and drop them.
This feeder is a space-saver, mounting flush against a wall and keeping the floor clear. The trough underneath catches all the valuable "fines"—the nutritious leafy bits that break off—and doubles as a perfect spot for their grain ration. By keeping the hay contained and off the bedding, you also improve the overall hygiene of their living space.
The crucial consideration here is the size of the grid openings relative to the size of your goats, especially if they have horns. Always check the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure your goats’ heads can’t get stuck. While excellent for smaller breeds like Nigerian Dwarfs or Pygmies, you need to be more careful when selecting one for larger, horned breeds like Boers or Nubians.
Rubbermaid Stock Tank for Durability and Size
Sometimes, the best goat feeder wasn’t originally designed to be one. A heavy-duty structural foam stock tank, like those made by Rubbermaid, is a popular choice on many farms for one simple reason: it’s virtually indestructible. Goats can’t break it, chew it, or rust it.
The high, smooth sides of a 100-gallon tank make it difficult for most goats to climb into, keeping the feed cleaner than a low-profile trough. Its large capacity is great for feeding a bigger herd or for containing a small square bale of hay, reducing the number of times you have to fill it. It’s a simple, rugged, multi-purpose tool that will last for decades.
The glaring downside is the potential for waste. Without a grate or rack on top, goats will happily pull hay out and spread it everywhere. It’s a trade-off: you get ultimate durability, but you sacrifice feed efficiency. This option works best for situations where some waste is acceptable, or when you pair it with a DIY hay-saving grate or a commercially available hay ring insert.
Brower Galvanized Trough for Goat Kids
Keep your livestock hydrated all winter with this insulated and heated waterer. The durable, galvanized steel design features extra-thick foam insulation and rounded edges for animal safety.
Raising healthy kids requires a different approach to feeding. They need access to high-protein creep feed without competition from the adults, and their feeders must be kept scrupulously clean. A small, galvanized steel trough, often with a spinning reel on top, is perfectly suited for this job.
The reel is the key feature here. This simple bar spins freely, preventing playful kids from standing, sleeping, or pooping in their feed. This is absolutely critical for preventing the spread of parasites like coccidia, which can be devastating to young goats. The galvanized steel is non-porous and easy to sanitize between uses.
These feeders are specifically for creep pens or areas where only kids can enter. Their low profile makes it easy for the smallest goats to reach their feed. While they could be used for a small number of adult dwarf goats, their primary role is in giving your next generation the strong, healthy start they need.
Matching Feeder Type to Your Herd and Setup
There is no single "best" goat feeder. The right choice is the one that solves your most pressing problems, whether that’s wasted hay, fighting at the trough, or the time it takes to do chores. The decision comes down to your specific herd size, your pen layout, and what you are feeding.
- For 2-4 goats in a small barn: A wall-mounted combo feeder like the Premier 1 or Tarter model offers the best balance of hay-saving and space efficiency.
- For a larger herd in a paddock: A fence line bunk feeder is unmatched for delivering grain efficiently and peacefully. You’ll still need a separate system for hay.
- If versatility is your top priority: A few hook-over troughs are invaluable for managing individual needs, supplements, or temporary enclosures.
- If you prioritize durability above all: A Rubbermaid stock tank is your answer, but be prepared to accept some hay waste or build a custom insert to reduce it.
Start by identifying your biggest feeding-time headache. Is it the cost of wasted alfalfa? The chaos of 10 goats mobbing you? The mess in the kidding pen? Match the feeder’s strengths to your problem, and you’ll make an investment that pays you back every single day.
Ultimately, a well-chosen feeder is more than just a piece of equipment; it’s a management tool. It saves money on feed, reduces your workload, and promotes a calmer, healthier herd. By investing in a system that works with your goats’ behavior instead of against it, you can spend less time cleaning up messes and more time enjoying your animals.
