6 Best Calf Creep Feeders For Market Gardens For Small Acreage

You’ve seen it happen every fall. Your neighbor’s calves look a solid 50 pounds heavier than yours at weaning, and you’re using the same bull. The secret isn’t some magic supplement; it’s often a simple piece of equipment called a creep feeder. For a small-acreage farmer, where every animal counts, that extra weight is pure profit and a sign of a well-managed herd.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Creep Feeding Boosts Calf Weaning Weights

Creep feeding is a straightforward concept. You provide high-energy feed to calves in an enclosure that adult cows are too big to enter. This gives the calves a nutritional boost their mother’s milk alone can’t provide, especially as they grow.

The benefits go beyond just a heavier calf. This early introduction to grain reduces the stress of weaning, as they are already accustomed to eating solid food. It also takes a significant load off the cow, allowing her to maintain better body condition for rebreeding. For a small operation, ensuring every cow breeds back on time is just as critical as the weight of her calf.

Think of it as an investment. The cost of the feed and feeder is often more than paid for by the added pounds at sale time. It bridges the "hungry calf gap"—that period when a calf’s nutritional needs outpace what its mother can supply.

Tarter Portable Creep Feeder for Pasture Rotation

If you practice rotational grazing, a stationary feeder is a non-starter. The Tarter portable feeder, typically built on skids, is designed specifically for this kind of management. You can hook a chain to it and drag it from one paddock to the next with your tractor or ATV.

This feeder is all about flexibility. Its design allows you to place the feed exactly where the cattle are, encouraging even grazing and manure distribution. The capacity is usually modest, around 1,000 pounds, which is plenty for a small herd and keeps the unit light enough to move easily.

The tradeoff for that portability is capacity. You’ll be filling it more often than a large, stationary unit. But for a hobby farmer checking on animals daily anyway, this is a minor inconvenience. Its steel construction is sturdy enough for small herds, and the adjustable creep bars grow with your calves.

Behlen Country Feeder Panel: A Modular Option

Sometimes the best solution isn’t a complete, all-in-one unit. Behlen’s feeder panel is a brilliant, budget-friendly component that turns your existing equipment into a creep feeder. It’s essentially a gate with adjustable vertical bars that you can attach to a standard bunk feeder or even a hay ring.

This approach is perfect for the farmer who is resourceful and watching every dollar. You can set up a creep area using a few T-posts and this panel, placing your feed trough behind it. It gives you complete control over the setup and allows you to use a feeder you already own.

The downside is obvious: it’s not self-contained or weatherproof. You’ll need to place it in a sheltered area or accept some feed waste from rain. It’s a DIY system that requires more thought and setup, but for pure cost-effectiveness, it’s hard to beat.

Sioux Steel 150-Bushel Feeder for Durability

If your farm layout is more permanent, a heavy-duty feeder is a buy-it-once investment. The Sioux Steel 150-Bushel model is built like a tank. This is not a feeder you’ll be moving without a tractor, but what you lose in portability, you gain in sheer toughness and capacity.

This feeder is designed to sit in a central location and withstand anything your herd or the weather can throw at it. The massive capacity—holding over 8,000 pounds of feed—means you can fill it and forget it for weeks, even with a decent-sized herd. This is a huge time-saver for the part-time farmer.

This is the right choice if you have a dedicated creep feeding pasture or a dry lot where you bring calves. It’s overkill for three calves, but if you have 10 to 20, the labor savings on filling alone make it worth considering. Its heavy-gauge steel construction means it will likely outlast you.

Brower 12CB: Compact Feeder for Small Herds

Not everyone needs a feeder that holds a ton of grain. For the farmer with just two or three cow-calf pairs, a large feeder is wasted money and space. The Brower 12CB is a compact, single-sided feeder that’s perfectly scaled for a very small operation.

Holding around 650 pounds of feed, it’s small enough to fit in the corner of a small pasture or even inside a barn. Its poly construction keeps it lightweight and rust-free, making it easy for one person to move and clean. It’s an efficient, no-frills tool for getting the job done on a micro-scale.

Don’t mistake its small size for a flaw. It’s a feature. It prevents you from putting out too much feed at once, which can get stale with only a few calves eating from it. This feeder ensures a fresh supply of creep feed, which is exactly what you want for maximizing intake.

Applegate 1,000 lb. Feeder for Easy Towing

Moving a feeder on skids is one thing; towing it down a lane on its own wheels is another. The Applegate feeder is built on a road-worthy axle and chassis, complete with a hitch and tongue jack. This is the ultimate option for farms with multiple, non-adjacent pastures.

Imagine being able to hook the feeder up to your truck or UTV and simply drive it to the next pasture group. No dragging, no lifting. This level of convenience is a game-changer for efficiency. It combines a respectable capacity with the best portability you can get.

This is a premium option, and its price reflects that. But if your time is your most valuable resource, the Applegate feeder pays for itself in saved labor and hassle. It’s built for serious use, with a heavy-duty frame and a well-designed feed trough system to minimize waste.

OK Brand Poly Feeder: Resists Rust and Wear

Steel is strong, but it has an enemy: moisture. In wet climates, a steel feeder will eventually rust, no matter how well it’s painted. The OK Brand Poly Creep Feeder sidesteps this problem entirely by using a durable, molded polyethylene hopper.

The poly construction is the main selling point. It’s impervious to rust and corrosion from minerals or salt mixed in the feed. It’s also surprisingly tough and can absorb impacts that might dent a steel feeder. Being lighter than steel, it’s also a bit easier to move around the pasture.

You do trade some raw strength for that rust-proof convenience. A very determined bull might do more damage to a poly feeder than a steel one. However, for most small farm situations, the low-maintenance, long-lasting nature of poly makes it an incredibly practical choice.

Choosing Your Feeder: Capacity, Portability, Build

There is no single "best" feeder. The right choice is the one that fits your specific operation. Break down your decision by focusing on three key factors.

• Capacity: How many calves are you feeding, and how often do you want to fill the feeder? A small herd of 3-5 calves does well with a 600-1,000 lb. feeder. A larger herd of 10-20 might justify a 150-bushel feeder to save you from weekly refills.
• Portability: How do you manage your pastures? If you rotate your animals frequently, a feeder on skids or wheels is non-negotiable. If you have a permanent creep area, a heavy, stationary feeder offers more capacity and durability.
• Build Material: Are you in a wet, humid climate or a dry one? Poly feeders are unbeatable for rust resistance, while steel offers maximum physical durability. Consider the abuse the feeder will take from both animals and equipment. Your choice here is a tradeoff between maintenance and brute strength.

Ultimately, your feeder should solve problems, not create them. Think honestly about your herd size, your grazing plan, and how much time you can dedicate to management. Answering those questions will point you directly to the right piece of equipment for your farm.

A creep feeder is more than a metal box; it’s a tool for turning grass and grain into pounds and profit. By matching the feeder’s design to your farm’s scale and management style, you make a smart investment that pays off every single weaning season. Choose wisely, and watch your calves thrive.