6 Best Wall-Mounted Corner Feeders For Goats That Reduce Hay Waste

You toss a fresh flake of hay into the goat pen, and within minutes, it’s everywhere but in their mouths. It’s been pulled, stomped on, and used as a very expensive bed. If this sounds familiar, you know that wasted hay is one of the biggest hidden costs of raising goats. The right feeder isn’t just a convenience; it’s a tool for managing your budget and your time.

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Why Corner Feeders Cut Down on Goat Hay Waste

Goats are selective eaters with a talent for chaos. They love to pull hay out of a feeder, take one bite, and let the rest fall to the ground where it’s quickly soiled and rejected. A standard trough or open hay rack practically invites them to do this. They can bury their whole head in it, flinging hay everywhere as they search for the tastiest morsel.

A corner feeder fundamentally changes this dynamic. By tucking the feeder into a 90-degree corner, you immediately limit access from two sides. This simple placement makes it harder for a goat to stand sideways and rake hay out with its head. The design forces them to approach from the front, encouraging them to eat what’s in front of them rather than sorting through the whole pile.

Most corner feeders also feature a V-shape or sloped design. This uses gravity to keep the hay packed down and funneled toward the bottom. Instead of pulling from a loose pile, the goat has to tug strands from a more compressed mass. This small bit of extra work is often enough to discourage the mindless pulling and dropping that wastes so much feed.

Tarter Equine Corner Feeder for Less Waste

Don’t let the "equine" name fool you; this feeder is a fantastic, heavy-duty option for goats, especially larger breeds or those with horns. The Tarter feeder is typically made from heavy-gauge steel with vertical bars. This construction is key—it can withstand the relentless head-butting and leaning that goats inflict on their equipment. A flimsy plastic feeder might not last a season with a boisterous buck.

The design of the Tarter is what really shines for waste reduction. The bars are spaced closely enough that a goat can get its muzzle in to eat but can’t easily pull out huge mouthfuls to drop on the floor. The deep, V-shaped basin ensures that as hay is eaten, the rest settles down toward the opening, keeping it accessible but contained.

Think of it as a hay fortress. The steel bars protect the hay from being trampled, and the corner mounting protects the feeder itself from being knocked around the pen. It’s a true "buy it once" solution for farmers who are tired of replacing broken equipment and sweeping up wasted hay.

High Country Plastics Feeder for Durability

If you live in a wet climate or simply prioritize easy cleaning, a polyethylene feeder like the one from High Country Plastics is an excellent choice. Unlike steel, high-quality poly won’t rust or corrode, even when exposed to moisture and goat manure. It’s also surprisingly tough, designed to resist cracking in freezing temperatures and withstand impacts.

The main advantage of a poly feeder is sanitation. The smooth, rounded interior surfaces have no corners for damp hay to get packed into and mold. You can easily pull it off the wall and scrub it clean with soap and water, which is a huge benefit for maintaining herd health, especially in kidding pens.

While not as indestructible against a determined head-butter as heavy steel, its durability is more than sufficient for most goat operations. The solid back and sides prevent hay from being pushed through slats and onto the ground. It offers a great balance of waste reduction, longevity, and ease of maintenance.

Behlen Country Poly Feeder: A Solid Choice

The Behlen Country feeder is another strong contender in the poly category, often seen as a reliable workhorse. It’s a straightforward, functional feeder that does its job without any unnecessary frills. This makes it a great option for hobby farmers looking for a significant upgrade from a ground tub or a cheap hay bag without breaking the bank.

Its construction is solid, typically featuring a one-piece molded design with reinforced edges to discourage chewing. The deep pocket holds a decent amount of hay, reducing the frequency of refills. By keeping the hay off the ground and contained within solid walls, it immediately slashes the amount of hay that gets trampled and soiled.

This feeder is an excellent middle-of-the-road choice. It provides most of the benefits of a high-end poly feeder—durability, easy cleaning, rust-proof material—at a very accessible price point. It’s a practical investment that delivers immediate returns in saved feed.

Little Giant CF11: Compact and Efficient

Not every farm needs a massive feeder. For smaller breeds like Nigerian Dwarfs and Pygmies, or for use in individual kidding stalls, the Little Giant CF11 is a perfect fit. Its compact size is its biggest strength, allowing you to mount it in tight spaces where a larger feeder would be cumbersome.

This feeder is all about efficiency in a small package. It holds enough hay for one or two mini-goats without overwhelming the space. The design still incorporates the key waste-saving features: it mounts securely in a corner and has a basin that keeps hay contained. It prevents a small amount of hay from being turned into a huge mess.

The tradeoff, of course, is capacity. You wouldn’t want to use this for a herd of full-sized Boer goats unless you enjoy refilling it constantly. But for the right application—a buck pen, a quarantine stall, or a small herd of minis—it’s an ideal solution that provides all the benefits of a corner feeder in a space-saving design.

Tough-1 Slow Feed Feeder Minimizes Mess

For the truly determined hay-wasters, a slow feed corner feeder is the ultimate weapon. The Tough-1 model often incorporates a metal grate or net that sits on top of the hay. This forces the goats to pull small bites through the openings, mimicking natural grazing behavior and making it nearly impossible to yank out large clumps.

This design does more than just stop waste. It also slows down consumption, which is better for their digestive health and helps prevent boredom. A goat that has to work for its food is a goat that is less likely to be chewing on your fence or bothering its pen-mates. The reduction in waste is dramatic; you’ll see almost no hay on the ground.

There are a couple of things to consider. First, ensure the grate openings are a safe size for your goats—you don’t want a horn or a leg getting stuck. Second, some goats may have a brief learning curve and show frustration. But once they figure it out, this type of feeder can pay for itself faster than any other model by bringing hay waste close to zero.

Brower M16C Poly Feeder for Multiple Goats

When you need to feed a few goats at once without installing multiple feeders, a larger-capacity model like the Brower M16C is a great solution. Its wider profile allows two or three goats to eat side-by-side with minimal jostling. This can help reduce competition and stress within a small herd.

The deep design is a major benefit, holding several flakes of hay at once. This is a huge time-saver, as it means you’re not having to top off feeders multiple times a day. Made from heavy-duty poly, it stands up well to daily use and is easy to keep clean, which is especially important when multiple animals are sharing a single source of food.

This feeder is ideal for a small herd housed in a single pen. It combines the waste-reducing benefits of a corner-mounted design with the capacity needed to keep a group of goats happy. It’s a smart way to streamline your feeding chores while still keeping a lid on hay waste.

Key Features in a Waste-Reducing Goat Feeder

Choosing the right feeder isn’t about finding a single "best" one, but about matching the features to your specific needs. What works for a herd of horned Boer goats might be overkill for two polled Nigerian Dwarfs. As you compare models, focus on these four key elements.

• Material: Steel is the champion for durability against horns and abuse, but it can rust. Polyethylene (plastic) is rust-proof, lightweight, and easier to sanitize, but can be chewed or cracked by extreme force.
• Containment Design: Look for a deep, V-shaped basin. Shallow feeders allow goats to easily push hay over the edge. Solid sides are generally better than slatted sides for preventing small bits from falling out.
• Access Control: This is the most critical feature for waste reduction. Whether it’s vertical bars, a metal grate, or small openings, the feeder must make it difficult for the goat to pull out more than a mouthful at a time. The spacing is everything.
• Safety and Cleaning: Check for sharp edges or openings that could trap a head, horn, or leg. Smooth, rounded interiors without tight crevices will be far easier to clean, preventing moldy feed and protecting your herd’s health.

Ultimately, the best feeder is an investment. By focusing on these features, you can choose a model that will stand up to your goats’ destructive talents, saving you significant money on hay and time on cleanup in the long run.

A good wall-mounted corner feeder is one of the smartest investments you can make on a small farm. It directly tackles the daily frustration and expense of wasted hay. By observing your own goats’ habits, you can choose the right design that forces them to be less wasteful, turning your hay budget back into an asset instead of bedding.