6 Best Simple Goat Feeders For Beginners That Reduce Hay Waste

You toss a flake of good, green hay into the goat pen and turn your back for five minutes. When you return, half of it is trampled into the mud and bedding, destined for the compost pile. This isn’t just frustrating; it’s a direct hit to your wallet and a potential health risk for your animals. Choosing the right feeder is one of the first and most important decisions a new goat owner makes, directly impacting feed costs, herd health, and daily chore time.

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

Key Features of a Waste-Reducing Goat Feeder

Any good feeder has one primary job: keep expensive hay off the ground. Goats are notoriously picky eaters and will refuse anything that’s been soiled or stepped on. A feeder elevates the hay, keeping it clean, dry, and palatable.

The best designs go a step further by making it difficult for a goat to pull out more than a mouthful at a time. This is where features like slanted bars, grates, or small openings come into play. They force the animal to slow down and eat what they take, rather than yanking out a huge clump to sort through on the floor.

Finally, consider durability and safety. Goats will stand on, rub against, and generally abuse any piece of equipment in their pen. Look for sturdy construction without sharp edges, and ensure any openings are large enough for a head to get in but not so large that a goat could get stuck, especially if they have horns.

Key features to look for include:

• A solid bottom or catch tray to collect dropped leaves and stems.
• Vertical or slanted slats that are spaced 3-4 inches apart.
• A roof or cover if the feeder will be exposed to rain or snow.
• Smooth, rounded edges to prevent injury.
• Heavy-duty materials like galvanized steel or thick, durable plastic.

Tarter Wall Hay Feeder for Small Goat Herds

The classic wall-mounted V-feeder is a staple in small barns for a reason. It bolts directly to a wall, saving precious floor space and making it easy to sweep underneath. The design is simple: slanted bars form a V-shape to hold the hay, often with a trough underneath to catch dropped bits and hold grain.

This feeder is ideal for herds of two to five goats. Its vertical design keeps the hay contained and forces them to pull it through the bars, which cuts down on waste significantly. The built-in catch tray is a huge bonus, saving the most nutritious leafy parts of the alfalfa that often crumble and fall.

The main tradeoff is potential competition. Since it’s a fixed location, a bossier goat can sometimes guard the feeder and keep more timid herd members away. For a small, established herd, this is rarely an issue, but it’s something to watch if you have a mixed group. Ensure you provide enough feeder space for everyone to eat peacefully.

The Tough-1 Slow Feed Hay Net for Grazing

A slow feed hay net isn’t a traditional feeder, but it’s one of the most effective tools for eliminating waste. These durable nets have small, two-inch openings that force a goat to nibble and pull out single strands at a time. This mimics their natural grazing behavior, keeping them occupied for hours and making a flake of hay last much longer.

The benefits are huge. Waste is virtually zero because nothing can fall to the ground. It also prevents goats from inhaling hay dust and can help manage weight in easy keepers by slowing down their consumption. They are portable, cheap, and can be hung almost anywhere.

However, safety is a critical consideration. You must hang the net high enough so a goat cannot get a hoof tangled in it, even when it’s empty. For horned animals, there’s a risk of getting a horn stuck, so you must use nets with holes small enough to prevent this or supervise them carefully. Always prioritize your animals’ safety when using any type of hay net.

Little Giant Fence Feeder with Hay Rack Combo

For those with just a couple of goats or a need for portability, the over-the-fence feeder is a fantastic solution. These units, typically made of durable plastic or galvanized steel, simply hook over a fence rail or stall wall. They combine a hay rack on top with a grain or mineral trough below, making them a compact, all-in-one feeding station.

Their biggest advantage is convenience. You can move them easily between pens, take them to shows, or use them to create a temporary feeding spot. They are perfect for kidding pens or for separating a goat that needs a special diet. Cleaning is also a breeze—just lift it off the fence, dump it, and rinse it out.

The main limitation is size. Most are designed for one or two goats at most, so they aren’t practical for a larger herd. The open-top design of the hay rack also means the hay is exposed to the elements, so it’s best used inside a barn or under a shelter to prevent your hay from getting soaked in a downpour.

DIY Plywood Keyhole Feeder for Frugal Farmers

If you’re handy with a saw and a drill, you can build one of the most effective feeder designs yourself. The "keyhole" or "tombstone" feeder is essentially a big plywood box with specially shaped openings for the goats to put their heads through. The design forces them to commit to eating, as they can’t easily pull their heads out to fling hay around.

This is the ultimate budget-friendly option. You can customize the size to fit your herd perfectly, from a small two-hole feeder to a long bunk that accommodates a dozen animals. By adding a lid, you can make it weatherproof for pasture use. The deep box contains all the hay, and the only "waste" is what they drop from their mouths back into the feeder.

The downside is the time and skill required to build it. You need to be comfortable with basic carpentry and ensure your measurements are correct—openings that are too small can be dangerous, while openings that are too large defeat the purpose. But for the farmer looking to save money and get a perfectly customized solution, it’s hard to beat a well-built DIY feeder.

Behlen Country Galvanized Bunk Feeder for Hay

When you move beyond a handful of goats, a bunk feeder becomes a practical necessity. These are long, sturdy troughs, usually made of galvanized steel, designed to hold large amounts of hay or even an entire square bale. They are incredibly durable and will stand up to years of abuse from a growing herd.

The simplest bunk feeders are just open troughs, which can still result in some waste as goats pull hay out. The best models for waste reduction incorporate a top rack. This can be a simple V-rack or, even better, a "tombstone" style divider that creates individual feeding stations, minimizing squabbling and hay-flinging.

This feeder is a workhorse. It’s heavy enough that goats can’t knock it over, and it’s low enough for easy loading. It’s an excellent choice for feeding a group of six or more goats in a pasture or dry lot setting. While the initial investment is higher than a smaller feeder, its durability and capacity make it a smart long-term purchase for a serious hobby farm.

High Country Plastics Hanging Hay Feeder HHF-1

For those who prioritize safety and modern design, the molded plastic hanging feeder is a top-tier option. These feeders mount securely to a wall and are made from a single piece of heavy-duty, food-grade plastic. This means there are no sharp metal edges or corners to worry about, making them exceptionally safe.

The standout feature on many of these models is a floating grate system. As the goats eat the hay, a plastic or metal grate lowers with the level of the hay, keeping it compressed and accessible while preventing them from pulling out huge clumps. This design is incredibly efficient at minimizing waste and functions as a built-in slow feeder.

While these feeders are one of the more expensive options per goat, their longevity and safety features are a major draw. They are easy to clean, impervious to rust, and the smooth surfaces don’t damage a goat’s sensitive lips or nose. For a prized dairy goat or a smaller, high-value herd, the investment in a high-quality plastic feeder can be well worth it.

Selecting the Best Feeder for Your Herd Size

There is no single "best" feeder; there’s only the best feeder for your specific situation. The right choice depends on your herd size, your budget, and where your animals are housed. Don’t overbuy for your future "dream herd"—solve the problem you have right now.

For a beginner with 1-2 goats, a simple Little Giant Fence Feeder or a Tough-1 Hay Net is a perfect, low-cost starting point. They are easy to manage and will dramatically reduce waste compared to feeding on the ground.

If you have a small herd of 3-5 goats, a Tarter Wall Feeder inside the barn or a DIY Keyhole Feeder are excellent choices. They provide enough space to prevent competition while keeping your hay contained and clean.

For herds of 6 or more goats, you need to think about capacity. A large Behlen Bunk Feeder or lining up several High Country Plastics Feeders along a wall will ensure everyone has a spot to eat. At this scale, efficiency and durability are your most important considerations.

Ultimately, the goal is to get nutritious hay into your goats, not onto the ground. Observe how your animals eat and interact, consider your daily routine, and choose a feeder that makes your life easier and your feed bill smaller. A smart investment here pays for itself in saved hay in just a few months.