Hello to John, one of our readers in Victoria, Australia! He asked for an article on a mineral feeder design that would be accessible to sheep and would keep his mineral blocks off the ground.
This DIY mineral feeder designed by Matt Poore (of Amazing Grazing fame) could be just the thing. It’s designed for cattle, but could easily be adjusted for sheep and goats. It’s movable, and provides some protection from snow and rain.
In this video, Matt describes all the materials required, and then takes us through the steps to make the feeder.
This is just one idea. We’d love to see what others are using. Share in the comments below, or send me pictures and I’ll add them to the post.
You might also like this article by John Marble on how he serves up mineral to his stock where he lives in rainy Oregon. Just click on “Read More.”
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Robert Scott from Australia sent me this picture of his mineral feeder. It was an old caravan base that he converted and he says it’s working really well. He’s currently feeding blocks, but once they’re finished he’ll switch over to a loose lick as well as Himalayan rock salt. He says he’s got about 500 ewes, half of what he should have due to the ongoing drought.
I have been using a barrel like this for about ten years. It was easily knocked over any tire I put it in. now I lag them onto a post or tree. no more problem, I have them in each pasture
Did you also have it on the wood skids like Matt describes? I was hoping that would prevent them from being knocked over.
Got both cattle and sheep? We use a double decker mineral feeder, made with scrap wood and plastic mineral tubs. The cattle level is too high for the sheep to reach, and the bottom sheep level has boards blocking cattle from getting their heads in. We have it in an open shed for complete weather protection.
Great idea, Martha!
Can you post a picture of this?