| Author | Message | ||
     Dwight & Kathy Currie New member Username: crookedtreefarm Post Number: 23 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 209.221.50.59 Rating: N/A |
Thanks much for the ideas. I have cobbled something together that, with a little adjustment, should work. I didn't realize that a fat doe is like a rat. If the head can fit thru, the body will follow. Houdini could take lessons from them..lol It's a wet and cold day here in South Georgia (cold for us anyway), and I have my second doe showing the first signs of labor. She's a big Spanish lady and hopefully there won't be any problems, but it's nice to know you folks are there if I run into trouble. | ||
| Sandi Scott New member Username: sarasotasandi Post Number: 83 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.50.252.113 Rating: N/A |
LOL on larger does sticking their heads in! When we remodeled our barn, we created a creep feeder that is 10 x 10 so the little ones can get away from the bigger animals. On one side, the "wall" is actually a cattle panel. We left the panel about 6" from the connecting side. There is a top and bottom rail that the cattle panel is attached to. We drilled holes through the rails and inserted 1" metal pipe cut to fit. The pipes are 5-1/4" apart. You'd be amazed at the size animal that can squeeze through that opening! I have a 10 month doe who only quit squeezing in because I haven't put food in there for about a month. | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1511 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.215.105  Rating: N/A |
Start with a fairly small hole, my creep feeder for pygmy kids up to 6 months old has a narrow opening of about 5 inches by 8 inches. You can make it bigger if you need to but making it smaller is hard. I even put an L shaped "baffle" in mine so that the passage through it was not straight. Kids could make that turn going through but older goats could not. Put the opeing close to a wall, this makes it harder for an adult to force her way through it. Be sure your creep feeder is deep enough that the food isn't close to the dorr where an adult can just stick her head through and steal it. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| sandylogan New member Username: sandylogan Post Number: 1 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 216.153.74.25 Rating: N/A |
Hi Dwight What comes to mind and what I have used in the past when I raise babies which is something I don't do every year but works will for me is if you have an extra stall that you can spare you can close the door and make a small opening only for the babies to enter or what I have done in the past is use a stock panel and cut the opening just big enough for the babies to go through and the does can still see the babies while the little one's eat. Either way would work. I'm sure others will have ides as well. Aren't babies fun, I thought about have spring babies next year, but I passed on the idea. I still have 14 to keep me plent busy enough. My youngest babies which there were 4 of them will be 4 years old next March and my oldest wether will be 13 next May 6th. Don't know why thats says new member I have been a member for years and years, I just lurk. Read every post daily and learn from the best. Good luck . Sandy | ||
| Dwight & Kathy Currie New member Username: crookedtreefarm Post Number: 21 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 209.221.50.198 Rating: N/A |
We just had our first pair of little ones born last week, and there are more on the way. I want to build a creep feeder of some sort for the new arrivals and some young doelings that we have, to assure they get plenty to eat. The large does are pretty hard to compete with. The method I use now leaves a lot to be desired, and due to financial limitations, I need to build rather than buy. Does anybody have a link to plans or dimensions for a creep feeder. The feeder part is not really a problem, but I need dimensions and ideas for the openings that allow the little ones thru, but keep the larger does out. Thanks Dwight |