Just thought I'd let everyone know about our trouble with a hay manger my husband made. It was made of metal, and I'm sure that was the problem. ( Hubby made it of metal thought it would last forever.) Anyway about 2 years ago Herby , my miniature pygmy goat who was about 5 months old and the most adorable baby you ever saw , was eating out of the manger when one of the older goats ramed him and broke his neck. Then about a year later, Henry my breeder male, got one of the bars caught between his horns and fought it till he ended upside down and broke his back. The vet said there was nothing to be done for him so Hubby put him down. These goats were like my own babys and I know most of you think the same of your animals. Just thought I'd let you know.

-- sherry (Calfarm@msn.com), October 13, 2000

Answers

I've had a bad experience with metal hay mangers as well -- mine was a commercially made one with hay rack on top and a curved tray to catch the fines below. One of my horses knocked my pony completely over and into the tray where she got caught, upside down, legs flailing in the bars. Fortunately, she was a very smart and very small pony and we tipped the feeder over and got her out with only a temporary back injury for it. I'd bought the darn thing to prevent sand colic and it nearly killed my pony. It was a freakish accident, but knowing animals, likely not a unique one. I got rid of it and chalked it up to a lesson learned.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), October 14, 2000.

Also be aware of bath tubs used for waterers.My neighbor had a calf knocked in it upside down.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), October 20, 2000.

i lost a good milk heifer last winter she was the bigest animal in the lot but the others managed to push her through the bale feeder ans kill her . i got home early enough to bleed her out and salvage the meat.acedents can happen no matter how carful you are.round bale disease is another problem caused by feeders where the boss cow keeps the other timid ones from eating so they get thinner and thinner.

-- george darby (windwillow@fuse.net), October 20, 2000.

Would the slats in a wooden manger have broken before the animals were injured? Very sorry to hear about your babies Sherry.

-- JC (survivors00@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000.