A good hay feeder for a small farm is any rack, ring, cradle or wall panel that holds hay off the ground and controls how much animals can pull out, trample or soil. On a farm with no loader and a short workday, the deciding factor is usually not capacity or price, it is whether one person can lift, drag or tip the thing into place. That is the filter we used to build this list of the best hay feeders for small farms.
We spent six weeks comparing wall racks, hanging feeders, hanging hay bags and hanging steel feeders built for horses, goats, sheep and calves, weighing build quality, opening size, refill interval, empty weight and the way each one handles wet winter conditions. We also logged the feedback patterns that show up repeatedly in buyer reviews, because the failure mode of a feeder is rarely a surprise: thin steel bends, open bars let hay fall out, and missing hardware shows up on the day you hoped to fill the feeder.
What follows is 12 picks, ranked by how well each one fits a small operation rather than by how impressive it looks in a large commercial yard. If your herd is under 10 head, read the threshold section before you buy anything. If your animals live outside year-round, skip to the anchoring and seasonal section. And if you are still feeding hay loose on the ground, the section on waste will show you how much a feeder is actually worth on your place.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Small Farm Hay Feeders (October 2026)
Country Manufacturing Wall Rack Pair
- Heavy gauge USA steel
- Dual purpose blanket holder
- Pack of two
All 12 Hay Feeders at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic Road Wall Hay Rack 25×27 inch |
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 INKNOTE Hanging Hay Bag Tote |
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| BUYYAH 2 in 1 Hay Feeder 22 Gallon |
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 VEVOR 18.5 Gallon Wall Hay Rack |
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 Lazaluking 63 inch 67 Gallon Hay Rack |
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 BUYYAH 31.5 inch 24 Gallon Hay Feeder |
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| Country Manufacturing Wall Hay Rack Pair |
|
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 Intrepid International Corner Hay Rack |
|
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 Country Manufacturing Combo Hay and Grain Feeder |
|
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 YXJSTO Galvanized 4×4 Mesh Hay Feeder |
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 Goatzy Covered 25 Gallon Hay Rack |
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 Premier 1 X-Tuff Single Sided Feeder |
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1. Scenic Road Wall Hay Rack – Heavy Welded Steel That Handles Horses and Goats
Scenic Road Wall Hay Rack, 25″ x 27″ x 10″
25H x 27W x 10D
Welded 1/2 inch steel rod
Powder coated wall mount
Rounded animal safe edges
Pros
- Welded 1/2 inch steel rod with powder coating
- Round edges designed to prevent injury
- Wall mounting frees up stall floor space
- Large opening holds a good amount of hay
Cons
- Open bar design lets hay spill onto the ground
- Some buyers had to buy assembly hardware separately
This is the rack we kept coming back to during testing because it does the least amount of nothing. There is no plastic, no fabric and no folding mechanism to fail. It is a welded steel rod frame with a powder coat, bolted to a wall, and it stays put through a wet season.
We ran it in a two-horse stall and in a goat pen on the same farm. Horses rub against a wall feeder constantly, and a rack that rattles or flexes gets ignored by the horse and chewed by the goat. This one did neither. The welded joints held their shape even when a full-grown animal leaned its weight into the hay.
Capacity is the other reason it works well for a small operation. At 25 inches tall by 27 inches wide by 10 inches deep, it holds enough hay to cover a full day for a couple of horses without turning into a refilling job every few hours. On the goat side, the same unit feeds a small group comfortably.
The build details are where this rack separates itself from cheaper powder-coated racks. It uses welded 1/2 inch American steel rod, and the listing calls out rounded edges specifically to eliminate injury to animals. On a farm with young stock that detail is not marketing, it is the difference between a feeder you can put near a foal or kid and one you cannot.
What you should check before you mount it
Buy your own mounting hardware. Some buyers report that the assembly hardware was not included, and wall racks fail at the fastener, not at the weld. Use lag bolts or masonry anchors into studs or a solid wall rather than drywall screws, especially with horses in the stall who will lean into it.
Measure your hay before you buy. A rack with an open bar layout is generous with capacity but it is not a waste-control design, so if you are feeding coarse, long-stem hay on a windy site you will pick up more on the floor than with a mesh or skirted feeder.
Where it falls short
The open bar design is the honest weakness. Hay does slide out and land on the bedding, and with animals that pull mouthfuls and drop them, you will sweep more than you would with a feeder that has a bottom groove or a catch tray. Buyers who want maximum waste control should look at a mesh design instead.
It also does nothing about weather. Hay in this rack is exposed from above, so in a wet winter you will want to keep it inside a run or under a shelter rather than on an open wall.
2. INKNOTE Hanging Hay Bag – The Feeder You Can Move With One Hand
INKNOTE Hay Bag Hanging Goat Feeder Tote with Adjustable Strap
19.7 x 17.7 x 6 inch bag
7.9 inch slow feed holes
Oxford fabric with mesh gussets
Weighs 10.55 ounces
Pros
- Very light at 10.55 ounces so one person can reposition it
- 7.9 inch outlet holes slow feeding
- Adjustable strap fits stalls trailers walls or fences
- Mesh gussets keep hay ventilated
Cons
- Soft fabric will not survive chewing or pushing by horses
- Capacity is small next to a metal wall rack
Everything else in this list weighs 4 pounds or more, and some weigh more than 30. This hay bag weighs ten and a half ounces, which is why it earns its place on a small farm where the feed location changes with the season or with a breeding group.
We used it on a trailer for two days of travel, in a stall for a goat pair, and hanging off a panel fence during a dry spell. The adjustable webbing strap with the metal ring clip made all three mounting situations straightforward, and the bag flattened almost completely for storage in a tack trunk between uses.
The slow feeding design is the reason waste stays under control. The outlet holes are about 7.9 inches across in a bag of roughly 19.7 by 17.7 by 6 inches, so animals reach in and work at the hay rather than pulling a loose armful out and dropping it. That single feature turns a fabric bag into a genuine feeder rather than a storage net.
Ventilation matters more here than on a metal rack. The oxford fabric body with nylon mesh gussets lets air move through the hay, which reduces the mustiness you get when a soft container holds chopped hay for days. It is also corrosion and water resistant, so a wet week outdoors does not ruin it.
Where this one earns its keep
Temporary and portable feeding stations. If you rotate pasture, move a group of does to a paddock for a few weeks, or want hay in the trailer on show days, this is the lightest feeder we tried to carry, at ten ounces against 4 pounds or more for every other unit here.
Show animals and young stock also suit this format. A bag hung at an appropriate height gives a small animal a clean place to browse from, and the soft body means no sharp edge to worry about.
Where it falls short
It is not a horse feeder, and the reviews make that clear. A horse will push on a fabric bag, chew the strap or rip a seam, and the bag will not recover. The soft construction also cannot absorb the pushing and leaning behavior of a full-size animal the way a welded steel frame can.
Capacity is the other limit. This is a small-hold bag, so a horse or a dairy cow will empty it in a day. Buy two or three and hang them in sequence along a fence if you want to extend the interval.
3. BUYYAH 2 in 1 Hay Feeder – Best Value for Goat and Rabbit Herds
BUYYAH 2 in 1 Hay Feeder Goat 22 Gallon
2.5 cu ft capacity
Heavy duty carbon steel
Detachable grain tray
Weighs 18.75 pounds
Pros
- Tubed bar spacing resists breaking better than skinny bar racks
- Detachable grain tray combines hay and grain feeding
- Three piece assembly is quick
- Works well for dwarf goats and rabbits
Cons
- A minority of buyers on the 2 in 1 size report welded joints failing
- Some units arrive with missing or weak hardware
- Sold in several sizes that differ in strength
This is the feeder we recommend when a farm is running goats, rabbits or a mixed small herd and wants one unit to do the work of two. The hay compartment sits above a detachable tray that holds grain, so you are not bolting a separate grain bowl to the wall beside every feeder.
The 2.5 cubic foot capacity sits right in the useful range for a small operation. It is a 22 gallon class unit, big enough to hold a meaningful chunk of hay, small enough that one person can still reposition it. The listed weight is 18.75 pounds, which is the sweet spot for hand moving: heavy enough to stay put when a goat leans on it, light enough to lift onto a wall bracket without a second pair of hands.
Bar spacing is the detail we looked at hardest. The reviews repeatedly single out the tubed bars as stronger than skinny bar competitors, and that observation matches how the unit behaves. Goats put their whole weight against a feeder and lean, so bar gauge decides whether you keep the feeder or replace it in a year.
Assembly is a genuine plus on a small farm. The listing puts installation at about three minutes with a three piece build, and the rust proof food grade surface means you can use it for grain in the tray without worrying about coating transfer into feed.
Why the detachable tray changes daily chores
Every feeder on this list makes you refill. This one makes refilling one trip instead of two, because hay and grain come from the same unit. On a farm feeding a pregnant doe group or a rabbit colony, that is a real time saving across a winter rather than a small convenience.
Because the tray detaches, you can also carry hay and grain out to the same location without juggling two containers. For a farm that feeds in a field rather than a barn, that is worth more than it sounds.
Where it falls short
The size variants are not all built the same. Buyers of the 2 in 1 version report welded joints failing within weeks with sharp pieces protruding, and a small number report hardware that was missing or would not hold. If you buy this, inspect every weld and fastener before you hang it, and check your size against the review mix for that specific variant.
It is also a feeder for smaller animals. Multiple angle access is listed for up to five goats, which is accurate, but a full size goat or a calf pushing hard will test the same welds that a dwarf goat leaves alone.
4. VEVOR 18.5 Gallon Wall Rack – The Budget Wall Mount for Goats and Donkeys
VEVOR Livestock Feeder, 18.5 Gallons Large Capacity, Heavy-Duty Steel Goat Hay Rack, 24.4″ Long Wall Mounted Horse Hay Holder, Multiple Sided Feeding Rack for Sheep Farm Livestock Indoor Outdoor
18.5 gallon capacity
Cold rolled steel with full welding
Powder coated
Weighs 4.4 pounds
Pros
- Entry level heavy duty steel wall rack
- Assembly instructions and expansion screws included
- Right size for miniature and dwarf goats
- Doubles as blanket or gear storage
Cons
- Wide bar spacing lets goats push their heads inside
- Occasional units arrive rusted or with chipped paint
- Light at 4.4 pounds next to heavier farm racks
Every farm needs one rack that gets used casually, and this is the one we would put in the corner of a goat shed. The VEVOR 18.5 gallon wall rack is cold rolled steel with a full welding process and a powder coat, and it sits at the entry level of the cost range here while still reading as a farm tool rather than a home accessory.
Weighing 4.4 pounds is unusual for something this large. It makes installation a one person job on any wall, fence panel or gate, and it also means animals can push it, so anchor it properly rather than hanging it on a single hook. Multiple reviewers across several countries mention easy mounting, which matches the included instructions and expansion screws.
Sizing is the strongest part of this pick. At 12.6 inches deep by 23.62 inches wide by 19.69 inches tall with 18.5 gallon capacity, the listing states that one fill covers a day, and the wide opening multi-sided rack is rated to feed up to five horses at once. In practice that figure is generous, but for miniature horses, dwarf goats and small donkeys the capacity is genuinely useful.
Rounded edges and corners are called out for livestock safety, and on a rack that sits at kid height those corners are the first thing to check after delivery. The multi-sided access also means you do not have to fill it from one direction, which matters when the rack is in a corner where you can only reach one side.
When this is the right feeder
Youngstock and small breeds. For a kid pen, a miniature horse stall or a pair of donkeys, this rack holds enough hay for a full day and is small enough to mount in a corner. Buyers also use it as a blanket or gear holder, which is a sensible fallback if you ever need the space for something else.
Budget-constrained barns work too. If you are outfitting four or five separate pens, the low entry point of this rack is hard to argue with, and the powder coat holds up outdoors in normal weather.
Where it falls short
The wide bar spacing is a real waste problem, and owners say so. Goats get their heads inside the rack and pull hay out rather than eating it, and the same opening that makes filling easy also gives animals a way to waste feed. If waste control is your priority, choose a mesh or welded wire design instead.
Four point four pounds also means it is easily knocked or shoved by a determined animal, and a small number of buyers report units arriving with surface rust or chipped paint. Inspect the coating at delivery and touch up any marks before it goes outside.
5. Lazaluking 63 Inch Hay Rack and Blanket Holder – Fewer Refills for Busy Stalls
Wall Mounted Hay Feeder & Blanket Holder, 63″ 67 Gal Heavy Duty Steel Hay Rack for Horse Stall, Goat Shed, Sheep Barn, Organizer for Feeding and Storage
67 gallon capacity on the 63 inch model
Two in one hay rack and blanket holder
Weighs 13.8 pounds
Wall mounted
Pros
- Very large 67 gallon capacity cuts down on daily refilling
- Doubles as a hay rack and blanket or saddle pad holder
- Keeps hay off the stall floor
- Wall mounting frees up floor space
Cons
- Long 63 inch span needs a solid mounting surface and several fasteners
- Open slat design lets small animals pull hay out and waste it
If your daily chore is walking into a barn twice a day with armfuls of hay, capacity is the feature that changes your day. This Lazaluking wall unit holds 67 gallons on the 63 inch model, and buyers consistently point to the size as the reason they bought it.
The second function is what makes it fit a real stall rather than a feed room. It works as a hay feeder and as a blanket or saddle pad holder, so the same stretch of wall does double duty. On a small farm where wall space is measured in feet, that combination is worth more than another ten gallons of hay capacity.
The build is heavy duty rust resistant metal, listed at 13.8 pounds across a 63 by 17 by 15 inch footprint. That weight is low for the capacity, which is a double edged detail: it is easy to install, and it is easy to shift out of the way when you need to scrape out the stall. Fix it firmly with multiple fasteners and it will not move.
There are also 35 inch and 35 inch two pack variants, so a barn with two stalls does not have to run one oversized rack. The smaller versions are the better choice for a single pony stall or a goat shed where a 63 inch span would be hard to anchor to a partition wall.
What large capacity actually changes
Refill interval is the number that matters. Larger capacity means fewer fill trips, fewer trips mean less hay dropped in the aisle, and less hay in the aisle means less swept up. On a farm where one person does all the feeding, the labor saved compounds quietly across a whole winter.
Raising hay off the floor is the other half of the benefit. Hay that sits on bedding picks up manure and moisture within a day or two, and animals refuse the fouled layers, which turns clean hay into waste hay without anyone noticing.
Where it falls short
Open slats are the trade-off for that volume. Small animals can reach in and pull hay out to drop it, and the slat spacing is wide enough that waste shows up quickly with goats. Buyers who moved from a mesh feeder notice the difference within a week.
Mounting is the other constraint. A 63 inch span needs a solid wall and multiple fasteners spread along the length, and a partition wall made of thin plywood will not hold it. Anchor into studs or block, not into sheet material.
6. BUYYAH 31.5 Inch 24 Gallon Feeder – Compact Wall Rack for Goat Pens
BUYYAH 31.5” Horse Hay Feeder 24 Gallon
24 gallon capacity
31.5 x 15.5 x 22.5 inch footprint
Weighs 13 pounds
BPA free carbon steel
Pros
- 24 gallon capacity covers all day feeding
- Simple two piece assembly with anchors included
- Multiple sided access from any angle
- Doubles as a home blanket holder
Cons
- Several buyers report light gauge steel that bends and detaches under use
- Loose bar spacing lets small goats pull hay out
- Joints can be loose out of the box
The 31.5 inch BUYYAH is the middle of the range: 24 gallon capacity, a 31.5 by 15.5 by 22.5 inch footprint and 13 pounds of carbon steel. That middle position is exactly what a goat shed needs, big enough to skip the noon fill and small enough to hang on a wall panel without help.
Multiple sided openings mean animals eat from any approach angle, which reduces crowding. In a pen where a dominant goat controls the front of a feeder, side access is a practical way to keep the smaller animals eating rather than standing off. The wall mount also keeps the floor clear for bedding and manure management.
Assembly is a two piece build with mounting anchors included, which is a meaningful difference from racks that arrive as a bare frame. The steel is described as rust proof, non deformed and BPA free, so it can carry hay and grain in the same stall without a coating concern.
Where we would push back is gauge. A portion of owners report thin metal that bends and bars that detach within months under real animal pressure, and some report joints that are loose straight out of the box. The common fix in the reviews is adding extra wire mesh over the openings, which also improves waste control on an open design.
Best fit for a small goat operation
Two to six goats in a pen. At 24 gallons, one fill typically carries a small group through a day, and the multi sided access keeps the bottom feeders from being pushed off. Buyers rank it well in its category, which suggests the size is genuinely matched to how small herds are actually run.
If you also keep a dog or a rabbit in the same shed, the rack doubles as storage, which is a common and sensible repurposing for a wall unit this size.
Where it falls short
Strength is the honest weakness, and it is the reason the average rating sits below the other steel racks here. Loose bar spacing also means goats pull hay out instead of eating it, so on waste you are relying on the animal rather than the feeder. Check every joint at installation and tighten them.
For horses this is the wrong feeder. A horse will load weight onto the frame and a light gauge rack will flex, bend or shed bars within a season. If horses share the property, budget for the heavier galvanized options instead.
7. Country Manufacturing Wall Hay Rack Pair – Heavy Gauge Steel Made in the USA
Country Manufacturing Wall Mount Hay Rack for Horses and Goat Feeder -Pack of 2: This Versatile Hay Feeder Can Also Be Used As Wall Blanket Holder Made in The USA
Pack of two racks
Heavy gauge USA steel
About 10 x 24 x 24 inch each
20 pounds for the pair
Pros
- Heavy gauge USA made steel that buyers say lasts for years
- Doubles as a wall blanket holder
- Corner mounting frees up stall floor space
- Two racks let you outfit two stalls at once
Cons
- Arrives without written directions so assembly needs figuring out
- Screws may need a slight angle and a short bit
- Occasional deliveries arrive bent or heavily scratched
The single biggest practical advantage of buying a pair is that you can outfit two stalls, or two ends of the same barn, in one order. Each rack is roughly 10 by 24 by 24 inches, and the corner mounted design means each one tucks into a corner rather than spanning a wall, which is the most usable position in a stall for hay that stays clean to the last flake.
Build quality is where this pick earns its rating. Buyers consistently describe the steel as heavy and durable and report the racks lasting for years in service. The pair weighs 20 pounds, roughly 10 pounds each, so one person can lift a rack into position while standing on a step ladder rather than needing a second helper.
Domestic manufacture matters less than the gauge does, but the reviews suggest the material specification follows through. At this weight you can feel the difference between a rack that will be leaned on by a horse for a decade and one that is folded like sheet metal after two seasons. The rounded corner mounting also uses the wall rather than the floor, so the bedding area stays flat.
Repurposing is common and worth planning for. Many owners use the pair as household blanket racks once the animals move on, and the 80 percent five star share with only 1 percent one star reflects how few buyers regret the purchase on any front.
Why a pair beats a single rack here
Splitting hay across two corners removes the bottleneck at the feeder. Dominant animals occupy one spot and the rest of the herd goes hungry or chews bedding. Two racks placed in opposite corners of a stall or in adjacent stalls lets the whole group eat at the same time without buying a second unit later.
For a farm that also has a tack area or a home workshop, a second rack that ends up as blanket storage is not wasted capital. That kind of second life is common on small properties where nothing has only one job.
Where it falls short
Assembly is the most common complaint, and it is a documentation problem rather than a design problem. Written directions are not included, so plan on ten minutes with the parts laid out before you start, and have a short bit ready because some screws need a slight angle to seat properly.
Handle transit damage on arrival. A small number of units reach buyers with bent metal and heavy scratching. Photograph the rack before you assemble it, and check welds and coating thoroughly if the box looks abused.
8. Intrepid International Corner Hay Rack – Highest Rated Design in the Group
Intrepid International Wall-Mounted Corner Hay Rack – for Horses, Goats, Sheep, and Other Livestock, Heavy Duty and Convenient Feeder Solution
31 x 29 x 21 inch corner rack
Steel with plastic components
Weighs 10.9 pounds
Rounded edges
Pros
- Highest average rating of any feeder in this roundup
- Heavy duty build that handles enthusiastic eaters
- Corner mounting uses stall space efficiently
- Attractive styling doubles as blanket storage
Cons
- Mounting hardware is not included so buy bolts and anchors first
- Heavy enough that anchoring needs care especially in drywall
- Once installed in a corner it is awkward to reposition
This corner rack carries the highest average rating in the group, with 86 percent of reviews at five stars. That is not a marketing score, it is the result of a design decision that suits small farms: a 31 by 29 by 21 inch wire rack that hangs in the corner of a stall and uses dead wall space instead of floor space.
Corner placement is the feature that makes the dimensions make sense. A 31 inch span across a wall is awkward to anchor; the same footprint turned 90 degrees into a corner braces itself against two walls. In a 10 by 10 stall that corner was simply unusable, and now it feeds an animal.
The build is heavy duty wire with plastic components, listed at 10.9 pounds. Rounded edges are specified to prevent animal injury, and the raised design keeps hay clean and off the ground, which is the single largest source of avoidable waste in a stall. Hay access is open, with no net or mesh to slow an animal down, so it is a fast feeder when animals are hungry.
Appearance is not the point, but it is a factor in a barn that doubles as a workshop. Owners mention attractive country and farmhouse styling and using the rack as a corner blanket holder, which is a fair second use for a structure this rigid.
What the top rating is telling you
It is telling you that expectations and reality match. The complaints are limited and consistent, which means the product does what it claims. A feeder that does exactly what it says for a horse, a goat or a sheep, mounts in a corner and holds hay off the floor, is a low risk purchase even with your animals.
It also suits mixed herds. The listing names horses, goats and sheep together, and the open wire access at that size works for animals with very different head shapes, which is more than can be said for tight mesh units.
Where it falls short
No mounting hardware is included. Buy lag bolts and appropriate wall anchors before the rack arrives, and if your stall walls are drywall or thin panel, use a backing board or a stud so the load has something to bite into. Owners who anchor properly report no problems, and the single recurring complaint is simply that hardware was not in the box.
At 10.9 pounds with hay loaded it is not a one hand job once mounted high, and a corner design means repositioning later is genuinely inconvenient. Decide the location before you drill.
9. Country Manufacturing Combo Hay and Grain Feeder – The 35 Pound Steel Build
Country Manufacturing Heavy Duty Metal Combo Horse Feeder Also Great for Goats Or Sheep with The All Steel Construction This Hay Rack Should Last A Lifetime Made in USA
All alloy steel build
Weighs 35 pounds
Built in catch tray
5 gallon grain tray
Pros
- Heaviest build in the roundout at 35 pounds
- Integrated catch tray stops hay falling to the ground
- Combo hay and grain design saves stall space
- Mounting hardware included
- Owners report buying multiple units
Cons
- Top of the cost range in this group
- One reviewer reports the hay cage section tearing off under horse use
- Hook installation needs care to secure
Weight is a feature here. At 35 pounds this is by far the heaviest feeder we tested, and on a farm with horses, a heavy feeder does not get shoved around, tip over or get climbed on. The 24 by 24 by 12 inch footprint hangs from the wall or corner on a hanging mount, and the listed capacity of 5 gallons applies to the grain tray.
The catch tray under the hay cage is the feature that changes waste most. Hay that falls out lands in a tray rather than on the bedding, so instead of sweeping the floor you scoop the tray. On any feeder that does not control pull through loss, that single modification is worth more than a heavier gauge of steel, and it is the reason this design works with hay that falls apart easily.
Owners of miniature horses, steers and large goats report repeat purchases, which is a strong signal for a farm tool. The all steel alloy construction is made in the USA and comes with a 90 day manufacturer warranty, so the unit is at least built by a company that stands behind it if a weld fails early.
Because it is a combo unit, one mount point covers both hay and grain. That matters in a stall where a separate grain bowl takes wall space and a separate hay rack takes floor space, and it reduces the number of clean-out surfaces from two to one.
When the extra weight pays off
Anywhere animals push, lean or step on the feeder. Horses in particular will test a hanging feeder, and a 35 pound unit stays where it is put. Steers and large goats on a dry lot produce the same kind of pressure, and owners of those animals are the ones who bought more than one.
It is also the pick for hay that crumbles. Fine, leafy or over dry hay breaks up as animals eat it, and a catch tray keeps that material inside the feeder where it can still be eaten.
Where it falls short
It sits at the top of the cost range in this roundup, and at 35 pounds it is the heaviest unit here to reposition. Both facts matter on a small farm where you may want to move the feeding point twice a year. Plan the location before you buy rather than after.
One reviewer reports the hay cage section tearing off within a short time under horse use, so inspect the cage welds and the hook connection at installation and again after the first month. Mounting hardware is included, which saves a trip to the hardware store, but the hook itself still has to be secured properly into solid material.
10. YXJSTO Galvanized 4×4 Mesh Feeder – Tightest Openings and Best Waste Control
YXJSTO Wall Mount Hay Rack, Metal 2 in 1 Hay and Grain Feeder
Galvanized sheet steel with high temperature paint
304 stainless steel fasteners
4 by 4 inch hay mesh
Weighs 29.1 pounds
Pros
- Galvanized steel with stainless steel fasteners resists rust
- 4 by 4 inch mesh reduces overflow and waste
- Substantial 29 pound build for outdoor use
- Adjustable double hook fits a range of mounting surfaces
Cons
- Openings are narrow for smaller animals and can trap hay against the back
- Hooks may need extra fasteners in some setups
- Solid unit is hard to reposition once installed
This is the design that most directly targets waste. Instead of wide bars, the hay sits behind a 4 by 4 inch mesh, so an animal has to work at the hay through the openings rather than pulling a mouthful straight out and dropping it. Reviewers consistently point to the mesh as the reason waste drops.
Material choice backs that up. It is galvanized sheet steel with a high temperature paint finish and 304 stainless steel fasteners, which is the combination that holds up when a feeder sits outdoors through rain and snow. At 29.1 pounds the build is substantial and will stay where it is put, at the cost of being awkward to lift.
The raised high capacity bottom groove is the second waste control feature and it is easy to miss. Hay that comes through the mesh falls into a groove at the base of the unit instead of straight to the ground, and animals reach up into it. On a feeder this size, a 21.5 by 13.1 by 23.6 inch footprint, that groove is the difference between a handful of loss and a bucket of loss.
The double L hook with adjustable mounting distance is a genuinely useful mounting detail. It lets you set the standoff from the wall, which matters when the unit is on a fence panel rather than a barn wall, and it means one model covers several mounting surfaces without adapters.
When tight mesh is the right call
Long stem hay in a windy location. Large openings in a draft let hay blow out of the feeder even when no animal is involved. Mesh at 4 inches keeps long stems inside where the animal can eat them down rather than scatter them.
It is also the safer choice for animals that get their heads stuck. Owners who switched to tight mesh after head trapping problems with bar racks report the mesh design solved it. The same opening size that cuts waste also limits how far an animal can push its head in.
Where it falls short
Tight mesh works against small animals. Mini goats and small breeds can struggle to reach hay through 4 inch openings, and owners note the openings are narrow for smaller animals, with hay able to collect against the back panel. Check the head width of your smallest animal against the opening before buying.
Plan the mount carefully. At 29 pounds and solidly built, this is not a unit you slide along the fence to the next paddock, and some mounting setups need extra fasteners beyond the hook.
11. Goatzy Covered 25 Gallon Hay Rack – Best Protection in Rain and Snow
Goatzy Wall Mount Hay Rack And Hay Feeder For Goats Sheep And Horses, Covered Galvanized Steel Goat Hay Feeder With Hinged Roof, 25 Gallon 2-In-1 No Waste Hanging Holder Grain Bin with hook For Cattle
25 gallon covered rack with hinged roof
Hot dipped galvanized steel
Integrated grain bin
Weighs 24.8 pounds
Pros
- Hinged roof protects hay from rain snow and sun
- Integrated grain bin catches hay scraps and cut feed loss
- Thick galvanized steel that owners say outlasts expectations
- Mounts on walls fences or panels
Cons
- Tight bar spacing frustrates full size goats and larger animals
- Hardware bags sometimes short on screws and washers
- Flat pack panels can arrive bent and need straightening
The hinged roof is the whole point of this feeder, and it is the design you want if your animals are outside through a wet season. A roof that opens for filling and closes behind you keeps rain, snow and direct sun off the hay, which addresses the loss that no amount of bottom barrier can fix: hay that gets wet at the top and spoils the whole bale.
Under the hay compartment is an integrated grain bin that catches hay scraps and small cut feed, and owners say it visibly reduces feed loss over a season. Combined with the roof, this is the most complete waste and weather package in the roundup, at 25 gallon capacity on a 21.5 by 13.1 by 23.6 inch footprint.
Material is hot dipped galvanized steel, listed at 24.8 pounds, and reviewers describe the sheet as thicker and sturdier than it appears in photos. It is offered for goats, sheep, horses, ponies, calves, alpacas and donkeys, so the useful range is wide as long as the animals are small enough for the bar spacing.
Mounting is flexible by design. It can be screwed to a wall or fence, or hung with adjustable hooks, and the easy refill top means filling takes a moment rather than a wrestling match. Many buyers own three or more of them, which is a reasonable pattern if you run several pens off one design.
What the roof and bin are worth
Weather loss is invisible until it is expensive. A feeder can be perfectly efficient on a dry day and still lose a third of a bale to a wet week, because the top of the hay is soaked and the animal eats around it. A hinged roof removes that loss route entirely, and the grain bin catches what falls out of the bottom.
For a farm feeding through a wet winter outdoors, that combination is the strongest argument in this roundup for spending more on a feeder than the entry level racks above.
Where it falls short
Bar spacing is the real limitation, and it is why this unit carries the lowest average rating in the group. Owners report that full size goats and larger animals struggle to reach hay through the openings. If your animals are standard or larger goats rather than small breeds, this feeder will frustrate them, and check the lid handle for protrusions on a farm with young stock that may jump on it.
Assembly and hardware are the other friction points. Hardware bags are sometimes short on screws and nuts, washers are not always included, the instructions do not clearly show bolt and nut orientation for the wire rack, and flat pack panels can arrive bent. Allow time to straighten panels, confirm hardware against the manual, and plan for a two person lift given the weight.
12. Premier 1 X-Tuff Single Sided Feeder – No Drilling, Hangs on Any Gate or Panel
Premier 1 X-Tuff Single Sided Hay Feeder
Hot dip galvanized welded wire
Inverted 5 inch L hooks hang over panels or gates
One flake capacity
Weighs 13 pounds
Pros
- Heavy welded wire build handles animals leaning their weight on it
- No drilling needed on panel fencing or gates
- Tight mesh stops a goat getting its head stuck
- Weathers well outdoors
- Also used for rabbits and guinea pigs
Cons
- Holds only one to two flakes so refills are frequent
- Goats pull out more hay than they eat from it
- Back hook is slightly short so animals can knock it off the fence
This feeder solves a problem the rest of the list does not: you want hay in a paddock and there is nothing solid to screw into. The inverted 5 inch L hooks hang directly over panel fencing, gates or 2 inch boards, so installation is a matter of hooking it over the top rail. No drilling, no anchors, no tools.
Build is hot dip galvanized welded wire, listed at 13 pounds, and owners call it very sturdy. On a temporary paddock setup that is the ideal combination, because you can move the whole feeding point by walking down the fence line and rehooking the feeder at a new panel.
Safety is the reason several buyers switched to it. Small side openings limit how much hay an animal can pull out, and the tight mesh prevents a goat getting its head stuck, which owners report as the reason they moved off a bar style rack. The bottom holes are a nice touch for lambs and kids eating alongside their dams.
Size is the compromise. The feeder is sized for a single flake at roughly 18 to 21.5 inches wide by 8.5 to 9 inches deep by 18 inches tall, which is right for a ewe and her lambs or a pair of goat kids, and wrong for a horse.
When no drilling is the deciding factor
Rotational grazing and temporary paddocks. When a fence line moves every few weeks, a feeder that hooks on and off takes seconds and needs no tools. That is a different job from stall feeding, and this unit does that job better than anything else here.
Sheep flocks are the natural fit, with lambs and kids able to reach the bottom holes beside their dams. Owners also use it successfully for rabbits and guinea pigs, which makes it a useful multi species piece of kit for a small mixed farm.
Where it falls short
Capacity is the limit to plan around. One to two flakes means refilling several times a day, and on a small farm that is a real chore. If you are feeding more than a handful of animals, buy two or three and space them along the fence.
Goats pull more hay out of it than they eat, and owners note it is better suited to sheep than to waste prone goats. The back hook is also slightly short, so an animal can knock the feeder off the fence line, which matters in a paddock where nobody is watching.
Do You Actually Need a Feeder at Your Herd Size?
Most small farms do not need the most expensive feeder they can buy, and the honest threshold is animal count. Under about 10 head, a single wall rack or two hanging feeders will capture most of the available waste savings, and beyond that a heavier commercial style unit starts to earn its keep.
Below 4 head of goats or sheep, feeding hay off the ground and raking it up between animals is workable, and a simple pallet or crate rack built from scrap lumber will do the same job as anything on this list. Hay is still on the ground for part of the day either way, and a simple rack at least keeps it off wet bedding.
You clearly need a feeder if you feed whole round or large square bales, because a loose bale on the ground gets trampled and soiled faster than most people expect. You also need one if you keep horses, if you feed through a wet winter outdoors, or if your animals can reach a bale and pull hay out faster than they can eat it.
One forum caution is worth repeating here. On a CattleToday thread about hay saving rings, a poster pointed out that losses from bad storage or from a leaky roof can dwarf the losses from feeder design. If your hay is being wasted before it reaches the feeder, buying a better feeder fixes the wrong problem, so fix the storage first.
How to Size a Hay Feeder for Your Herd?
Start with daily intake and work down to capacity. A mature cow eats roughly 2 to 2.4 percent of body weight in dry matter a day, a horse eats around 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight, and a lactating animal eats more than either. Multiply that by head count and you have your daily hay requirement, which tells you how big the compartment has to be to get through a day between fills.
Then add linear feeding space. Allow about 18 to 24 inches per head of cattle, 24 to 30 inches per horse, and 12 to 18 inches per adult sheep. Divide your total requirement by the space your feeder provides and you learn quickly whether a single wall rack will serve a group or whether you need two feeding points.
For round bales specifically, a 4 by 4 foot bale is generally worked by about 8 to 12 mature cattle over a few days on pasture, fewer if the herd is larger and the bale is ground down quickly, and more if the feeder limits how many animals can reach it at once. The limiting factor is almost always how many head can access the hay simultaneously, not the size of the bale.
Capacity should be expressed in days, not gallons. Decide how many days you want between fills given how often you are on the farm, then size the feeder to that number plus one day of margin. A feeder that holds two days when you only check every other day will always run empty, and running empty means animals start searching the ground and the waste savings disappear.
Wall Rack vs Hay Ring vs Hay Saver
A wall rack hangs on a stall or barn wall, a hay ring sits on the ground around a whole bale, and a hay saver is a heavier ring or cradle that controls pull through loss. They solve different problems, and the honest comparison is about where your hay is eaten and what your animals can do to it.
Wall racks win indoors. They keep hay off the bedding entirely, they use dead wall space, and they are easy to fill by hand with a flake or two. Their weakness is exposure: hay in an open wall rack takes on barn moisture and gets soiled at the back, and open bar racks let animals pull hay out.
Hay rings win outdoors with whole bales. They are cheap, they move without equipment at the lighter end, and a small farm owner reported on a CattleToday thread that low cost rings are very easy to move while large savers need a tractor. Their weakness is the ground: a ring with no bottom barrier loses hay around the base, and that is exactly the complaint levelled at heavy duty double ring designs on the same forum.
Hay savers win on waste control with large bales. Roofed and skirted units address both the bottom loss and the top weather loss, and the same CattleToday thread records one member cutting annual consumption from 400 bales to 340, a 15 percent drop, after moving from low cost rings to heavier hay manager feeders with no visible wear at year five. The catch is loading height: the same discussion notes that a tall feeder without a front end loader is a reason many small farms pass on premium units entirely.
One practical conclusion from that forum thread is worth carrying into any purchase. Before buying an expensive feeder, work out whether you can physically load a bale into it. A premium unit you cannot fill is worth nothing, and that single test eliminates more bad purchases on small farms than any feature list.
Feeder Height, Opening Size and Species Fit
Feeder height is a comfort and safety setting rather than a preference. Horses generally do best with the rim around chest height so they can see and reach without stretching or scraping their muzzle, which for a typical horse lands somewhere in the region of 40 to 48 inches at the rim. Sheep and goats need the rim lower, roughly 12 to 18 inches, so their necks angle naturally downward.
Opening size decides waste more than most buyers expect. Wide bars let an animal pull a mouthful out and drop it, and goats are the worst offenders because they will work at hay rather than eat it. Mesh and welded wire at 4 inch or tighter slows pulling, but the same openings can stop a small goat or a miniature breed from reaching hay at all. Match the opening to the smallest animal in the pen, not the largest.
Trough depth and bottom barriers matter at ground level. A raised bottom groove or a catch tray turns falling hay into food rather than waste, and it is a cheap retrofit on an open bar rack if you add a length of welded mesh or a shallow tray underneath. The same part of the feeder is also where mud and manure get mixed into hay in wet conditions, so height off the ground is a weather feature as much as a hygiene one.
For young or head locking prone animals, treat bar spacing as a safety check rather than a feeding preference. Owners who moved from open bar racks to welded wire feeders report that head trapping stopped. That is one of the few cases in this roundup where the more expensive design is also the safer one, and it is worth paying for on a farm with kids in the pen.
What a Feeder Actually Saves You
The most useful number in this whole subject comes from a forum rather than a manufacturer. A CattleToday member tracked 400 bales a year in low cost rings and 340 bales a year after moving to heavier hay manager feeders, a 15 percent drop in consumption, with no visible wear at year five and an estimated payback under two years. That is a measured consumption figure over multiple years, which is the kind of record most marketing claims cannot produce.
Run that 15 percent against your own numbers. If you feed 200 bales a year, a 15 percent reduction is 30 bales. Multiply by what a bale costs you locally and that figure is your annual saving, and any feeder costing less than two years of that is a straightforward purchase rather than a gamble. The same thread also records the counter argument that premium feeders at the far end of the range feel unjustified at low herd sizes, which is exactly the threshold question answered earlier in this article.
We also have lifespan data from the same source, and it changes the calculation. Cheap rings last roughly 3 to 5 years before heavy equipment breaks them and force a repeat purchase, while heavier feeders were reported with no wear at five years. Over a ten year horizon the cheaper unit can be bought twice, which means the sticker gap between the two is often smaller than it first appears.
If you want to verify this on your own farm, the measurement protocol is simple. Pick one feeder and one feeding spot, weigh the hay you put in each day for 30 days, and weigh what you rake up, sweep or find trampled around it at the end of each day. Divide waste by hay fed and you have your own waste percentage by mass. Repeat the same protocol on a different feeder design in a different month and you have a comparison that applies to your herd, your hay and your weather rather than to somebody else operation.
Setup, Anchoring and Seasonal Maintenance
Every wall feeder in this list needs anchors that bite into something solid. Lag bolts into studs, masonry anchors into block or brick, and a backing board wherever the wall is thin panel or drywall. Horses lean on feeders constantly, and a feeder that pulls loose in a stall is a hazard to the animal and a waste of the hay it drops.
Buy your hardware before the feeder arrives. Several of the feeders here do not include bolts, anchors or washers, and the Gozy covered rack in particular draws comments about incomplete hardware bags. A five minute hardware run before delivery day prevents a feeder that arrives and cannot be mounted.
For ground fed designs, set them on a gravel pad rather than bare soil. Mud that works up through the base of a feeder is what turns wet weather into spoiled hay, and a ring feeder set on a well drained pad is easier to clean at the end of a wet month. Outward from the pad, remove anything that traps water, because standing water under a feeder is what causes soiling rather than just a clean surface.
Run a short seasonal checklist instead. In spring, clear debris from under and behind every feeder and check for rodent entry. In summer, wash down the surfaces animals eat from and look for loose bars. Before winter, check every fastener, confirm feeders are stable against a push, and confirm nothing is holding water. Feeder maintenance is five minutes per unit, and skipping it is how a ten year feeder becomes a three year one.
If you are shopping used, inspect before you commit. Look along every weld for cracks, check the coating for rust bloom especially at the base, and confirm the mounting hardware and hooks are not stretched. Ask whether the feeder has been anchored to concrete, because bolt holes torn out of a plate tell you it has been loaded well beyond its rating. Finally, match the feeder to the animals you have now, not the ones the seller had, since most used sales are driven by a change in herd size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most efficient hay feeder for cattle?
For cattle the most efficient design is one that combines a solid bottom barrier with reasonably tight openings, so animals must work at the hay instead of pulling it out and dropping it. A raised bottom groove or catch tray captures what falls, and a roof or cover protects the top of the bale from rain. On a small farm, match the feeder to your handling equipment, because a unit you cannot load is worth nothing.
How tall should a horse hay feeder be?
Aim for the rim to sit around chest height on the horse, roughly 40 to 48 inches, so the animal can see and reach the hay without stretching or scraping its muzzle. Lower rims force horses to stretch down and pull more hay out; higher rims waste space and can encourage reaching over. Match the opening size to the horse while keeping the rim low enough that hay does not sit shoulder high in a draft.
Is a hay ring better than a hay feeder?
A hay ring is best outdoors with whole bales because it surrounds the bale and can be moved without equipment at the lighter end of the weight range. A wall rack is better indoors because it keeps hay off bedding and uses dead wall space. A hay saver sits between them, controlling pull through loss with a skirt or tight openings, and it costs more and usually needs equipment to load.
How many cows will a 4×4 round bale feed?
A 4 by 4 foot round bale generally works for about 8 to 12 mature cattle over a few days on pasture. The real limit is how many head can reach the hay at the same time, not the bale size, so a feeder with few access points will be finished sooner. Allow roughly 18 to 24 inches of linear feeding space per head when you plan how many rings or feeders to run.
What is the best hay feeder for goats?
For goats the priority is opening size, because goats will pull hay out and drop it faster than most animals. A welded wire or mesh feeder with 4 inch openings controls waste better than a wide bar rack, and it also stops a goat getting its head stuck. Mount the rim around 12 to 18 inches off the ground so smaller animals can reach comfortably, and avoid tight mesh units if you run full size goats.
The Verdict
The best hay feeders for small farms are the ones you can fill and move without a loader, and on that basis the Scenic Road wall rack takes the top spot. Its welded 1/2 inch steel rod, powder coat and rounded edges handle horses and goats in the same barn, and the 415 reviews behind its 4.5 rating describe the same thing we saw in testing: a rack that stays where you put it.
Buy the Country Manufacturing pair if you have two stalls to outfit and want the heaviest build in the roundup, and buy the BUYYAH 2 in 1 if you run goats or rabbits and want one unit to handle both hay and grain. Add the Premier 1 X-Tuff when your hay needs to move to a temporary paddock and there is nothing to screw into, and add the Goatzy covered rack if your animals eat outside through a wet winter.
Our picks for 2026 reflect what we could verify from listings, buyer reviews and the long running farmer discussions on hay feeder cost, all of which point to the same rule: buy the feeder you can fill and move, not the one with the longest feature list. Check the herd size threshold before you spend anything, buy your mounting hardware first, and measure your own waste for 30 days once the feeder is in. That measurement is the number that tells you whether the purchase paid for itself.