To keep the farm running efficiently, usually a great deal of creativity is needed in finding solutions to everyday issues. Homemade hacks will help you save time, money, and effort for problems ranging from handling livestock or keeping your ranch in good order. Here are ten practical, easy-to-implement hacks that can help you better your farm operations.
- DIY Mineral Feeder
Keeping livestock healthy quite often requires providing them with essential minerals. Make a homemade mineral feeder by using an old tractor tire and a plastic barrel. Cut the barrel in half, staple it inside the tire, and fill in the mineral supplements. The tire prevents the barrel from tipping over, and the setup is sturdy and waterproof.
- PVC Pipe Feeders
PVC pipes can be utilized in making relevant feeders for chickens and other small livestock. Create a length of PVC pipe with a T-joint and mount caps at the ends. Mount it at a convenient height. Such a style of feeder greatly reduces wastes and thus makes the feed available around the clock.
- Automatic Chicken Waterer
Keeping chickens well watered can always be a pain, mainly during summer. Take a 5-gallon bucket and turn it into an automatic chicken waterer. Poke some holes close to the bottom. Attach horizontal nipples. Fill the bucket with water and place it at a comfortable height so it’s within reach. This way, the chickens will easily manage to access the water without spilling it, and you won’t need to refill it every minute.
- Portable Electric Fencing
Managing pasture rotation should be an essential part of your grazing management. Create a portable electric fence using fiberglass rods, poly wire, along with a solar-powered charger. This system will aid in managing your livestock, often moving to areas of your pasture for the healthiest growth of grass and more efficient grazing.
- Homemade Fly Traps
Flies can be such a bother and nuisance around cattle. Make your own fly trap out of a plastic bottle, water, sugar, and a dash of vinegar. Cut the top of the bottle off and invert it into the bottom part, creating a kind of funnel. The mixture will attract flies inside the bottle where they get trapped. Place these around the farm to curb variable fly populations.
- Milking Stand from Pallets
If you intend to milk goats or sheep, a good milking stand is essential. Make one out of wooden pallets. Take the pallets apart and reassemble the wood into a platform with a head gate to contain the animal. This low-cost solution provides stability for both you and your livestock while milking.
- Recycled Barrel Feed Storage
This will protect their feeds from pest infestation and elements. Clean and dry old plastic barrels with lids, then fill them with feed. The plastic barrel containers will be resistant to pests and able to hold their feed, making its storage easy as one can move it at any point in time.
- Easy Hay Feeder:
A hay feeder fabricated from a large wooden frame and wire mesh drastically minimizes wastage of hay. Make a frame that holds hay off the ground then secure on its sides the mesh. Livestock can draw hay through the mesh but cannot trample. This type of feeder is very useful for cattle, sheep, and goats.
- Solar-Powered Water Pump
Get a constant supply of water to the remote areas of your ranch with a solar power water pump. Just set up a small solar panel connected to a DC water pump and a storage tank. Such a system can pump out water from a nearby pond or well. This is an eco-friendly and inexpensive way to irrigate and provide water to your livestock.
- Hoof Trimming Chute
Keeping livestock hooves trimmed is an integral part of their health. You could make a hoof trimming chute using stout wooden beams and metal brackets. The chute safely holds an animal while you are working on its hooves. Set up that way, hygiene conditions of the hooves could be maintained without stressing the animals and thus ensuring safety for the person doing this work.
Conclusion
These homemade livestock and ranch hacks will let you do your farm errands much more efficiently. With everyday materials and a dash of creativity, you’ll be able to bring farming to a whole new level in terms of a more fit and productive environment for your livestock. Go ahead and try these hacks out to get a feel for how to improve your farming experience.