How to Make a Mineral Feeder for Goats Out of PVC Pipe

Regardless of what type of grain and hay you feed your goats, you should supplement their daily ration with free-choice minerals to ensure that they obtain all the nutrients and minerals that their bodies need. According to Gail Damerow, author of "Your Goats," you should opt for a trace mineral mix specifically formulated for goats, which contains the correct levels of copper, selenium and iodine as well as small amounts of various other minerals necessary for your goats' health. Make a simple, easy-to-clean mineral feeder for your goats from PVC pipe and lumber.

Things You'll Need

  • PVC pipe, 6-inch diameter, 2 feet in length
  • Jigsaw
  • 2-by-6-inch board, 12 inches in length
  • Carpenter's pencil
  • Drill
  • Wood screws, 1 1/2 inches
  • Wood screws, 3 inches
  • 14-gauge wire (optional)
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand the PVC pipe on end. Firmly hold the pipe with one hand and cut straight down the length of the pipe with a jigsaw, cutting through only one wall of the pipe. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the pipe to create two 2-foot-long half-circle shapes. Set one half-circle PVC piece to the side.

    • 2

      Lay the 2-inch-by-6-inch board flat on your work table. Place the end of the remaining PVC piece on the board and use a carpenter's pencil to mark the half-moon shape of the pipe piece on the board. Repeat this process to outline two half-moon shapes on the 2-inch-by-6-inch board.

    • 3

      Cut the two half-moon shapes from the 2-inch-by-6-inch board with your jigsaw. Dry-fit the two half-moon boards in the cut curved ends of the PVC pipe to ensure that they fit securely in the curved edges of the plastic pipe. The outside edges of the boards should be flush with the curved cut ends of the PVC pipe. If necessary, use your jigsaw to adjust the curved edges of the boards so they fit in the ends of the pipe snugly.

    • 4

      Drill four evenly spaced holes through one end of the PVC pipe, locating the holes 1/2 inch from the curved cut edge for proper screw placement. Repeat this process on the other end of the PVC pipe. Fit one wooden half-moon shape into one curved end of the PVC pipe, securing the wood to the PVC pipe with 4 1 1/2-inch wood screws. Drill the wood screws through the holes in the PVC pipes before sinking them in the 2-inch curved side of the wood. Repeat this process with the second wooden half-moon shape on the other curved end of the PVC pipe to create a simple trough-shaped mineral feeder.

    • 5

      Secure the mineral feeder in place by drilling 3-inch wood screws through both the wooden sides of the feeder and the sides of your goat barn. If the mineral feeder is for a wire goat pen, simply drill two holes along the top back corner of each wooden side (approximately 2 inches from the top edge of each wooden side) and secure the feeder to the wire pen by feeding 14-gauge wire through the holes. Mount the feeder low enough for your adult goats to consume the minerals but high enough to keep them from dropping manure pellets in the powdered minerals.