An apparatus automatically dispenses measured amounts of hay on a selected schedule to livestock. A flake spool incorporates flake holders mounted radially in side-by-side pairs about a single central shaft, where each pair of flake holders is angularly spaced by 45 degrees. The flake holders are sized to each hold a single flake of hay, and have an open end farthest from the shaft. The flake spool is contained within a cylindrical outer wall and rotates on the shaft. A control circuit and a drive motor enable flake rotation. The control circuit is programmable for a desired schedule for rotation of the device for dropping the hay flakes through a dispensing door at the bottom of the outer wall whereupon they slide down on a chute for access by the farm animals.