Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Rural Living Feed Bin/Storage Ideas needed

Looking to the collective experience here for some guidance.

I am looking for something to store feed that is rodent-proof. Imagining something that isn't too deep for a kid to be able to reach in and scoop feed out at the bottom. Or something that is elevated and would be gravity-fed out of the bottom.

Would love to have something that could hold 300+ pounds or better. We found a plastic bin that hold 270 pounds locally, but it isn't exactly cheap and only holds 5 bags of feed.

Anybody have ideas?

What about a galvanized garbage can with lid?

We use plastic trash cans with lids now. I would like something that can hold more than the ~125 pounds a trashcan can hold.

An old chest freezer works very well for storing feed. Rat and raccoon proof and has a moisture proof seal.

I have considered this. 2 concerns come to mid: where the cold air blows in would allow feed to get in there and stay and get old and perhaps be a pocket of spoilage; how deep it is worries me that my boy won't be able to reach to the bottom easily to scoop out feed as the feed level goes down. Not saying it isn't still a possibility. Thanks.

We have used in the past, an oblong galvanized water tank. Get whatever size you need to hold whatever amount of feed you need to put in it. Cover it with a piece of plywood.

That's what I use out in the barn. Works great, and also holds other things besides feed that you want to keep clean. For smaller amounts of feed, I use metal garbage cans, and a few plastic ones as well.

You ought to just get three metal trash cans with lids. They are mouse-proof and can be used in various locations. They are relatively cheap and long lasting. I use two of them to keep feed in and the lids fit tight enough that a raccoon hasn't got in them yet.

If you want low then you are going to have get a pretty long galvanized water tank and make a lid for it.

Can't say I've ever seen a chest freezer with a cold air vent. The cold tubes are in the wall. The tub is one sealed piece. That's how we're able to use them as an insulated waterer.

A kitchen reefer/freezer unit has air circulation vents.

Not a chest freezer guy so I didn’t know. Now I do.

I ended up buying a couple job boxes to store feed in. Might go the old chest freezer route if we move the storage out of the shed under and open-face shed.

Thanks for the input guys.

Best thing I've found for my needs are plastic barrels with screw on lids. They say they were used for olives or something? Anyway I buy them for $15-$20 normally closer to $15. They hold between 250 and 300 pounds each. I use Purina feed for some horses and just pour from the bag into the barrels. I mostly feed bulk feed and put the barrels in my truck have them filled up at the co-op and pay bulk price. Working for me.

I like the poly bulk bins. Pretty reasonable, too, and way better than messing with bins and old freezers.

https://www.polytankco.com/bulk_bins.html

The smallest one these guys have is half a ton.

I like that too. But, how do you fill it?

It has to be filled using a grain auger.

That was more of a rhetorical question.

Can't get the feed we need in bulk and definitely don't have many bulk trucks delivering feed around here.

You just need some metal trash cans then.
Most 30 gallon cans will hold over 150 lbs of grain or pellets.

Set them on some boards so air can circulate underneath to prevent rusting.

I ended up buying a couple job boxes and a large diamond-plate box off a semi.

We have stored feed in plastic trash cans and metal ones. But they lead to more spilled feed and that means more rodents.

These work great.

Thanks for the input guys.

And the highbacked ones have lots of storage room for coffee cans, scoops, treats, vet supplies, and such on the shelves.....