[debbietownhead]

I have previously written elsewhere in this site regarding my hunt for a second hand silo or some sort of large bulk container in which to buy my pig and hen feed in bulk quantities with little success.
I have now found a company in Dorset which manufactures a large plywood bin at a reasonable cost which would enable us to bulk buy four tonnes at a time (yes, we do get through that much!)
The link is:-   http://www.symmsbins.co.uk/bins.htm
Have any of you tried these before?  As pig food is now going up to £380 a tonne bagged, and £280 when bought in a four tonne load the bin will soon pay for itself.
We go through a tonne of hen food every three weeks and pig food every four weeks.
OH is good with his hands but other farming neighbours tell me that they have tried to build their own bins which just did not work properly.
Any thoughts?
Debbie
 
 
 

[robert waddell]

it would not be that difficult to knock one up     but there claim that it is rat proof is a bit sceptical rats love wood or plywood  and they can climb it would need a lid on it even inside to keep birds out   a metal one would give the buggers something to chew on     even mini or midi skips with lids on  could be used  even an old shipping container that is lined could be used they are wind /water tight and have sealed doors     mind if you use any of my ideas i will be looking for a bit of commission

[debbietownhead]

My thoughts too and the rats around here are active!   Something has to be done though to reduce the pig feed bill!

[robert waddell]

pigs are easy pickings for rats  not all the grain is milled correctly  so they rake the s**t looking for undigested grains   they know it is not poisoned

[Berkshire Boy]

I see there are no prices on the site. Do you know what they charge?

[debbietownhead]

£500 for the 4.75 tonne bin..............would pay for itself within a few months.

[bloomer]

i dont keep pigs or know about the rat issues but looking at the materials and effort required £500 isn't unreasonable for what you're getting.


don't forget it comes flat pack though so you still have some work to do before you can use it...

[debbietownhead]

I also thought that that was a reasonable cost.    OH will be doing the work.........I just oganise him!

[Womble]

Idiot question coming up:  How do you offload the feed into the bin to start with?  Is it blown in?

[robert waddell]

yes blown in   the blower is on the lorry

[oaklandspigs]

If you look at the picture, there's a tube on the right hand side that the lorry connects to and as Robert says blows the feed in.
 

[Berkshire Boy]

Do you all get your feed cheaper if you buy say 5 ton and have it blown in.

[princesspiggy]

storing bagged feed on pallets isnt rat proof either.

[domsmith]

we have 2 wooden 5 ton hoppers. they are mounted in the barn at approx 5feet off the ground.
the cake is blown in through 6 in tubes on the outside. ours where home made by the previous owners when the  barn was extended some 30 years ago!.
rats have never been a problem with them, but  mice do get in. the worst bit of them  is climbing into them if something gets stuck, nightmare!

we used to have blend made of wheat, barley and soya protein. it worked well and a good price 5 or 6 years ago. the prices slowly creap up.

d