Feed handling

Osu98 · Jan 30, 2015

Anybody else buy feed in the big 2000 lb sacks? I'm looking for a good way to store it and dispense it out into buckets. Currently I scoop it out with a 5 gal bucket into some plastic tubs, and feed out of there since my feed shed is not large enough to hold the sack. When the tubs get low I fill up again. Trying to think of a system where the bag can be emptied into a hopper and the feed free flows at the bottom.

Soundguy · Jan 30, 2015

I've seen mobile cattle grain wagons that have drop feeders. Otherwise, weld up a container with a conical or pyramid bottom with a sliding plate cutoff. Easier and safer than augering.

Xfaxman · Jan 31, 2015

How much do you get at one time?

We used to get 500 pounds of horse feed, and split it between two of these wheeled trash carts.

They are like the green one with the lid. I added a caster at the front so my wife could move it into the feed room.

foreman Etexas · Jan 31, 2015

The sacks I have dealt with have the hole on bottum and if you have a way to hang it up in the air you just untie the draw string then cinch back up to stop the flow. You may ask and see if they have that type bag next time if yours currently has solid bottum

Osu98 · Jan 31, 2015

It's a 2000 lb sack with a whole in the bottom and drawstring. Just need to find a way to winch it up. Not sure I trust that much weight hanging from the trusses of my shop. Or lifting that much with my FEL to get it high enough to dump in another container. Looks like it will be 5 gal buckets like I have been doing.

aczlan · Jan 31, 2015

Do you have room to make a platform with 4x4s as legs ~4' off the ground and set it on that? Then you could fill buckets or tubs under it and wheel them out and to your critters.

Aaron Z

foreman Etexas · Jan 31, 2015

I have also cut the center out pallet framed the opening so I can pick it up with my pallet forks to be able get it high enough to fill some taller feeders. Most the sacks I deal with are 1300lbs not 2000.

foreman Etexas · Jan 31, 2015

I am fixing to finally break down and buy me a cube trailer but dang they are high.

UTCenturion · Feb 1, 2015

Look for IBC containers. It stands for intermediate bulk container. It is a steel cage with a plastic tub in the middle that holds 275 gallons. They have a built in pallet for easy transport. They also stack. They are used for water, milk, flour, feed, frying oil, chemical etc transport in industry. I use them on my farm. Finding a cheap source for foodsafe ones is difficult as they are reusable. I commonly find them on craigslist for 50 to 100 dollars for foodsafe and I have a friend who gets me non foodsafe ones for 10 bucks from his work. I use the cages for firewood storage.

xzcVAbc5 · Feb 1, 2015

Those 2000# bags are called bulk bags or supersacks. You might search for bulk bag unloaders to get some ideas. The valve that is generally marketed as a way to stop the flow out of the bottom when the bag is hanging is called an iris valve.

One thing I've seen that might work is some kind of single axle wagon designed for the guys that buy bulk pellets for pellet stoves. If you had one of those you could have the bulk bag held up by whatever forklift at the store and just fill your wagon.

If I think about it for a while I might come up with some more ideas. I've done quite a bit of bulk material handling projects over the years and seen quite a bit of equipment.