Margali's Griffin Wood Ranch

[Margali]

@murphysranch No offers, no on-site interviews, and no new leads...

 

[murphysranch]

very deep sigh and a gentle hug from afar

 

[Margali]

I currently use 55gal drums for feed but they are too tall for Cassandra to manage by herself. Are these plastic containers rat proof? I have one that was used for dog food. Or I can get some metal trashcans with lids.

 

[SageHill]

I currently use 55gal drums for feed but they are too tall for Cassandra to manage by herself. Are these plastic containers rat proof? I have one that was used for dog food. Or I can get some metal trashcans with lids.
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I use the metal trash cans. They hold ~150 lbs of pellets.

 

[Ridgetop]

I currently use 55gal drums for feed but they are too tall for Cassandra to manage by herself. Are these plastic containers rat proof?

No they are not rat proof. DH bought 8 expensive plastic feed containers one time. Paid more than for a meta tash can. They were great to use - access - but within a year every one of them had a rat hole chewed through the bottom edge!

If the metal containers are too tall for the kids, either get a cheap stool to use to access the taller containers, or buy some 30 gallon containers. Working together Cassandra and Dominic can get a feed bag up to a can,ably a open it, and use a scoop to transfer contents to the metal can. You can have them use a wagon to transport the bag from the car to the barn and can. Or open the bag in the car and remove enough into buckets until they can move the bag. START NOW!!!

How old is Dominic now? The older kids are big enough to carry or drag feed sacks together.

Hugs on the surgery. We are only about 1 1/2 hours away in case of emergency. Don't hesitate to call us.

Like @Mini Horses said - no job is probably a blessing in disguise at the moment. Aand thank the good Lord for the insurance from your husband's job! Can you go on disability?

 

[Margali]

@Ridgetop The problem is the 55gal drums are 34" tall and Cassandra is only 50". She's overbalanced and almost ended up head down into one using step stool trying to reach feed in the bottom of the bag. I will get one metal trash can for now and it can be rabbit food later. I may phase out the barrels altogether since they only hold 3 bags and are a pain to reseal.

 

[Ridgetop]

Don't get rid of them - they can also be used to hold unopened bags of feed. 2 unopened bags will fit in the 55 gallon barrels. Try the 30 gallon metal cans for the kids. They are shorter. If they can't reach all the way to the bottom it won't matter while you are laid up. The grain remaining in the bottom won't spoil as long as it doesn't get wet. When they reach the lowest level they can reach, they can tip the barrel over and remove the grain into buckets to move to another can.

 

[Baymule]

I prefer the metal trash cans. I’m only 5’5”, but barrels are a stretch for me. Metal trash cans are perfect. Hint: don’t yank on handle to take top off. The handle will pop off. Ask me how I know! The secret is to not push the top all the way down, just enough to make it seal, then pull up on the edges to open it up.

 

[Ridgetop]

And make sure that the barrels are not under a leak in the roof. The handles are riveted on and if they get loose water can get into the trash can through the handle holes.

 

[SageHill]

Metal trash cans - the ones I have at the barn don't have a handle on the top - but the lid has a rim around it about an inch or so wide - no problem with getting water in from the top, I don't remember if there are handles on the sides - I ~think so, and those would have the moisture leak. Though the one I have for chicken feed I put duct tape over any rivets on the inside and that solved the water problem.
I marked the inside of the cans at the barn so if I asked how much was left I got an answer that we all understood.