Meal store on the cheap(ish)

I've been pondering how to store a few ton of loose meal without our furry friends getting at it. A proper silo is out of my budget and I've a neighbour I'm fairly confident would cause hassle. I'd need too many JFC/Tipsy bins so they're out of the price range. Ratty will chew through IBC tanks. I can't buy small amounts at a time cos reasons.

So I came to the idea of buying an old 12x6 trailer. Sheeting off the air vents and above the back door. The meal store trailer would be kept inside a shed that has space boarding and an open door.

I'm fairly sure I can keep ratty out. What I'm wondering about is would moisture be an issue storing meal this way for a few months? If it might be, what would be the best way to go insulating a trailer 🤔

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058317183/meal-store-on-the-cheap-ish

Dunno if you'll definitely keep a rat out of a trailer, they'll get into any hole.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121205887#Comment_121205887

That's where sheeting off the air vents and above the back door comes in, to eliminate holes. Unless I'm missing something 🤔

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121205918#Comment_121205918

Well maybe you'll be OK, just want to check every possible inch, only reason I'm saying, is I'd a mouse in the van in the last few days at a bag of meal and I'd consider van fairly sealed. Poison or a cat along with trailer may solve any rodent chance.

Ex refrigerator box body.

mr.stonewall

Contact some of the bin companies and they might have a good second hand one. Neighbour did it last year with tidy 6 ton

whelan2

I'll be trying to sell my old bin soon. 16 ton vmac.

Jb1989

16 tonne bin there for you now herd. Sorted

grange mac

Neighbour of mine seam welded 2 oil tanks together. Got about 3 ton out of them. But know had power wash them throughly first though.

cute geoge

An 1000 galon old steel oil tank halved and make up frame and door for the top

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058317183/meal-store-on-the-cheap-ish

There are grants for proper silos as you call it and depending on your age you could be 60% back plus the vat back. You’d have it for years.

Another option is to kill the rats

Anto_Meath

I have seen old stainless steel bulk milk tanks used. Easy to clean, can be moved with a bale lifter and vermin proof.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121205918#Comment_121205918

By the he time you have any sort of decent livestock trailer bought and sorted you be a long way on a grant approved bin. Poison under and around it will keep furry friends away. Mice can be more if an issue than rats. If they get in they breed like anything and nest anywhere. You could literally have a hundred of them after 8-10 weeks

148multi

Seen an old boy put in a meal shed years ago, built a stud with 4 x 2, sheeted with flat galvanised and ply over it, an old steel security door .

Pipe for blowing in and waste pipe for exhaust.

But Miller's are only charging €10 to bag feed, unless you have a bin or loader you'd have to wonder is it worth it in bulk.

funkey_monkey

Do you have a loader?

Will all your stock be located in the one location?

What size will you be needing roughly?

If your neighbour would be likely to thief from it are you looking an internal bin? Have you considered having the bin outside, but directing the exit spout into your shed?

Have you priced any along with the grant? If you take the long term view, bulk meal should be cheaper blown in (providing you get a decent size).

Have you asked VMac or any of the bin suppliers about the possibility of getting a used bin from one of their jobs?

There seems to be a lot of attention on silo's, I'm not going to buy one for more reasons than €€€'s.

May ring a guy tomorrow about a container, though they're gone dear I hear.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209120#Comment_121209120

A forgotten is the time spent collecting said bags

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209120#Comment_121209120

Miller's charge a nice bit more than 10/ ton to bag. As well buying in bulk allows you to spec your own ration that is where the savings are.

148multi

But they charge €10 for blowing it too

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209833#Comment_121209833

So do some don't. blown in is approx 20-30/ ton cheaper over bagged around here.

The big saver is time. You can easily see an hour or 2 lost collecting ration. Add this up over a winter. The madness that can be seen on the roads with folks pulling a half ton bag weekly. The cost on time diesel,wear and tear is bloody huge. Since most are part time I cannot for the love of me understand why a bin is not on the urgent hit list. Tams is there, second hands are there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209275#Comment_121209275

Don't go down that route, a local chap had his best farming days ended due to a door blown off during filling. Just about able to walk after 5 years

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121210228#Comment_121210228

👀 Excuse my ignorance, but was it an explosion or a pressure thing

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121210242#Comment_121210242

The door wasn't locked up fully during filling when to fixed it up while it was being filled. As the pressure was building, the door flew open, floored him and hit his head.

If security with a bin is the problem, options are there. Many let you put a lock on the spout. You have the next one of weight cells. Next option is lighting with a PIR, handy for yourself aswell. Camera is another. As as @funkey_monkey said direct the spout from outside into a shed. This was often done with milking parlours pre augers

funkey_monkey

Will all your stock be at the one location and how much do you think you'll get at a time?

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209571#Comment_121209571

Not sure what a half tonne of nuts is collected but small bags anre around €11 a bag online which leaves them at €440 a tonne. I’m getting stuff blown in at €310 a tonne into a bin. No time lost either.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211162#Comment_121211162

No, they'll be dispersed as to have them in one group (as I would prefer) required all of them going in the trailer several times a year. I've done that for enough years to know I hate doing it.

My intention is to get an organic mix made up, therefore I am concerned there won't be the supply to get it bit by bit. Plus the potential supplier is a long way off, so I figure get five tons and that'll do me.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211054#Comment_121211054

Ah, no, the nosey neighbour in the shed isn't the problem. I've a fussy connected neighbour who'd object to a big shiny bin. I may get away with a container. I've too much going on right now to start a war with next door as I usually might.

funkey_monkey

Just check that the supplier will blow it into a 'home made' container. Health & Safety these days might make them reluctant - although you could try it and just see what the driver is willing to do.

BTW - VMac will get you one in a nice green colour that won't stand out. A 5 tonne bin might not be too tall. Would your fussy connected neighbour be receptive of a complaint from yourself?

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211347#Comment_121211347

How long will it take to use the five ton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121211478#Comment_121211478

That's a consideration, I have thought of it, just haven't worked it out yet. Don't think I'll buy hay this year, supplier wasn't exactly beaming with pride when I asked after quality, so may substitute with a small amount of grain as I've a hundred less than last year so will have more roughage on the ground

older by the day

https://www.donedeal.ie/milkingparlours-for-sale/ice-bank-milk-tank-420-gallon-make-kilkenny/32253970

I use an old milk tank for calf nuts during the summer. It holds 1.5 ton. Something like above that you can lift up the cover. It works grand. Tie a rope on to a concrete block inside and tie the pipe from the lorry on to it. And stand back cause the dust is fierce.

But really I think you should go and buy a proper bin. I have never known any one to regret buying one.

Who2

Condon do a low set square type bin that is very neat and won’t stand out, I may be wrong but I think it may be movable too.

whelan2

I got a new bin , supposed to hold 17 tonne, to me I can't see it holding it. Will take a photo later

_Brian

IBC tanks surely easiest, we get 800kg meal in them, been doing it for years and never have a problem.

If rats have enough time to eat through a tank you need vermin control, a few farm cats. Even our mollycoddled cats keep the rodents under control.

Homer jay

Has anyone got a price on a 5 or 6 ton silo lately ? Would the 5 ton silo take the full 5 ton of a ration or weanling crunch ?

Priced a 20ft container this morning €3300 delivered, it could be multi use. Been thinking about the blowing in aspect and maybe getting it in big bags on a pallet and use a pallet truck might be a way to go.

whelan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121212854#Comment_121212854

Was 6700 for 17 tonne meal bin

148multi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121212872#Comment_121212872

PM sent

whelan2

That's my new bin , apparently will hold 17 tonnes

20231009_114424.jpg

148multi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213441#Comment_121213441

That's tidy

hopeso

I see second hand bins mentioned here a couple of times... I wonder would you get a second hand bin in good condition, or would most of them be well used. Also, would there be much difference in buying a second hand one and a new one through TAMS?

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121213441#Comment_121213441

I’d say it will hold the 17 tonne. We’ve a couple of 16tonnes but yours is not as high but it’s very wide looking. Well wear.

K.G.

I fully understand you r reasons for not wanting a outdoor bin but can you put a bin indoors.we have an indoor bin that we bought second hand and it has an auger to fill the mobile bin.the auger broke down recently and we had to handball it into the bin and it really brought home to me the dead work 5he like of that job is.the biggest problem with the container solution is you have to gather it off the floor again,its all work for nothing

funkey_monkey

Have you thought about these ones. We have one. No issues with Vermin. Only thing to ensure is that the pipe inlet is secure so that dust does not lie on top of the bin.

Indoor meal bin for sale in Co. Tyrone for €1 on DoneDeal

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121231996#Comment_121231996

Would crows or other bird peck holes in the bags?

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121233636#Comment_121233636

We had not installed the top correctly initially and dust lay on top which the birds pecked at - not the stuff inside.

Since fixing that it has been perfect. Very happy with it. Might even get another. No birds at it. It's heavy duty canvas. Even when blowing in meal (we don't use nuts) there is no dust blown out.