Cheap "No Waste" Hog Feeder

Cheap "No Waste" Hog Feeder HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas (351) 25-5-10 "We make our own no-waste feeders out of 55-gal. plastic drums. They're cheap to make and really cut down on feed waste," say Dave Querio and Valerie Warren, who operate Rainbow Pig Farm near Yacolt, Wash. They cut five big holes around the middle part of the drum, leaving strips between the holes. They also cut a square hole into the top of the drum so they can use a bucket to dump feed in. They pour 80 lbs. of concrete in the bottom of each feeder to keep pigs from knocking them over. "They cut feed waste by about two thirds over anything we've tried in the past. We make the holes big enough for the pig to get its head in, but small enough that it can't climb in. We leave anywhere from a 3 to 8-in. lip between the top of the cement and the bottom of each hole. The bigger the pig, the higher the lip should be so the pig can't push feed out onto the ground. Another advantage is that hogs don't fight as much because they've each got their own feeding space. It takes a little more time to dump feed in with buckets. However, I like to hand feed pigs because it makes me look at them and I can see if they're having any problems. "We've got about a dozen of these feeders on our farm. We buy the 55-gal. barrels for $3 apiece from a friend. Any kind of drum will work as long as it's round and at least 3 ft. in diameter. We made our first barrel feeder out of an old water pressure tank, and we even made one for baby pigs out of a 20-gal. garbage can. We use everything from old garbage can lids to corrugated metal roofing to cover the feeders." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Valerie Warren, Rainbow Pig Farm, Box 484, Yacolt, Wash. 98675 (ph 360 686-3968).

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