“Cage Tote” Bulk Bins

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #6, Page #03

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John Drew didn’t want to spend the money for portable bulk bins to feed his guinea hens, so he built his own bins out of a pair of big metal cage totes.
    “I’ve raised guinea hens on my farm for years and had been feeding them bagged grain purchased at a farm store,” says Drew. “I knew I could buy grain from our local farm co-op for a lot less money, but I had to buy it in bulk. I started looking around for commercial portable bulk bins but wasn’t willing to spend $900 to $1,500 apiece for them.
    “I had previously purchased several cage totes designed to hold soap and I used them for everything from portable water storage to dog house tanks, firewood storage, and even as tree stands. Wandering through a local farm store, I found 8-in. grain gates on sale for $20 apiece. I decided to install them on two cage totes.”
    He removed each tank from its cage and cut a section out of the top, then cut out part of the cage frame to make room for the grain gate. “I put the tank back in the cage and positioned the gate, then drilled two mounting bolts into the tank to steady the gate and marked the gate opening,” says Drew. “ After cutting out the gate opening, I bolted the gate to the tank. I used large fender washers inside the tank for extra strength.”
    He mounted both tanks on an old running gear so that he could move it around. “Once the tanks are full of grain, I strap a tarp on and then store them in my shed out of the weather. Each tank holds a little more than 20 bu.,” says Drew.
    He paid $15 apiece for the cage totes and $20 apiece for the gates. “Including the running gear and a couple of tires, my total cost was about $325. I easily saved twice that much the first time I filled the tanks with grain from the local co-op, over the cost of bagged grain,” notes Drew.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Drew, 2034 N.W. 70 Ave., Great Bend, Kan. 67530 (ph 620-791-7580; drewfarms@gbta.net).

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“Cage Tote” Bulk Bins CROPS Miscellaneous John Drew didn’t want to spend the money for portable bulk bins to feed his guinea hens so he built his own bins out of a pair of big metal cage totes “I’ve raised guinea hens on my farm for years and had been feeding them bagged grain purchased at a farm store ” says Drew “I knew I could buy grain from our local farm co-op for a lot less money but I had to buy it in bulk I started looking around for commercial portable bulk bins but wasn’t willing to spend $900 to $1 500 apiece for them “I had previously purchased several cage totes designed to hold soap and I used them for everything from portable water storage to dog house tanks firewood storage and even as tree stands Wandering through a local farm store I found 8-in grain gates on sale for $20 apiece I decided to install them on two cage totes ” He removed each tank from its cage and cut a section out of the top then cut out part of the cage frame to make room for the grain gate “I put the tank back in the cage and positioned the gate then drilled two mounting bolts into the tank to steady the gate and marked the gate opening ” says Drew “ After cutting out the gate opening I bolted the gate to the tank I used large fender washers inside the tank for extra strength ” He mounted both tanks on an old running gear so that he could move it around “Once the tanks are full of grain I strap a tarp on and then store them in my shed out of the weather Each tank holds a little more than 20 bu ” says Drew He paid $15 apiece for the cage totes and $20 apiece for the gates “Including the running gear and a couple of tires my total cost was about $325 I easily saved twice that much the first time I filled the tanks with grain from the local co-op over the cost of bagged grain ” notes Drew Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Drew 2034 N W 70 Ave Great Bend Kan 67530 ph 620-791-7580; drewfarms@gbta net

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