Covered Square Bale Feeder Equipped With Swing-Out Roof

Covered Square Bale Feeder Equipped With Swing-Out Roof LIVESTOCK Beef 19-3-11 "It keeps hay dry in rain or snow and also provides shelter for animals when eating," says Ohio farmer Craig Dennis about his covered square bale hay feeder that's equipped with a two-part, swing-out roof. The 5-ft. wide, 8-ft. long, 7 1/2-ft. high feeder has a 3/4-in. thick plywood floor. The sheet metal roof has a 23-in. over-hang on each side and a 1-ft. overhang on each end. The roof is split into two halves that swing out and down against the sides of the feeder for loading bales into the feeder and for transport through narrow gates. Pipe handles on both ends of the feeder are used to swing out the roof section. The sides of the feeder are made from 3/4-in. dia. steel rods spaced 4 in. apart. A plastic-lined trough on each side of the feeder is used to feed grain. "I built it because I couldn't find a covered feeder on the market," says Dennis, who owns a fabrication shop and also breaks draft horses. "It holds 12 small square bales. I place it between two pens, with small horses on one side and larger horses on the other side. There are almost no parts to wear out so it's virtually maintenance-free. The roof sections hinge on 3/4-in. dia. bolts. The feeder is mounted on skids so I can also drag it into a field. The pipe handles lock in place so the wind won't bother it." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Craig E. Dennis, 3000 Twp. Rd. 138 N.W., Somerset, Ohio 43783 (ph 614 987-6148).

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