[QUOTE=BellaMia;8872303]
Tractor supple has these in different sizes: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bergan-stack-n-stor-100-lb-capacity?cm_vc=-10005[/QUOTE]
these should be a use appropriate choice. Used and observed properly, if a rodent issue develops you should be able to see it in time to take steps. More suitable than anything at IKEA
Rodents think those TSC ones are very tasty !
[QUOTE=BellaMia;8872297]
Very expensive though.[/QUOTE]
I have only ever bought one metal feed storage bin and I have kept horses here for 30 years.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;8872405]
I have only ever bought one metal feed storage bin and I have kept horses here for 30 years.[/QUOTE]
In that case it evens itself out. 
[QUOTE=MissAriel;8866641]
I’m wondering if these bins would work for feed storage?
The common feed room is getting pretty cramped with multiple owners, each with multiple feeds (pellets + balancer + beet pulp, for example) in various trashcan-type containers.
If a few of us went to 2-3 of these bins, stacked, it would make a huge difference at feeding time.
Has anyone tried them or seen them IRL? Will they each hold 50lb of feed?
Any other cost-effective options for space-saving feed bins to recommend?[/QUOTE]
I use these exact same bins in my loft.
The larger size takes a 50 lb bag of grain very well.
They stack nicely. However, I started putting some boards between them, because one bin resting on the top of another bin was causing some sagging to start. Now they are fine.
I use a litre yogurt container as a scoop, and it works fine (is one pound of oats or beet pulp), but then my horse gets fairly small meals, I guess.
I have had no problem with mice getting into the bins or gnawing at them. We don’t have anything larger than that running around in the lofts. I expect that a raccoon could just lift the lid with his little hands. And they are not horse proof.
In my situation, they work very well. I have four larger bins and two smaller ones (for salt and flax) stacked in two columns 3 high, with a board across the top to make a flat shelf surface. I’ve been using them for 4 years, they keep everything contained, save space, and have a nice uniform look about them.
Depending on how much grain you are storing at a time the metal garbage cans or the re-purposed chest freezers are fairly economical options.
With the freezers just make sure rodents cannot get in. I remember one Cother - Aventura something - bragging that she had a freezer full of mice living in her grain -which she thought was cute. Hantavirus anyone.
Freezers can easily be made rodent proof.
We no longer waste money on non metal containers for feed.
we have about 12 of the metal garbage cans because added gradually over time.
If starting from scratch would re-purpose a freezer or have a carpenter build me a metal lined bin.
The bonus about individual cans is that they are very easy to clean but may not be practical depending on how much grain you need to store at a time.
[QUOTE=BellaMia;8872501]
In that case it evens itself out. ;-)[/QUOTE]
The one is have holds 600 lbs of feed. (You can also put a lot of feed in bags in there too)
Equibrit’s metal bin might work if I was the BO, but I’m just a boarder - so it would mean splitting that cost over multiple boarders. Plus boarders come and go, so portability is a potential factor.
We have lots of metal and plastic cans - they just aren’t working from a space perspective. We used to have them lining all the walls; now they are 2 cans deep everywhere, with very little floor space to maneuver around.
Someone really needs to figure a way to make metal galvanized cans that are stackable! Although from the reviews the Vittles Vaults do seem pretty impervious to rodents.
I have three vittles vaults- two 50lb and one 80lb. Two of them are easily 15+years old and still going strong, the other I’ve had for about 9 years. They’ve been stored inside and out, in the sun and weather, and have remained weather tight and rodent proof.
[QUOTE=MissAriel;8873478]
Equibrit’s metal bin might work if I was the BO, but I’m just a boarder - so it would mean splitting that cost over multiple boarders. Plus boarders come and go, so portability is a potential factor.
We have lots of metal and plastic cans - they just aren’t working from a space perspective. We used to have them lining all the walls; now they are 2 cans deep everywhere, with very little floor space to maneuver around.
Someone really needs to figure a way to make metal galvanized cans that are stackable! Although from the reviews the Vittles Vaults do seem pretty impervious to rodents.[/QUOTE]
Filing cabinets ?
I have one of the upright 8O lb Vitales Vaults and love the construction and it is quite space savings. They are not cheap but as we move to finish our small/quaint tack/feedroom, I want to invest in a few more. They are very space saving and while the lid may seem annoying at first, its spins on and off easily and you really don’t need to have it super sealed up once it gets a spin or less going. Just wish they had one that was a little bit bigger so i could get just a few more feed bags in there. 
I saw some heavy duty stackable containers at Aldi the other day. I’d planned to grab some for feed, but didn’t–now I can’t find the sizes or pictures online anywhere.
Might be worth a run to your local Aldi (if you have one) because they were $10 each.
[QUOTE=BeckyS;8875448]
I saw some heavy duty stackable containers at Aldi the other day. I’d planned to grab some for feed, but didn’t–now I can’t find the sizes or pictures online anywhere.
Might be worth a run to your local Aldi (if you have one) because they were $10 each.[/QUOTE]
Boo. No local Aldi, although I have heard them talk about expanding here someday. Thanks anyway. Maybe I will keep my eyes open at other big box stores.
[QUOTE=Scribbler;8872764]
I use these exact same bins in my loft.
The larger size takes a 50 lb bag of grain very well.
They stack nicely. However, I started putting some boards between them, because one bin resting on the top of another bin was causing some sagging to start. Now they are fine.
I have had no problem with mice getting into the bins or gnawing at them. We don’t have anything larger than that running around in the lofts. I expect that a raccoon could just lift the lid with his little hands. And they are not horse proof.
In my situation, they work very well. I have four larger bins and two smaller ones (for salt and flax) stacked in two columns 3 high, with a board across the top to make a flat shelf surface. I’ve been using them for 4 years, they keep everything contained, save space, and have a nice uniform look about them.[/QUOTE]
My experience is the same. I have two large ones and a small one stacked in my tack/feed room. They’ve been in use for about 18 months, no sign of rodent damage. Agree that you need to put a piece of plywood across the tops or they will start to collapse.
It’s true that it’s a bit of a pain to get into the stacked bins with a regular scoop, but we just unstack them when we make up feed once a week into individual buckets that are then stored in a chest freezer. We’re very careful to sweep up any drips and drabs of feed after we make up the week’s meals, which helps to minimize rodent activity. We also empty the bins completely before putting in a new bag and make sure to move them and sweep out the area first.
Another vote for the vittle vaults. I have one for the cat food in our tack room which is regularly visited by raccoons and possums. The container has been tossed around the room many times due to a raccoon trying its hardest to get to the cat food. There are teeth marks all over it too - but it is still going strong. The horse feed is kept in a galvanized can with bungee cords.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;8875289]
Filing cabinets ?[/QUOTE]
Good idea but you have to be careful as to rodent proofness. If they are cheap or get dented the little varmints will not be delayed for long.
Plus used ones are not exactly inexpensive
Can you put in a couple of dead chest freezers side by side? I worked in a barn that had two of them end to end. Each was subdivided into 3 compartments via plywood dividers that were caulked into place. We could house six different types of feed in this way, then any supplements were stored on shelves on the wall behind the freezers. Pour up feed, shut the lid, set buckets on lid, top dress with supplements. Done. 100% rodent proof. One side benefit was you weren’t cleaning up spilled grain from around 6-7 trash cans. YOu can find them on craigslist for cheap. something like this.
Not if you have mice or rats. TRy galvanized garbage cans.
The IKEA bins WILL collapse if you stack and fill them. They might work if they aren’t stacked, but that likely defeats your purpose. They’re not strong enough to withstand the weight of one bin filled with grain/feed/etc. stacked on top of the other. (IKEA intends them for socks or other lightweight items.) My sister used these in her garden shed (nothing truly heavy) and ended up with a disaster.
I’d look for a sale on Vittle Vaults if you need to stack.
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