Small space feed storage

These are what I use, they do stack pretty well but the lids can be flimsy so make sure your heaviest items are in the bottom one.

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The issue I’ve found at boarding barns is more that you need to optimize vertical space. So you are allotted room for 2 trash cans, and the airspace above them by default. Not more width for a bigger chest freezer.

A smallish chest freezer won’t hold much more than 2 large trash cans (assuming two 30 gallon trash cans at 21ā€ wide x 2= 42ā€ and 60 gallons, and a small chest freezer that can fit in the same space being about 38ā€ wide and holding 67 gallons)

Someone invent vertically stacking metal grain bins!

How about a plastic feed can inside a metal locker? Gets you some vertical storage!

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That’d work! Show me a metal storage locker that holds two trash cans and more above that costs less than an appendage though….

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True, the small freezer isn’t going to hold more than a couple of trash cans. Was more thinking it might give you different options on storing different kinds of feeds if you left them in bags, maybe utilized the freezer basket, etc. But I realize it’s far from ideal… the metal requirement is really limiting in this plastic world! Until someone invents those bins, I’d keep an eye on FB marketplace and the like to see if you can score some sort of metal industrial cast-off.

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There’s a metal cabinet that would probably fit the bill on my FB marketplace for fifty bucks, and a few locker options for not much more. Might be worth setting up an alert to notify you when things are posted for sale nearby?

There is a military surplus warehouse here that has all kinds of metal desks and cabinets and boxes that some would work for rodent proof containers.
OP, maybe check if there is some such where you are?

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And I’d search for… ā€œmetal cabinet that can fit two trash cans insideā€? That’s the trouble with FB… listings rarely provide dimensions and we don’t have a specific name for this thing yet - trolling fb to look for a likely non or rarely existent thing that is a only a halfway solve isn’t a good use of my time the more I look at it. ( just did a search and was instantly reminded of the futility and annoyance of fb marketplace)

I would buy a purpose built metal stacking grain bin if they were made.

If you went with non stacking, could you buy the plastic ones that would be the perfect size, and then have a basic metal box fabricated to sit the bins in? That way it wouldn’t have to be overly fancy, have compartments or be extremely sturdy - it would only need to be enough to provide protection. You might even get away with one made from a small hole metal mesh if that was cheaper. I’m just picturing a metal box with a lift up lid, and plastic bins inside.

Then maybe you should be speaking with a fabricator :woman_shrugging:

Probably should but the cost last time I used one was astronomical. Sticking with trash cans until a premade solution is available. :woman_shrugging:

Jobber’s boxes is what would work, but the pre-made ones are pricey:

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Jobsite-boxes-Tool-storage-work-benches-Tools/4294506782

Any welding shop would give you a quote on making you one, would be cheaper and to your specifications.

I ended up going with the 2 Rubbermaid trash cans plus a skinny little Ikea shelf unit to hold supps… perhaps I will be bold enough to post a photo once it’s all set up!

This is the shelf, galvanized steel and $15. They have a bunch of other configurations and sizes as well: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/hyllis-shelf-unit-indoor-outdoor-30428326/

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These are from England, wonder if there is an American distributor? https://www.asametalproducts.com/?fbclid=IwAR1TeS7utAx3v2SqqLbC2GGprUNyIRMK9ES5R4iBwBIIWUlmnVYzLpeESvA

Ooops sorry @Simkie and @173north, it was @Xanthoria who said that.

I use a big chest freezer and put bags of all foods in it: Grain, dog food, cat food, bird seeds… No need for trash cans, the freezer is rodent proof.

I wonder if an upright freezer would fit the bill for those of you looking for more vertical space?

I’ve been using this set up for 5 years now for 2 horses, and it’s served me well. No rodent issues. They do take up more space that a rectangle can, but I could get this set up MUCH cheaper through my work than paying full retail for rectangular cans that were also a bit smaller. If I had 10 horses (or whatever) or delicate flowers that needed a buffet of grains I’d come come up with something else.

My combo feed/tack room is 12x14’ for reference, no hay is included in that space. I’m also tall so having the counter height up is a perk for me.

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Tonight I drove by someone curbsiding a tall (5 or 6 drawer) filing cabinet and it made me think of this thread. Again, not ā€œidealā€ or purpose designed solution, but could be a cheap one for some people’s needs. Obviously you can’t just dump a bag of grain in a drawer, but if the problem is more, say… complexity… of diet than volume for a DIY boarder, it could help. Stash various smaller grain containers and supplements in the drawers. Rodent proof. Even lockable if you have problems with other animals…

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From Big D’s tack, these look handy. Horse Feed Room Storage & Organization | Big Dee’s Horse Tack & Vet Supplies (bigdweb.com)

Really nice one unfortunately not in the USA or in stock, too bad we don’t have something similar sold here. Equine Feed Storage Bin – Storemaster

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I know my ā€œsolutionā€ is not for most, but we just stopped feeding grain altogether…sure made rodent control easier

I do offer a pelted TEFF hay to the two who think they are going to die without getting something in their feeder …the others are happy to go to their hay

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