I was feeding my neighbors sheep and cattle and noticed his feeders. They are made out of used tires. He cuts one of the sidewalls off of one and puts it ontop of another with plywood in between. Then bolts that together-so the feed rests on the plywood and the cut tire is the side of the feeder. For the cattle he used tractor tires and the sheep have truck or skidloader tires. Some of them he put a wooden wire spool in -with the bottom cut off. The part where the wire was wound is in the bottom tire and the top of the spool serves as the plywood between the tires. This would help support the bottom tire from slouching out. The tire was cut with a saws-all or you could maybe use a jigsaw. (I know he used the saws all, cuz he borrowed ours.) This may not be a revelation to many, but it seemed like a pretty cheap and easy feeder to me. I am going to build one tomorrow. I went to the tire store today and scrounged a couple of tires. Happy building, Tami in WI

-- Tami Bowser (windridg@chorus.net), August 08, 2000

Answers

I was at an auction couple weeks ago where I saw several animal feeders/waterers made from 55 gallon plastic food grade barrels. they cut them in two lengthwise. then attached them to railroad tie frame. Ones for feed, they cut slits for rainwater to drain. Actually if you ganged these end to end they would look like those expensive cattle/horse troughs/feedbunks that have steel frame and black plastic sheet for the trough.

-- Hermit John (ozarkhermit@pleasedontspamme.com), August 09, 2000.

Hermitjohn, I would like to know more about these plastic barrel/railroad tie contraptions...could you describe the design in more detail, particularly the part about the frame? Thanks.

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), August 09, 2000.

Nothing complicated at all. The railroad ties were just nailed to form a rectangle the right size so the half barrel would fit down in. The barrels were nailed to the railroad ties to make the feed troughs and slits cut in bottom to allow rainwater drainage. Think the ones for water were just set in the frame.

I'm sure a better frame could be designed out of smaller dimension treated lumber or a steel frame welded out of pipe or rebar. I think I did make it clear that these barrels were cut longways down the side like people used to cut water heater tanks to make hog troughs. Think there were some of those too. All these homemade troughs didnt bring over a dollar or two each. Couldnt even buy the food grade barrels for that. And I've seen really busted up commercially made feedbunks as I described before sell for sixty or seventy dollars each.

-- Hermit John (ozarkhermit@pleasedontspamme.com), August 09, 2000.

Thanks. I'm actually thinking of making some for my pigs. It is always difficult to find things that will work for the low-to-the- ground potbellied pigs AND the big giant regular pigs. That design might just do the trick. I'll have to add this to my honey-do list for my husband!

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), August 09, 2000.

i have just got the book "tire recycling is fun" it cost $14.95 plus $5.00 s&h. they have a website tirecrafting.com. i bought the complete package with the video. i think if i had it to do again i would order just the book as the video mainly helps is understanding the process of turning a tire inside out. i would not buy the extra blades as the book and video both show how to modify a regular jigsaw blade. i got it mostly for the planters as with my back can't bend like i used to. but the book goes into waters, feeders, poultry feeders, composters, poultry brooders (if i make one i plan to use a dimmer switch to further control the heat), molds for making stepping stones, cold frames, fountains, small fish ponds, etc... i really think i will get my moneys worth from this book as i see many things i want that will not cost much now to build. i am not connected in anyway with this firm but do think they deliver on what they say they will. please note i have only just got the book and may feel diferent after trying the projects but as of now i really recomend it. it is also advertised in countryside magazine. if you have any questions please e-mail me and will try to answer them. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), August 10, 2000.