I have a shelter that was built onto the back of my barn some 40-50 years ago. It's in great shape, is 16' x 19' with the east 1/2 of the south wall open. When I bought the place in 1999, there was a wooden manger on the north wall, that ran about 6 inches short of the east wall, to allow the door to the barn to open (it's on rollers up on top, you see.)
Originally, it was built for cattle. There is a catwalk from the loft door, and it made it really easy to drop down hay into the manger. I had to take down the top bar bc my horses were shaving off a portion of their manes when feeding from it, but it was PERFECT bc I didn't have to feed hay outside where the weather and horses would waste it.
Now, I have to rebuild it. I've taken everything apart and cleaned up the area. I've also done some web research. Here's one site that has been helpful,
http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Hay+Feeders+(hard-sided)
but...I really just want to put in a rectangular box to start, then, maybe I'll amend it later. I'm just not sure about how I fill it under their hardware cloth--I'm considering my horses's safety, and my own convenience. Has anybody here built one before? I'm thinking of using 2x4's, I have on hand two 12 foot 2 x 8's kicking around in my loft that I think could be used, and I figure that 1/2" or 3/4" plywood, to finish the sides. ANY advice will be helpful, since I'm going to start this weekend. Thanks in advance!! I get great advice here. **hugs**
P. S. DH and I built an awesome box house for our turkeys last year, and the base was a wooden pallet!! We are open for anything, and have NO pride!!
Here's our building project, for which we had no plans!!..very brave of us!
Here is the inside of it. I cut an old rubber mat to fit on the inside. The grey and red paint were gallons of mistint I had kicking around. I think my manger will be painted with a mistint pukey gold I accidentally bought last month!!
Originally, it was built for cattle. There is a catwalk from the loft door, and it made it really easy to drop down hay into the manger. I had to take down the top bar bc my horses were shaving off a portion of their manes when feeding from it, but it was PERFECT bc I didn't have to feed hay outside where the weather and horses would waste it.
Now, I have to rebuild it. I've taken everything apart and cleaned up the area. I've also done some web research. Here's one site that has been helpful,
http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Hay+Feeders+(hard-sided)
but...I really just want to put in a rectangular box to start, then, maybe I'll amend it later. I'm just not sure about how I fill it under their hardware cloth--I'm considering my horses's safety, and my own convenience. Has anybody here built one before? I'm thinking of using 2x4's, I have on hand two 12 foot 2 x 8's kicking around in my loft that I think could be used, and I figure that 1/2" or 3/4" plywood, to finish the sides. ANY advice will be helpful, since I'm going to start this weekend. Thanks in advance!! I get great advice here. **hugs**
P. S. DH and I built an awesome box house for our turkeys last year, and the base was a wooden pallet!! We are open for anything, and have NO pride!!
Here's our building project, for which we had no plans!!..very brave of us!
Here is the inside of it. I cut an old rubber mat to fit on the inside. The grey and red paint were gallons of mistint I had kicking around. I think my manger will be painted with a mistint pukey gold I accidentally bought last month!!