[dipper]

I am hoping to get some opinions here about paper vs poly feed bags. I work for a feed manufacturer who would like to get the horse owner opinion on this. Do you prefer one over the other? Do you recycle or throw away bags? Have you had any issues or good experiences with either? All thoughts and opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!:lol:

 

[iridehorses]

I prefer paper because it is easier and more eco-efficient to depose of. I really like the ones that have the tabs on top to make opening easier. That being said, it's more important what is in the bag rather then the bag itself. I would not switch to a different feed just because of the bag.

 

[MHFoundation Quarters]

I also prefer paper but the feed I buy now is in poly bags. I do re-use a few of them to put out fly bait on in my barn. When we used to get paper bags, I used them as starter for my fire pit.

 

[Ladytrails]

We get both types, for different feeds. I like the poly because they take up less space, but the paper are easier to fold nicely and stack inside another bag. We reuse them, both types, for trash around the barn and garden.

 

[Delfina]

Poly, the resist moisture better if the floor is damp and they make great trash bags.

I shovel the contents of our pigpen into one when I clean it. Neat, tidy and clean to then carry to the dumpster.

 

[Joe4d]

Poly are easier to reuse, and wont get damp. I never really thought about it though. I honestly cant remember what my usual food come in.
Instead of worrying about the bag howabout NOT putting made in CHINA ingredients in the bag.

 

[caseymyhorserocks]

Hmm.. I dont really care, but if I had a choice, paper... Because they are easier to cut, and with poly, I always end up with pieces of poly in my grain- its not the company, it just comes loose and falls into the grain when I cut it..

 

[mousemom]

Love the durability, moisture prevention, and ease of opening of the poly bags. And poly bags can be reused for awesome grocery bags.

 

[Dreamcatcher Arabians]

Both. I prefer paper because it's easier to dispose of but I like poly because they don't let water into the feed as easily if you happen to get rained on, on the way home. Not that I've seen rain recently or remember what it is.....

I use both types when lining my feed barn trash cans so I can then put them into the weekly trash.

 

[BigGreyHorse]

I prefer paper but my cubes are in a poly bag. They do indeed make excellent shopping bags!!! You could put a truck in them.

 

[KatieQ]

The feed I use just recently switched to poly from paper. Now I have a huge pile of poly bags to get rid of! I used to use the paper ones for starting fires.

 

[dee]

I don't care whether it's paper or poly - I can re-use both for various things. What I really miss (and I know I'm dating myself!) is burlap bags!

 

[mousemom]

Hmmm, I guess these don't really qualify as poly bags...duh, although they are coated in plastic type stuff. But, as for a feed bag I love them they are very durable and as I mentioned earlier water resistant.
Side note: Converting the grain bags to shopping bags and then selling them at a local feed store netted our local 4H club a few bucks, thinking fund raiser. I have used bird seed bags, chicken feed bags, and obviouslu horse grain bags, once you figure out the size and cut them out it doesn't take that long to sew them up. I made about 40 bags last year and used them as xmas gift bags at the barn and the family xmas. They were a really big hit.

 

[mousemom]

You got that right burlap bags were the best!

 

[Corporal]

Poly, the resist moisture better if the floor is damp and they make great trash bags.

I shovel the contents of our pigpen into one when I clean it. Neat, tidy and clean to then carry to the dumpster.

I used to like the paper, but I prefer the plastic now, and I've found that the food stays a LOT fresher, here in IL, where we all live in a big swamp!! lol
I do the SAME thing with my plastic feed bags. They line my regular and metal (for baling wire, glass, etc. garbage) trash cans in my barn, they line my trash cans in my garage and in my basement. I use them for trash everytime I have to throw away something dangerous, like glass from a broken window or the 3 raccoons I had to kill that were terrorizing my cat this summer in the barn!! (IT was WAY to dry to start a fire to burn the bodies, you see.)
Every once in a while I'll buy a bag of feed elsewhere that is paper, and I use it for my burnpile.

 

[dipper]

THanks everyone so much for the great responses! I love what you all have done to recycle the poly bags. Please keep the comments coming. The more opinions we have the better the decision we can make. THanks again!

 

[Delfina]

I want directions on making the shopping bags. There's probably 50+ bags at the barn right now that my trainer would happily let me haul off.

 

[mousemom]

I want directions on making the shopping bags. There's probably 50+ bags at the barn right now that my trainer would happily let me haul off.

First off I am no seamtress...Making the bags was never an exact science as all bags had different designs.
But my basic pattern:
Front and back 2 each 13" x 17"
Sides 2 each 7.5" x 17"
bottom 1 each 7.5 x 13
handles 2 each 1" x 20" (approx) webbing found at you local fabric store

I liked having the same pattern on both sides so it took two bags for every one finished product.

I first cut the bags open near a seam and wipe clean.Then I cut out the front, back, sides, and bottom.
I sew from the reverse side lining up all my edges sewing approx 1/2" to 3/4" from the edge, I run two seams on every edge for security. When I get all four sewed together I tackle the bottom again using around 1/2" to 3/4" seam to edge, I start putting it together. (I have found that if I cut a small square out of each corner of the bottom piece it goes together much easier, less bulky). Once the bottom is attatched to the sides I turn the bag right side out. For the top of the bag I fold the edge inward two times about 3/4" to 1" I use masking tape to hold in place. Then sew the folded edge down, I use two rows of stitches about 1/4" apart for security. Done with that sew on the handles I kind of just eyeballed this for spacing (melt edges so it doesnt unravel). I sew a criss cross pattern surrounded by a square and attatch to the folded over top. I never had any problem sewing through the material but I di have to play with the tension of the sewing machine you will have plenty of scrap to play with.

Hope this helps, although I came up with the actual plan I used, I started by using the internet searching "homemade grocery bags, reusing feed bags", etc..

 

[Ladytrails]

First off I am no seamtress...Making the bags was never an exact science as all bags had different designs.
But my basic pattern:
Front and back 2 each 13" x 17"
Sides 2 each 7.5" x 17"
bottom 1 each 7.5 x 13
handles 2 each 1" x 20" (approx) webbing found at you local fabric store

I liked having the same pattern on both sides so it took two bags for every one finished product.

I first cut the bags open near a seam and wipe clean.Then I cut out the front, back, sides, and bottom.
I sew from the reverse side lining up all my edges sewing approx 1/2" to 3/4" from the edge, I run two seams on every edge for security. When I get all four sewed together I tackle the bottom again using around 1/2" to 3/4" seam to edge, I start putting it together. (I have found that if I cut a small square out of each corner of the bottom piece it goes together much easier, less bulky). Once the bottom is attatched to the sides I turn the bag right side out. For the top of the bag I fold the edge inward two times about 3/4" to 1" I use masking tape to hold in place. Then sew the folded edge down, I use two rows of stitches about 1/4" apart for security. Done with that sew on the handles I kind of just eyeballed this for spacing (melt edges so it doesnt unravel). I sew a criss cross pattern surrounded by a square and attatch to the folded over top. I never had any problem sewing through the material but I di have to play with the tension of the sewing machine you will have plenty of scrap to play with.

Hope this helps, although I came up with the actual plan I used, I started by using the internet searching "homemade grocery bags, reusing feed bags", etc..

These are cool, Mousemom. The poly bags I'm getting now are pure white - no markings or pictures at all! I feel cheated.....

 

[Left Hand Percherons]

Instead of worrying about the bag howabout NOT putting made in CHINA ingredients in the bag.

The poly bags are make in China.