Feed storage?

I've read some stuff on various containers and things and it seems to me like metal is best as rodents can chew through plastic? So then I wanted to go to Wal-Mart or like TSC or Home Depot, something like that, to get some of these metal trash cans or even order on Amazon but some of them are kind of expensive

Well, turns out my mom found this one at our local dump/transfer station. Obviously free's good so if it's good I wanna use it?

The only thing is it's kinda rusty on the inside bottom but I figure we could put a trash bag or something in and just our the feed in there or just put the feed bag directly in there and leave the feed in the bag.

The other thing though is I have no idea how big it is as the sticker is worn off. What do you think? It looks bigger than a 10 gallon but obviously way smaller than full size 31 gallon trash can so I was thinking maybe 18 or 20?

Which brings me to my next question:

How much feed do you think it wi hold? I've heard a 10 gallon just fits 50 pounds?

I use a can like yours, hard to tell the size by the picture though.

I just put the feed bag inside, and open it.

Feed never touches the can, and easy to replace when empty.

That sounds like a great idea

That's what I would do but you can always paint the inside of the can to seal the rust.

ChickenCanoe said:

That's what I would do but you can always paint the inside of the can to seal the rust.

Click to expand...

How did I never think of that? Thank you.

If you have an auto paint store anywhere around you, they carry products that convert and seal rust prior to painting and work well with galvanized metal.

I'm not sure we have a store specifically for that but I'm sure i could find one. That's a great idea, thanks.

They rust on the bottom because of dampness under the can. It will live longer if you set it on something to protect the bottom from more dampness. Also, before using a paint product, make sure it's non-toxic in contact with food. I doubt that auto body paint fits the bill there. Just put the feed bags in it instead. Mary

It takes a 30 gallon can to easily fit a 50lb bag into, may be able to cram it into 20 gallon but I doubt it. If not in bag then less than 20 gallon can, don't think a ten gallon is enough but you can always keep filling the feeder to top until the rest of bag contents is gone.

As for painting the interior of your can you'll need a primer made for galvanized metal. Trust me, the commercial product is very nasty stuff and you'd only contemplate using it outside and allowing days of airing out. The acrylic all surface primer isn't as bad and good enough for this type application. After primed any exterior latex paint will adhere to it. I'd use a semi gloss.

All surface acrylic primer for example is good enough to use just clean metal thoroughly with an acid wash or solvent. A deglosser would work, maybe just acetone would suffice (nail polish remover).

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/hom...ringCategory=exterior-paint-coatings/primers/

Or you can use a DTM exterior primer/finish paint. Still need to clean surface prior to application.

http://protective.sherwin-williams.com/detail.jsp?A=sku-25998:product-6785

I used Sherwin Williams products as example and if it were me I'd just get the DTM primer/finish as your only talking one product purchase unless you have on hand the exterior latex top coat then a quart of all surface primer would be more economical.

Thanks for all the info everyone.

I'll definitely prop it up on something and I'll probably look into painting it.

Also, I tried to put 50 pounds in (two 25s) and the first one fit but took up more than half (I think maybe the trash bags shifted? And took up room or something?) but I tried putting the other bag in anyway and it didn't really fit. Most did and I kept fill, probably too much, and when smoothed out fit, but there's still a little bit in the bag