Here's our el cheapo solution, which I have posted a time or two on other threads. You can get 275 gallon IBC totes and in just a couple of hours with a reciprocating saw, or dual saw, turn them in to water tight, easy to clean, and cheap chicken housing.
The tanks are about 4x4, and we sometimes put two together like a duplex. My wonderful husband cuts windows and door openings which we cover with wire, or slide plastering lathe over, using the metal container frame to hold it in place when we want it closed. We use scrap 2x4 lumber for roosts which are held in place simply by protruding from the openings made to insert them-you can get the idea. There is a round screw-off fill opening at the top and an open/close drain valve at the bottom of the back vertical wall. The drain makes it a breeze to hose out when necessary, and the top opening is good for hanging feeders, or lights, or whatever you may need. We also put an A-frame roof over the tops of most of ours to shed water and provide shade. These are made from 8' lengths of PVC corrugated roofing sheets screwed to the frame. Cut in half, one $15 sheet will cover one tote with a small overhang on the sides. This is best done with hex washer drill point roofing screws; they are pricey for screws, but make the job much easier.
IBC totes are not too hard to come by used. Just look on craiglist. We use totes that previously held polymer floor coating and do not feel that food grade is necessary as the totes wash out very clean with no residual odor. We sell them at our feed store for $75 bucks, rinsed out and delivered, if in town. Ours we get from a local flooring company just for hauling them away, so maybe call around to find a deal. People use them for all kinds of stuff, including hauling potable water, as many homesteads in our area have no water service and must haul if they do not have a well. They are not predator proof by themselves, but work great inside an enclosed run or, as in our case, surrounded by electric poultry net. Hope this sparks an idea for somebody.
The tanks are about 4x4, and we sometimes put two together like a duplex. My wonderful husband cuts windows and door openings which we cover with wire, or slide plastering lathe over, using the metal container frame to hold it in place when we want it closed. We use scrap 2x4 lumber for roosts which are held in place simply by protruding from the openings made to insert them-you can get the idea. There is a round screw-off fill opening at the top and an open/close drain valve at the bottom of the back vertical wall. The drain makes it a breeze to hose out when necessary, and the top opening is good for hanging feeders, or lights, or whatever you may need. We also put an A-frame roof over the tops of most of ours to shed water and provide shade. These are made from 8' lengths of PVC corrugated roofing sheets screwed to the frame. Cut in half, one $15 sheet will cover one tote with a small overhang on the sides. This is best done with hex washer drill point roofing screws; they are pricey for screws, but make the job much easier.
IBC totes are not too hard to come by used. Just look on craiglist. We use totes that previously held polymer floor coating and do not feel that food grade is necessary as the totes wash out very clean with no residual odor. We sell them at our feed store for $75 bucks, rinsed out and delivered, if in town. Ours we get from a local flooring company just for hauling them away, so maybe call around to find a deal. People use them for all kinds of stuff, including hauling potable water, as many homesteads in our area have no water service and must haul if they do not have a well. They are not predator proof by themselves, but work great inside an enclosed run or, as in our case, surrounded by electric poultry net. Hope this sparks an idea for somebody.
