Where to get five-gallon buckets with lids in bulk?

[Lom]

I need to get a ton of five-gallon buckets with lids - something like 180 - for chicken feed. I have some 27-gallon totes but rats chew right through those, so I'm just gonna deal with getting the thicker buckets. I have some, which I slowly acquired from Jimmy Johns (old pickle buckets). But, if I need a bunch of them quicker than I can get them from Jimmy Johns, does anyone have a recommendation? I've searched online with some success but thought people here might have a suggestion.

 

[N F C]

Try a company called Uline. I've used them for a wide variety of things over the years and they are great to deal with.
https://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSearchResult?keywords=plastic buckets

I'm wondering though, won't the rats chew through plastic buckets?

Uline has metal buckets with lids too:
https://www.uline.com/BL_507/Steel-Pails-and-Lids?keywords=metal+buckets

 

[wrathsfarm]

I was going to suggest 'pickle' buckets, but you have that covered already.

 

[Lom]

I'm wondering though, won't the rats chew through plastic buckets?

So far the buckets have not been breached, though I have seen some gnaw marks.

The 27 gallon totes are just a total loss, though. Doesn't even slow them down anymore.

 

[wrathsfarm]

So far the buckets have not been breached, though I have seen some gnaw marks.

The 27 gallon totes are just a total loss, though. Doesn't even slow them down anymore.

I've been using cat litter buckets, they seem thicker than just regular buckets but haven't rat tested them yet, fortunately.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Rats can chew through 5 gallon buckets. I've also had 55 gallon plastic barrels that are like 2x as thick as buckets and they've chewed through them.

 

[saysfaa]

Unfortunately, they will go through the thicker pails when the thinner totes are gone since they know what is in them.

You might try something like a dumpster, tank of similarly thick metal, or building a metal mesh (metal lathe; not hardware cloth) cage to put the pails in. A welder could fit something over the openings or add ventilation openings covered with something rats can't get through and add or modify a door.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I need to get a ton of five-gallon buckets with lids - something like 180 - for chicken feed.

Have you considered getting 55 gallon metal barrels?

180 five gallon buckets is 800 gallons, that is huge. That sounds like a commercial operation. You might try chatting with your county extension office and see what they suggest. For something like that I'd want something metal. That won't be cheap.

 

[The Moonshiner]

180 five gallon buckets is 800 gallons, that is huge.

I think it's 900 gallons but idk anyone that measures feed in gallons so.
I pretty much fill 2 5 gallon buckets with 1 50lb bag of feed so 90 bags of feed. Ya that's a whole lotta feed at once.
I only deal with usually 20- 24 bags at a time because that's all my truck can handle hauling.
I pick up non working free chest freezers off CL or marketplace as needed. The smaller ones hold about 6 bags and my largest 12 bags.
I just fill them up and scoop out with a five gallon bucket when I'm feeding. Cheapest, easiest way to go that I've found.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah, I missed the math and I'm an engineer.