Teen Makes Homemade Hay Feeding Stations
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Honey Bee Farmstead of York, Australia, makes and sells innovative animal feeders from recycled IBC totes. “We’ve been blown away by the response to my 15-year-old son Noah’s Animal Feeder Stations,” says Mel. “The video’s received over 10 million views and loads of shares and saves.”
The Farmstead prioritizes repurposing, so taking an item commonly discarded and giving it new life made sense. “Each feeder takes about 45 min. to make, though there are other designs we can put together faster,” Mel says. “We like this feeder design because it holds two to three hay bales. That enables you to leave the farm while ensuring plenty of food for cows, sheep, goats and other livestock.”
Honey Bee Farmstead’s YouTube channel provides step-by-step instructions for making one. You’ll need an IBC tote, a welder, safety gear, a grinder with a cutting and sanding disc, a piece of mesh, and tools for removing screws.
Start by removing the top metal frame to free the tote’s top. Be sure to save all the plumbing and cut-off pieces. “These are expensive. You might need them for future projects,” says Mel.
Next, draw lines along the top and bottom of the tote aligned with the wire bands. Cut the middle bars at the corners and just above the bottom row. Flip the tote to remove the plastic from the metal frame. Next, bend the loose panels toward the center. Nick suggests welding a flat piece of mesh at the bottom to make a broader base that can fit several bales. Otherwise, it’s possible to tie the two sides into a V, though this strategy limits interior space. Cut apart the plastic tote at the line marks, then place the top and bottom onto the modified frame.
The finished design fits several bales, a mineral block and calf pellets along the bottom. “They’re so much more than just a feeder,” says Mel. “And the public response has been incredible. We’ve sold quite a few locally for $250. Noah’s saving the money for a car.”
The feeder may only be the start, as Noah has more projects on the horizon. He’s looking to make automatic filling water troughs using blue plastic drums, another single-use waste item.
“Anyone can make this trough, and it’s a far superior way to feed your livestock,” says Mel. “Not only is it cost-effective, but keeping the feed off the ground reduces parasite problems in your livestock.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Honey Bee Farmstead (honeybeefarmstead@gmail.com; YouTube: @honey-bee-farmstead; Facebook: Honey-Bee Farmstead; Instagram: honey_bee_farmstead).
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Teen Makes Homemade Hay Feeding Stations
Honey Bee Farmstead of York, Australia, makes and sells innovative animal feeders from recycled IBC totes. “We’ve been blown away by the response to my 15-year-old son Noah’s Animal Feeder Stations,” says Mel. “The video’s received over 10 million views and loads of shares and saves.”
The Farmstead prioritizes repurposing, so taking an item commonly discarded and giving it new life made sense. “Each feeder takes about 45 min. to make, though there are other designs we can put together faster,” Mel says. “We like this feeder design because it holds two to three hay bales. That enables you to leave the farm while ensuring plenty of food for cows, sheep, goats and other livestock.”
Honey Bee Farmstead’s YouTube channel provides step-by-step instructions for making one. You’ll need an IBC tote, a welder, safety gear, a grinder with a cutting and sanding disc, a piece of mesh, and tools for removing screws.
Start by removing the top metal frame to free the tote’s top. Be sure to save all the plumbing and cut-off pieces. “These are expensive. You might need them for future projects,” says Mel.
Next, draw lines along the top and bottom of the tote aligned with the wire bands. Cut the middle bars at the corners and just above the bottom row. Flip the tote to remove the plastic from the metal frame. Next, bend the loose panels toward the center. Nick suggests welding a flat piece of mesh at the bottom to make a broader base that can fit several bales. Otherwise, it’s possible to tie the two sides into a V, though this strategy limits interior space. Cut apart the plastic tote at the line marks, then place the top and bottom onto the modified frame.
The finished design fits several bales, a mineral block and calf pellets along the bottom. “They’re so much more than just a feeder,” says Mel. “And the public response has been incredible. We’ve sold quite a few locally for $250. Noah’s saving the money for a car.”
The feeder may only be the start, as Noah has more projects on the horizon. He’s looking to make automatic filling water troughs using blue plastic drums, another single-use waste item.
“Anyone can make this trough, and it’s a far superior way to feed your livestock,” says Mel. “Not only is it cost-effective, but keeping the feed off the ground reduces parasite problems in your livestock.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Honey Bee Farmstead (honeybeefarmstead@gmail.com; YouTube: @honey-bee-farmstead; Facebook: Honey-Bee Farmstead; Instagram: honey_bee_farmstead).
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