For alla the math gurus in here

rockhound · #21 05/27/12, 05:29 AM

How will you keep out the rats?

sammyd · #22 05/27/12, 05:36 AM

won't be too many since the grain will be long gone

FarmboyBill · #23 05/27/12, 06:51 AM

Sam, U say put it in a pile and tarp. How big a tarp would I need for 5 acres of the stuff

Unc. Your saying that the dry stuff stuck together and formed clots as it were? I havnt seen wooden picket fencing NEW in 50yrs.
The barn on the place im hopeing to get is only 18 X 50 with no mow. So, Ill be useing it for hay, and the center for storing the Case and H
I know U have to do that up north unc, fenciing in the corn field. I helped dad do that many times. BUT down here, I can follow the corn with haygrazer and get a cutting and then enough regrowth hopefully for a good plowdown. I got a picker, but I got a Binder also. Both IHC. Ill cut it with the biinder.

Rats. Thats what my cats are for. I havnt seen but one mouse this year.

Alice In TX/MO · #24 05/27/12, 06:53 AM

I've never seen corner posts on a circle.

I've never seen a better description of a rat habitat.

PurpleToad · #25 05/27/12, 10:23 AM

What kind of structural support are you planning on using for this? What kind of posts/poles are you putting in? If you planning on going 24ft high (8ft chicken wire can come in 1 X 2in squares.) and be able to support a roof structure on top of that, I'm thinking you would need telephone poles.

If you looking at cutting a hole in a circular wire structure for the door at the bottom, wouldn't that just destroy any lateral support you had since there will only be 4 support posts?

Is this going to be a temporary structure that is meant to be taken down and moved every year? If not why not get 8-10 telephone poles and build a simple pole barn. If you want the "open" sides why not use the fencing material your planning on using attached to the poles?

coolrunnin · #26 05/27/12, 10:54 AM

Why not a trench silo?

tinknal · #27 05/27/12, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyd

I would think that 24 foot of light fluffy corn fodder will soon get heavier than chicken wire will bear I would use wooden snow fence.

Exact thing I was going to say. Another advantage is that after using it you still have a good useable piece of snow fence. With the wire all you would have left is a mess.

#28 05/27/12, 12:19 PM

FBB has the right idea. Make a square with a post at each corner. The distance between posts is a bit less than 16 feet, measured diagonaly. Use pythagoran theorum to find the length of a side (h squared = a squared + b squared). h is a bit less than 16 feet, a and b are the same, so you get
16 squared = 2(a squared). This works out to a bit less than 11.3 feet.

If you make the square with sides a bit less than 11 feet 3 inches, encircle it with 50 feet of fence, and fill that evenly with fodder, the pressure will make a circle.

I don't know about the strength of the chicken wire or the habitat of rats.

wogglebug · #29 05/27/12, 12:33 PM

The rat argument has a point. They may not go there for food, but it would still be a nice easy warm overwinter home. I know of someone who built a hayshed too close to his house, and got overwhelmed by mice. Just something to keep in mind - maybe a fair distance from the house.

edcopp · #30 05/27/12, 12:39 PM

Pie R Square. Don't let anybody tell you different.

Chain link fence is cool, if you can find some used. Also have seen snow fence used like this.

FarmboyBill · #31 05/27/12, 12:43 PM

Thanks Nim. As I stated before. I havnt seen a new roll of wood slat woven fence in 50yrs.

As stated before. I shouldnt have rats, as I have plenty of cats, and I dont have rats or mice here.

The barn is rather built like the OLD eastern ones, with the side open . IT, as it now stands has the whole side open on 2 bays, they adjoining each other. I would tear out the one side thats closed with multi colored tin, and enclose each end side with the middle bay left open closed by a slideing door with a walk in door built into it.

IO would use utility poles for the 4 poles. I would put it 15/20ft in front of the side of the barn but to one side of the barn door. That way I could get my 10ft wide hay rack inbetween the barn and silo easily to unload hay.

This would be p[ermanent.
I would make a door caseing out of 2in lumber, both inside and out the cut I made for the door. I would bolt this together through the wire around the opening, then nail hinges to the side caseing and door. The C I made with the wire on the top tier would be to hold the fodder from blowing over, and blowing through the gap. I would steeple it to the forward posts so that it wouldnt collapse. It wouldnt hold but a bit less than 1/2 or less than the bottom tiers.

FarmboyBill · #32 05/27/12, 12:46 PM

Woggl, it would be around between 100/125ft away from the house.

Chain link fenc has too big of gaps.. If I can get this fencing at 1in sq, id get that. Even rabbit wire, if they sell it in 8ft rolls.

FarmboyBill · #33 05/27/12, 12:47 PM

Why would rats and mice choose an outside silo filled with rough corn fodder, open to the weather on all sides, when they could choose an enclosed barn, closed on all sides, filled with much softer hay?? AND only 15/20ft away??

tinknal · #34 05/27/12, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

Thanks Nim. As I stated before. I havnt seen a new roll of wood slat woven fence in 50yrs.

Google is your friend.

Wooden Snow Fence - Discount Fence Supply, Inc.

am1too · #35 05/27/12, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wogglebug

The circle DOES maximise the area you can include for a given boundary.
HOWEVER, if you build a square roof over it, you'll have a lot of the corners of the roofed-over area sort of wasted, because they'll be outside the circle, and I'd say the roof will be more expensive than the circle.
On the other hand, if you made a square container, there'd be significantly less area.
Given a 50' boundary:
Area of circle= approx. 200 sq.ft.
Area of square= approx 156 sq.ft.
You might consider a hexagonal (honeycomb) shape, held by six posts. That would give you a good compromise, area approx. 180 sq.ft., and you could still use the posts to put up a square roof, ridgeline between opposite posts, other two on each side supporting the low sides of the roof/shed.

No if you have only 50ft of material to use the configuration won't change the interior sq footage. I do agree if one puts a sq roof over a circle there will be unused roof outside the circle. Depending on some things such as the wind and height that space may lose its productive value.

FarmboyBill · #36 05/27/12, 01:25 PM

That roof is productive both top and bottom. Tops already been explained. Bottom the back end will rest up tight with the back of the C in order to catch and deflect any fodder that might go over.

As to availability of fencing. The Co I retired used a local fence and wire supplier for their heaters/air cxonditioners. The big ones that sit on top of buildings. I found out that I as a retiree from there can/could get a discount from them on fencing. AND, There in Tulsa

FarmboyBill · #37 05/27/12, 01:29 PM

Tink, looked it up. Which do u think is better, aspen or spruce. They had lots of prices for natural, but none for red. The Natural didnt seem very expensive. Ill check with the fence co here Tomorrow.

tinknal · #38 05/27/12, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am1too

No if you have only 50ft of material to use the configuration won't change the interior sq footage.

Not true. In a circle it will be 198 sf. In a square it will be 156 sf.

FarmboyBill · #39 05/27/12, 03:23 PM

AND, That was one of the selling points in trying to get farmers to build round barns. More space, less materials

tinknal · #40 05/27/12, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

Tink, looked it up. Which do u think is better, aspen or spruce. They had lots of prices for natural, but none for red. The Natural didnt seem very expensive. Ill check with the fence co here Tomorrow.

I suppose the red is treated with some kind of preservative. If it stays more or less dry the natural should be fine.