Has anyone build a feed mixer yet?

[wintrrwolf]

Some say they use old cement mixer..well those go on craigslist for at least 300 used...
Anyone have idea's for a hand crank 50 gal feed mixer?
Just plain hurting from bending and lifting so many bags at a time to mix my feed.
Would love to see pics...might even consider buying one.

Gahhh meant "built" geesh my spelling/grammer is way off today.

[Bret]

What do you want to mix? How much. For small quantities could you mix in a couple of five gallon buckets by pouring back and forth? This is from a guy who is willing to feed large round bales of hay when necessary, one fork at a time.

My next step up idea for you would be a barrel with a secure lid that could roll between a couple of board stops in the back of a pickup truck.

I do have a cement mixer that I have used to blend things other that cement.

[wintrrwolf]

I usually buy my feed by 50# bags have to mix for the goats, then for the chickens, then for the horses. Usually 2 each so that adds up to 300# of feed lol my back is killing me once I am done. And if I want to mix like 50% oats, 10% BOSS, 20% alfalfa, 20% goat ration ..don't have room for multi barrels of feed, have one barrel for goats, 1 for chickens, and 1 for horses.
I have even looked at attachments for a drill but the "paddles" are not really paddles so don't think it would mix well.

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I would imagine one could build one out of a barrel following the instructions for a compost roller

[||Downhome||]

http://thepauleyprinciple.blogspot.c...cken-feed.html

[jcatblum]

Harbor freight cement mixers are much cheaper. They had one that had been returned & think it cost us $125.

[parrotman]

I'm a Harbor Freight fan, also. They always have a 20% off coupon one single item, to boot!

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-1-2-h...xer-67536.html

[wintrrwolf]

Ohhh i like that one!

[Josie]

I know I'm slow responding to this thread...I mix my own feed too...and it is a pain. I've been looking at the DIY "compost" barrel mixer designs.
Maybe this one? http://www.createfortwo.com/2010/06/...mpost-tumbler/
I think the design needs to have some sort of paddles on the inside so it'll mix better...and I'm not sure how you get it all back out easily...still working on it...thoughts anyone?
Here are several more design ideas and plans: http://www.eteksciki.info/videos/compost+tumbler

[myheaven]

I use my compost tumbler. I was given one and just do better with compost piles so I get whole grains, run it threw my leaf shredder and mix in my tumbler. You can easily make one form a 55 gallon drum.

[TerryJ]

Years ago I mixed in a wheelbarrow and a hoe.

[Otter]

I have mixed feed for several stables and farms, all with the same method - a feed scoop and a 5G bucket.
I'm not seeing the reason that feed ingredients have to go from 50lb bags to a big, premixed container. If I want to mix like 50% oats, 10% BOSS, 20% alfalfa, 20% goat ration, I throw in 2 heaping scoops of oats, a half scoop of BOSS, a scoop of alfalfa and a scoop of goat ration into a 5G bucket, and then if I want it really mixed, I pour it into a second bucket. I have an old desk out there so the buckets are waist high and it's easy on my back.
Currently I'm feeding 6 horses, 8 goats, 3 pigs, 12 chickens and a duck that way - I don't carry more than 2 5G buckets at a time anyway, and if I really needed to, I used to feed 45 horses by the same method, only using a wheelbarrow. Feed is a lot easier to store in the 50 lb bags it came in than taking it out to pre-mix it before I'm ready to feed.

Maybe I'm not understanding the situation that needs 300 lbs of premixed feed on hand?

[Alice In TX/MO]

I have a large plastic trash can. Set my bags of feed up in a row next to it. Use a three pound scoop. Two scoops of this, one scoop of that, repeat. Only have to lift the bags to put them in place. The feed is in thin layers in the trash can, and I swirl it when I'm getting feed each morning and evening. Easy.