How To Make Feed Bunks Out of Tractor Tires

Tractor tires make acceptable feed bunks with a bit of alteration.

Farm animals are not tidy eaters. When eating hay, they tend to spread it far and wide, trampling and soiling a significant percentage of what's offered with no thought for their owner's pocketbook.



In order to minimize economic losses from wasted hay, it's important to feed hay in a feed bunk of some sort. Since metal feeders are expensive, many people choose to make homemade feed bunks out of inexpensive recycled materials like tractor tires instead.

Things You'll Need

• Drill
• Reciprocating saw
• Exterior grade plywood
• Carpenter's pencil
• 6 Bolts
• 12 Washers
• 6 Nuts

Instructions

1. Drill a hole in the sidewall of a tractor tire that has been removed from its rim. The hole should be high up on the sidewall, close to the edge of the tread.

2. Insert the blade of a reciprocating saw through the drilled hole and cut around the perimeter of the sidewall, separating the sidewall from the rest of the tire. Dispose of the sidewall properly by taking it to be recycled.

3. Flip the tire over. Place a piece of exterior grade plywood over the tire and use a carpenter's pencil to trace around the outside of the tire, marking the bottom of the plywood. Flip the plywood over and cut it to fit the tire with the reciprocating saw; it doesn't have to be terribly neat or exact as long as you end up with a plywood circle that roughly fits over the tire.

4. Tip the tire up on its edge and support it safely -- a couple of assistants can be invaluable for this. Place the plywood against the side of the tire that still has its sidewall and drill six evenly spaced holes through both the plywood and the sidewall. Place a bolt with two washers through each hole and fasten it in place with a nut to hold the plywood to the tire.

5. Drill a few more holes through both the sidewall and the plywood to let water drain out of the tire after rainstorms. Drill a couple of holes through the center area of the plywood for drainage, as well. Failure to allow for drainage will result in standing water that breeds mosquitos.

6. Place the tire on the ground, plywood side down. Check the entire thing carefully for sharp or rough edges and trim away any that you find. Carry or drag the feeder into position, using a truck or tractor with a chain if it's too heavy to lift.

Tips & Warnings

• Large tractor tires are extremely heavy, so get several helpers for the project.

• If the animals drag the feeder out of position, put large rocks or cement blocks in the bottom. Alternately, fill the bottom with a few inches of concrete.

• Use bias ply tractor tires whenever possible. Radial tires are undesirable because of the metal wires inside, which may work free and injure your animals.

• Tractor tire feed bunks are not recommended for use with horses. Several horses have died of broken legs or necks after becoming entrapped in the middle of tire feeders and panicking.

References

• Axeholme Shires: A Safe Tractor Tire Hay Feeder
• KBR Horse: Horse Proof Feeders