Large Bale Feeder

HOW MANY CATTLE CAN EAT AT ONE TIME?
10 head can eat at one time
how many cattle is this designed for?
This design allows for a total of 30 head. 
how much does this cost?
We estimate the cost to be around $15,000. We do not have a detailed pricing guide, as prices vary depending on stores, locations, and personal skill sets or existing infrastructure on the farm (i.e., concrete). 
Where can i purchase the wheels for the feeder?
The wheels can be found here: https://www.mcmaster.com/22495t52
​does eden shale farm sell a kit or materials to build a large bale feeder?
No, Eden Shale Farm does not sell anything. We provide the designs and list of materials, but do not sell any materials or kits. ​
I would be concerned with cows lower in the pecking order missing out on feed. What are your thoughts on if It should have 2 sides, where they both push to the middle.
We feed 24 cows with this structure. 8 cows can feed at one time, and given the hay is free choice, they will cycle through and all the cows get a turn in the feeder. As part of this design, the water source is located a minimum of 150 foot away. When the cattle are finished eating hay they will go get a drink and then they will go to the woods for shelter and not come back to the feeder until they are ready to eat again. The water placement prevents the animals from loafing in the feeder when they are not eating, which allows enough space to efficiently feed 24 head with this structure.

Tire Waterers

Where can I purchase or find a giant tire?
You can often find them as surplus from old mine sites, quarries, or other locations that deal in large equipment. ​With a little calling around you can usually find a source to get the tires for free. Check with your local tire distributors and ask them if they have any available. There are also businesses that will sell them already cut and with all the valves and equipment you need to install them. A little searching on the internet and you should be able to locate either one in your area. ​You can also contact your state's Division of Waste Management to find waste tires.

If you're in Kentucky, here are a couple of distributors that you can get pre-cut tires from:
  • Dalton Tire Recycling - 606-325-7717 - 2640 Hoods Creek Pike, Ashland, KY 41102
  • Four Star Blasting Mat Inc. - 502-543-3140 - 361 Horsefly Hollow Rd, Lebanon Junction, KY 40150
  • Four Star Tire Recycling Inc - 502-488-0822 - 6808 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004
  • Porter Tire Center Inc. - 606-286-4484 - 18361 W US 60, Olive Hill, KY 41164
Who did you contact to find a large tire?
With a little calling around you can usually find a source to get the tires for free. Check with your local tire distributors and ask them if they have any available. There are also businesses that will sell them already cut and with all the valves and equipment you need to install them. A little searching on the internet and you should be able to locate either one in your area. The majority of our tires have been obtained for free from waste stockpiles. The best way to find one is to call people that you might expect to deal with equipment that uses large tires. They will likely have a stockpile of waste tires. ​You can also contact your state's Division of Waste Management to find waste tires.

If you're in Kentucky, here are a couple of distributors that you can get pre-cut tires from:
  • Dalton Tire Recycling - 606-325-7717 - 2640 Hoods Creek Pike, Ashland, KY 41102
  • Four Star Blasting Mat Inc. - 502-543-3140 - 361 Horsefly Hollow Rd, Lebanon Junction, KY 40150
  • Four Star Tire Recycling Inc - 502-488-0822 - 6808 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004
  • Porter Tire Center Inc. - 606-286-4484 - 18361 W US 60, Olive Hill, KY 41164
How do the black balls work to prevent water from freezing?
They provide some additional insulation to the water. The black color absorbs some solar energy. thus slightly increasing their temperature relatives to their surroundings. They also reduce the interaction of the surface of the water with cold air. We have not been able to completely reduce freezing with this product. 
Where did you purchase the black balls?
We  purchased them from Precision Plastic Ball Company. Unfortunately, they do not plan on making any more unless an extremely large order was placed. Here is their website www.precisionplasticball.com
Are you doing anything else to prevent water from Freezing?
We have experimented with tock tank deicers, heat riser tubes, and a hybrid solar/wind powered heating element/ The stock tank deicer works well if you have access to AC power. The heat riser tube has had limited success. It is our experience that it will not prevent freezing during extreme cold. The hybrid solar/wind powered heating element did not produce enough power to effectively clear the ice from the tank. It may be able to do so if scaled up substantially, however, it becomes price restrictive quickly. Some producers have had success with creating insulated covers with limited access openings for use during freezing conditions. 
How are the solar water pumps holding up from a few years ago?
The solar powered pumps have functioned well., with minimal maintenance over the last three years. In late 2018, we had the first motor burn out in one of the pumps. We are currently in the process of pursuing a warranty replacement. Without warranty, replacing burnt out motors will cost a couple hundred dollars. 
does eden shale farm sell a kit or materials to build a tire waterer?
No, Eden Shale Farm does not sell anything. We provide the designs and list of materials, but do not sell any materials or kits. ​
if i install a 3,000 gallon PVC water tank to catch rain off a barn roof, do i need to drain it in the winter? could i leave the tank full and not risk breaking it? how can i insulate the tank inexpensively?
If the plastic tank freezes, it could potentially bust if it was full during the winter. Likewise, there is not a good way to insulate it either. If you are wanting to have a water holding tank that you can use year round, we recommend a new septic tank. This way you can bury the tank and not worry about it freezing in the winter. The septic tanks are about the same cost per gallon as the plastic tanks and give you some flexibility in the use of it. 

Fence-Line Feeders

WHAT brand of pre-Fab metal feed panels did you use?
Our panels came from Farmer's Gate in Campbellsville, KY. 
What size are the panels?
We used 12 foot panels on the sides. On the ends, we used an 8 foot panel and a gate. 
How deep did you make the concrete for the pads around the bales?
The concrete is 6 inches.
On each structure, how many cows can eat at one time? 
10 to 12 animals can comfortably feed from the structure at once.
Where can i buy the honeycomb material? 
We used NDS Tufftrack TT-24 Paver grid and purchased it from Site Supply in Midway, Ky. Here is their website www.sitefabric.com/
Who is the manufacturer of the geo grid? 
We used NDS Tufftrack TT-24 Paver grid and purchased it from Site Supply in Midway, KY.  This product works well with gravel of 1/2" of less. Click here to view full details on the product. Here is their website www.sitefabric.com/
does eden shale farm sell a kit or materials to build a fence-line feeder?
No, Eden Shale Farm does not sell anything. We provide the designs and list of materials, but do not sell any materials or kits. ​

Shade Structures

What is the cost to build a portable shade structure?
The cost to build a 10x20 structure is estimated around $1,100 - $1,200. This includes the 10x20 sheet of pre-grommeted 70# occluded shade cloth. 
WHERE CAN I BUY THE SHADE CLOTH MATERIAL?
We purchased the shade cloth from FarmTek. They sell pre-cut, set size pieces with grommets as well as large rolls to grommet yourself and create custom sizes. 
Was the metal structure made from rough stock steel tubing that you fabricated or from a purchased pre-cut type kit?
The metal came from stock square steel tubing that was cut, welded, and painted to fit the design.

Bull Barn Flooring

Where did you purchase the materials for the bull barn flooring?
We get all our construction materials from Site Supply, Inc. The drainage "pipe" we used is the J-DRain MVP-6. Click here to see details. 
Where did you purchase the tires for the flooring?
We buy the tires pre-cut from Porter Tire in Olive Hill, KY. They are about $1.50 a piece. 
Is it possible to scrape out the manure without dislodging the honeycomb grids? 
We have had some of the Geo Grid “honeycomb” flooring in place for 4 years and it is still functioning the same as when we installed it. I have scraped it with the skid steer numerous times, even spinning on it to see if it would hold up, and it always has. In my opinion it is a durable product that is comparable to concrete in terms longevity. ​
Which flooring type is best, in your opinion?
​In my experience the Geo Grid is an excellent option inside of buildings, or any structure that is under roof. It will allow the moisture to percolate down away from the surface and will keep the flooring drier. However, the total cost of installation for the geo grid is approximately the same as concrete on a square foot basis. For this reason the geo grid is best served when used under a roof. If you are creating a feeding area outside that is open with no roof, it is best to pour concrete.
 
We have also used some other cheaper designs of flooring grid, but I like the honeycomb geo grid the best. The other designs are a hassle to install.
 
We have used some tire cylinders (Mechanical Concrete) that has worked good so far and is a much cheaper option. They are simply truck tires that have both sidewalls cut out. We put down geotextile fabric and then lay the tread cylinders down side by side and back fill the tires with dense grade gravel. I have only had these installed for a year, but they are holding up well so far. I think over time they will need some of the gravel replaced, but again, it is a much cheaper option to install. You can read more about this option here