MONEY SAVING BARN TIPS...YOURS?

[MintHillFarm]

My main one is using bulk shavings this year...found a very good quality chippy type (with very little or no dust) that cost $335.00 for 30 cubic yards. This equals approx., 150 bags of shavings, which here in upstate NY are $5.95 a bag. I go thru about 80 bags a month. The bulk will be a huge savings for me. I will still use some bagged shavings for my second barn that has 2 stalls, but still a several hundred dollar savings a month. And I was also able to store this first load inside so it is not that big a hassle to move to the stalls.

[Applesauce]

I buy feed from a local mill rather than premium brands. The feed is just as good as Purina or Pennfields and the horses in my barn thrive on it. They all have gorgeous coats and are in great weight. This saves me about $3.00 a bag and since I buy 20+ bags of feed at a time every few weeks it adds up.

Also, I'm very conservative with how we use electicity in the barn. We only use lights when necessary and I've also bought those energy consaver bulbs. I've seen a difference in my electricity bills too.

[Acertainsmile]

Two yrs ago we rented out some fields to local farmers, they grew soy and corn... and we ended up having to buy hay (lots) to feed our horses thru the winter... we had a terrible drought throughout the summer and were feeding hay in July like it was January...

So we "reclaimed" our fields, and grew plenty of hay and straw for this year... we put up almost 2000 bales of hay, and almost the same amount of straw.

Also, I'm on a quest for cheaply priced winter blankets...I've decided not to spend more than $60 for a heavy weight turnout... and I'm finding brand new ones thanks to Ebay and Tackoftheday!

[galwaybay]

I buy feed from a local mill rather than premium brands. The feed is just as good as Purina or Pennfields and the horses in my barn thrive on it. They all have gorgeous coats and are in great weight. This saves me about $3.00 a bag and since I buy 20+ bags of feed at a time every few weeks it adds up.

Also, I'm very conservative with how we use electicity in the barn. We only use lights when necessary and I've also bought those energy consaver bulbs. I've seen a difference in my electricity bills too.

My BO uses Pennfields and just mentioned the feed had gone up $.50 per bag recently - where are you located? might want to try your mill depending on location - we're in MD

Thanks

[fair judy]

since it is getting harder to make ends meet, extra attention to good maintenance is more imperative than ever. instead of having a spreader grow rust, make a point of keeping it clean and well greased. instead of throwing a fork on the garbage heap, fix the handle......

[Applesauce]

My BO uses Pennfields and just mentioned the feed had gone up $.50 per bag recently - where are you located? might want to try your mill depending on location - we're in MD

Thanks

I buy my feed from the Augusta Co Op in Staunton, Va. They deliver to other co ops in Virginia but I'm not sure how far north they go. I can find out if you like. I'm good friends with the feed rep there.

ETA: My grain prices have gone up too but they are still cheaper than the premium feeds and it has saved me from having to raise my board rates this year.

[Coppers mom]

We have a guy nearby that grows really nice Mattua grass hay. We get it in large round bales and break off however much each horse needs each feeding.

Shavings were getting ridiculous, so we switched over to straw. Before, we were spending over $200 a month on shavings, and the price was going to go up after the company got sold, but now we spend about $75 a month with the straw.

[StockyCrosses]

Buy grain from the local mills, also buy minerals and salt blocks from the mill.

I get grooming tools from the dollar store :) Twelve pack of combs for a dollar? I'm on it!

I also use cheap shampoo on myself and my horses.

No stalls for me, no sawdust needed :)

Buy blankets from friends who no longer need them.

Hit the tack sales :) I cannot stress that enough! I go in with $50, I walk out with 3 bits, 2 blankets, bell boots, reins, and a new girth.

[VarsityHero4]

Definitely the consignment blanket section. I recently got 2 (yes TWO) triple crown blankets with that sheepskin type lining. Their perfect blankets for the first few nights after clipping and they were $25 each.

Also, making my own jumps out of the scrap that the old owners of the place left. There were old fence posts that work perfectly as 8' jump poles and a bunch of 2x4's that I use for the feet of the 4x4's I bought for the standards. All together, 3 sets of standards and 6 jump poles cost me $50 including paint. Can't beat that!

[galwaybay]

I buy my feed from the Augusta Co Op in Staunton, Va. They deliver to other co ops in Virginia but I'm not sure how far north they go. I can find out if you like. I'm good friends with the feed rep there.

ETA: My grain prices have gone up too but they are still cheaper than the premium feeds and it has saved me from having to raise my board rates this year.

Applesauce that would be great - I'm pretty sure we get our feed from Tri-County feeds in or around Leesburg, Va

We're also keeping the lights pretty dim these days as well. For anyone thinking about putting in a hot water heater- what about those on demand hot water tanks? does anyone have experience with those? I think they are much more expensive than a regular tank but am wondering about the cost savings of that. my barn has also ordered a couple of automatic waterers for the paddocks. Apparently the ones they're getting will not freeze above a certain point so the owner is hoping this will cut down on electricity by having a heater in the trough - they pull alot of electricity. And I totally agree w/ keeping things maintained

[Slewdledo]

Quillin has Amish blankets on clearance. www.quillin.com, said they have most sizes and colors available.

You can use baling twine to braid lead ropes and lunge lines. :winkgrin:

[pines4equines]

Here's one thing I do. Our horses are stalled overnight but the tank heat to the pastures has to be left in overnight in the winter. To conserve energy, I cover the tank with the heater in it with a large piece of plywood. Keeps the heat in rather than heating the world.

[VarsityHero4]

Applesauce that would be great - I'm pretty sure we get our feed from Tri-County feeds in or around Leesburg, Va

We're also keeping the lights pretty dim these days as well. For anyone thinking about putting in a hot water heater- what about those on demand hot water tanks? does anyone have experience with those? I think they are much more expensive than a regular tank but am wondering about the cost savings of that. my barn has also ordered a couple of automatic waterers for the paddocks. Apparently the ones they're getting will not freeze above a certain point so the owner is hoping this will cut down on electricity by having a heater in the trough - they pull alot of electricity. And I totally agree w/ keeping things maintained

I think I have one of those "on demand" water heaters. It seems like it. It's a small box (maybe 2-3 ft sides) mounted on the wall and the water is continually heated as it runs through. It rocks! Not sure about the cost as this is the first barn we've had with hot water but the guy who did the plumbing/electric suggested it as a cheaper option to the hot water heater tanks.

[gottagrey]

Supposedly these on-demand water heaters are very popular now w/ home renovations and "going green" one would think they would be wonderful for barns as well. Good to know yours rocks.. will have to do some research now...I think they're also TANKLESS water heaters - can anyone else let me know if they have experience w/ these

[kdow]

I think I have one of those "on demand" water heaters. It seems like it. It's a small box (maybe 2-3 ft sides) mounted on the wall and the water is continually heated as it runs through. It rocks! Not sure about the cost as this is the first barn we've had with hot water but the guy who did the plumbing/electric suggested it as a cheaper option to the hot water heater tanks.

I think the only thing to watch for with the on-demand heaters is what kind of flow rate/water pressure you get. You just have to make sure the one you install is suitable for your purposes- one that's enough to supply warm water for washing your hands in a bathroom might not be able to supply water as fast as you'd like to fill up a bucket, for example, or wouldn't be able to provide enough water pressure to spray off a horse. So when you're picking one out, you need to be aware of what it will be used for. (Same as with a tanked hot water heater, you need to get one of a reasonable size.)

In the UK, the choice between one or the other often comes down to how many baths are taken in the house vs. showers- tanked hot water heaters work better for baths because they can supply a relatively large amount of hot water pretty quickly, since it's just sitting there ready to go. So you don't have to wait for ages for the tub to fill up.

In a stable, since you are not often filling up something the size of a bathtub, plus you're not likely to want a large amount of hot water at short notice all times of the day, I would suspect that an on-demand heater makes a lot more sense than wasting energy keeping a tank of water warm in an uninsulated barn.

If you DO already have a tanked system- INSULATE the tank. In the UK you can get specialty tank blankets just for the purpose, but I'm sure there's some way to do it without a ready-made product. But I am told that adding extra insulation to the tank really makes a big difference in terms of running costs.

[SpringOakFarm]

Use a fine-tined fork for cleaning the stalls. You will remove less bedding since you scoop and shake.

For those of you using pelleted bedding - it's awesome!

It costs about $30, but you'll be so glad that you have it. I have only one and when someone helps me clean stalls, I get so irritated with the regular pitch forks. Plus, I hate poop chips...the fine tines keep them on the fork - I have the cleanest stalls!

And - I agree about keeping everything in good operational condition - for ex. don't forget to use your grease gun on the joints around your tractors, loaders, etc. Add fuel additive for diesel engine for the winter...etc.

[turnandburn]

Tri-County Feeds, Etc... (in Marshall, VA) is having a great sale right now. Their prices are always very good. They have EVERYTHING under the sun and it is a beautiful store. BTW, I like the free coffee and cookies:) Well worth a trip!
http://www.tricountyfeedsetc.com

[Cedar Bluff Stables]

I buy my feed from the Augusta Co Op in Staunton, Va. They deliver to other co ops in Virginia but I'm not sure how far north they go. I can find out if you like. I'm good friends with the feed rep there.

ETA: My grain prices have gone up too but they are still cheaper than the premium feeds and it has saved me from having to raise my board rates this year.

This is where we get feed as well!! I love it there! We call ahead and they set everything aside. Most of the grain we get is around $11 a bag, some months its up and others its down. We were spending $20 a bag on Triple Crown Complete, buying fewer bags and still spending more money. plus, it didn't seem to keep the weight on our horses.


We also put stall skins in our stalls rather than mats. Most of the urine goes through the stall skin rather than consuming all of the bedding. I do have a bedding question though. We've been getting a HUGE dump truck load of saw dust for $200 and it lasts us 2 months or more.. I don't have a problem with the saw dust as it isn't completely "dusty" it is still pretty chunky and clumps together where it is wet. Not to mention it is really easy to get the dirty stuff out. Does anyone have any preferences when it comes to particular types of bedding??

[Windswept Stable]

No need to buy horse shampoo--what a waste... we use dishwashing soap (Ajax) it does a marvelous job on. (We do buy Quicksilver if needed) but even if that is the case--the first bath with Ajax cuts down greatly on the amount of Quicsliver needed. Ajax is about $1.00 to $1.20 a bottle.

For tail conditioning -we buy Suave human conditioner.

I do not buy cheap blankets any more because in the long run they cost more.
I would rather buy a Rhino or Rambo and have it last for 6-8 yrs, than buy a cheap one and have to replace it the next season. If you follow sales and watch closely like this time of year--you can get even the nicest blankets on clearance price.

[equest]

Supposedly these on-demand water heaters are very popular now w/ home renovations and "going green" one would think they would be wonderful for barns as well. Good to know yours rocks.. will have to do some research now...I think they're also TANKLESS water heaters - can anyone else let me know if they have experience w/ these

I looked into this for my home when my ancient water heater died, and found that, unless you can go with a natural gas or propane model, they are not nearly as efficient as they sound. If you have natural gas or propane at your barn, which most probably don't, then great but otherwise the newer more efficient tank models are better.

Also, the tankless heaters require frequent servicing to prevent buildup in the lines, which adds costs.

[MintHillFarm]

Thanks for all the info on the tankless and on demand water heaters. We are building an apartment over the garage as we speak and looking at this option as opposed to conventional tank heaters... We are renting out the main house this year, by the week, to families coming to the Cooperstown, NY area's 3 baseball camps. Earning extra $ for 10-13 weeks makes it worth the while! I too will keep all informed on these water heaters...

An update on the bulk shavings: I am now mixing an occassional bag of shavings in with the bulk. Prolongs both types of bedding and I am very happy with the increased asorbancy.

[Plumcreek]

Here's one thing I do. Our horses are stalled overnight but the tank heat to the pastures has to be left in overnight in the winter. To conserve energy, I cover the tank with the heater in it with a large piece of plywood. Keeps the heat in rather than heating the world.

Same here, except I put to good use a larged doubled layer of bubble wrap. It is easier to push down against the tank sides. I know this helps because my GFI tripped while cleaning the trough and I did not remember to check when replugging heater, but the water was not frozen under the bubble wrap in our usual 10 degree morning temp.

[Plumcreek]

I looked into this for my home when my ancient water heater died, and found that, unless you can go with a natural gas or propane model, they are not nearly as efficient as they sound. If you have natural gas or propane at your barn, which most probably don't, then great but otherwise the newer more efficient tank models are better.

Also, the tankless heaters require frequent servicing to prevent buildup in the lines, which adds costs.


Yes. I love the smaller electric 'point of use' tankless water heaters (Eemax 95 is the one I use) for raising water to luke warm for horse wash stalls. Anything much larger than that will suck an enormous amount of electricity - need to go with gas.

[iridehorses]

turn off lights when not in use, or anything electrical.
use brushes and things for as long as possible, keep them clean and theyll last longer