Bridging with Self Feeder Supplement

[Stocker Steve]

Any input on the ideal grinder screen size, as well as other suggestions, to minimize bridging in a self feeder?

 

[mitchwi]

Steve - I don't understand your term "bridging".... we use self-feeders, so If you can help me understand your questions, I will try and help.

Michele

 

[bigbull338]

bridging is when feed sticks to the side of the feeder.an blocls or stops the flow of feed.or when you think its sticking take a rubber hammer an beat on the sides of your creep feeder.so you can knock the stuck feed down.

 

[mitchwi]

bridging is when feed sticks to the side of the feeder.an blocls or stops the flow of feed.or when you think its sticking take a rubber hammer an beat on the sides of your creep feeder.so you can knock the stuck feed down.

Thanks! Had that problem, and this is what we did to get rid of it. We have wood steer stuffers, they angle up to about 1/2 way, and then straight up. Each holds 2.5 Tons. On the angle part we used Gorilla Glue to cement on this plastic type of 4 x 8 sheet. The sheets are used like in bathroom or high moisture areas, bought at Menards, they are flexible but will crack or bust if hit just the right way. Anyway, cut these to fit on angled sides and lower 1/2 of ends. Need 3 sheets per stuffer, and a couple of bottles of glue. Sheets were $3.50 each Gorrilla Glue is about $6 per bottle. A couple of hours of some kids to hold the sheets in place and when it is almost dry, fill stuffer with feed. Our grindings are not "powder fine", but we only have one screen with our (very old) grinder so I am not sure what size it is.

We still have some accumulation like on the corners and there is also a lip (2x4) all the way around. We also attached a modified F-Channel on top of this, just to keep the grain from slipping underneath the plastic and attempting to loosen it up. We have not had any blockage or grain not sliding.

Hope this helps!

 

[dun]

If it's bridgin because of particle size all you can do is go with bigger particles. The largest stuff I've had a problem with bridging is cracked corn. Whole corn in the mix with the pellets stopped the problem.

dun

 

[mitchwi]

If it's bridgin because of particle size all you can do is go with bigger particles.
dun

I hate to disagree with you Dun, but I have to. We didn't change the size of grinder screens at all. We lined the feeder with this plastic, and have no "bridging" at all, no blockage, no banging on the sides either. Like I said, we have some hang-up on the corners/ledge, but very little.... knock that down before we fill with the next grinding.

This is what our looks like, sorry about pic quality, had to crop in on a pic that had one in it.

 

[Stocker Steve]

If it's bridgin because of particle size all you can do is go with bigger particles. The largest stuff I've had a problem with bridging is cracked corn. Whole corn in the mix with the pellets stopped the problem.

dun

Is this a purchased whole corn / pellet mix, or do you have a way to blend on the farm?

Do you supply mineral in the pellet?

 

[dun]

Corn pellet mix we get from the mill. Minerals are freechoice loose, not in the feed.

dun

 

[somn]

Stocker Steve
Do you have a straight grinder or a grinder mixer?
It has been years since I have seen a grinder only. Or maybe I just thought of this yours might be a stationary hammermill. Just wondering why do you want to grind the feed at all. Our experience with grinding of shell corn resulted in stomach and gut problems. Shell corn and pellets are the only things we will put in our feeders anymore alot less trouble. Is the corn you use dry or maybe is it wet? Hog feed is ground alot finer than is cattle feed and I have never seen it bridge in a smidely hog feeder unless they used wet corn then it does.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Stocker Steve
Do you have a straight grinder or a grinder mixer?
Our experience with grinding of shell corn resulted in stomach and gut problems. Shell corn and pellets are the only things we will put in our feeders anymore alot less trouble

We retired the grinder and use a grinder mixer.
Part of the bridging problem is we sometimes grind cob corn out of a pile - - so there is more fiber, and can be more moisture, than with grain. We still get some bridging with ground grain. We prefer cob corn because it has more fiber and we don't have to pay a bill for drying.
The thought behind grinding is to increase digestability and incorporate mineral with ionosphore. I agree your whole corn plus pellet approach would feed easier.

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Steve

Several years ago I ground ear corn with a tub grinder. Seems we found a 5/8 screen did the best grinding job, but a 3/4 did OK. Self fed a little of it in a feeder with straight walls without much bridging but had to open the slide doors more than for pellets.

IMO-the straight vertical wall feeders bridge less than the sloped wall feeders. Just my 2 cents worth.

Good luck & happy trails.

Brock