Rabbit Feed Cleaner w/pics.

Rabbit Talk  Forum

Help Support Rabbit Talk Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

grumpy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
2,004
Reaction score
19
Location
plattsburg, missouri
Built for one purpose, it works great for another.
Removing dust and fines from Rabbit Feed.


I've had this cleaner for over 20 years. I built it to keep
myself from losing my mind over having to return dirty and
dusty feed for my homing pigeons. Most feed mills during that
era didn't give two hoots about cleaning grain. Consequently,
I came up with this idea. It works pretty good. The fan on the back
pushes high-velocity air through the falling feed. The fines are then
exhausted through the front portal that's built at an angle.
The heavier feed falls through the stream of air, while the
fines are carried forward and out of the unit.
feedcleaner011_zps7b24d0f8.jpg


Here's a pic looking into the top of the unit.
There's a baffle board that sits just below the incline board.
It changes the angled direction of the feed just enough for it
to descend through the middle of the air chamber.
Making it easier for the fines (which are lighter in weight) to be exhausted,
while allowing the heavier feed to fall into the hopper.
feedcleaner001_zps8fc2dccd.jpg


Here's a pic of the top with the incline board 'up'.
It sits on the pair of angle cleats just inside the top.
feedcleaner003_zps9023fb85.jpg


Another view of the incline board in position. Near the back there's
an opening that goes from one side to the other. The 'gap' can
be adjusted to suit the size of the feed/pellets that are being
air-cleaned. The feed falls through the gap and onto the baffle
board that "bumps" the feed from the fines.
feedcleaner002_zpsdee619eb.jpg


Here's an extension box to hold more feed that needs to be cleaned.
Installed, the upper unit holds about 25 pounds of feed.
feedcleaner004_zps4d26dd38.jpg


This 5-gallon bucket holds 25 pounds of feed.
Dumped into the top of the cleaner, it's then
placed 'under' the cleaner to catch the feed
once the slide-gate is opened.
feedcleaner007_zps5ad7d62a.jpg


feedcleaner008_zpsaab9f5c2.jpg


I scrounged a duel-cage 6 inch blower motor when I still
worked at the steel mill. I tried looking one up on the
Grainger website, but I couldn't find one. Almost any type
of small blower fan will work. You just have to adapt
the cleaner box so it will fit.

The forced air carries the fines out the front baffle
and away from the feed. I wish I could make a video of it.
It would be much easier to explain. Sorry :( :(
feedcleaner006_zpsf433a676.jpg

NOTE: The blower's upside down in this photo.

Hope this helps. Thanks for lookin'.

grumpy.
 
Mary Ann's Rabbitry":5j3utl2u said:
pretty bad that you have to build something like that to clean feed from the feed store... I can see it from a farmer .. but not a feed store

Amen to that Mary Ann. I bought from several mills and
it was always the same problem. Dirty and dusty feed.
Gas was cheap back then but so were my wages.
I got tired of wasting my time and gas money, so I built this.

I haven't used this in the last few seasons.
But, I'm switching feeds and the new stuff has
quite a few fines. Rather than putting the cleaner up,
I decided to keep it out so I could use it on a daily basis.

It only takes 3 or 4 minutes to clean a 50# bag of feed.

grumpy.
 
Nice work, grumpy! That is a sad day indeed when you have to clean feed like that, but you've obviously got it figured out. I'm with 3mina...it's a wonder to look at but I'd never have gotten it figured out. well done!
 
dayna":22ms4xty said:
<---- this girl is jealous! That is one awesome contraption. :)

Thanks dayna...I've thought about cutting units out
and partially building them with simple instructions
on how to complete them.

It is a very "unique" piece of equipment that every
rabbitry should have.

grumpy.
 
Back
Top