I have several suggestions to this idea. We've been running hog barrels at our central Texas lease for many years now and have learned a lot in the process. First of all, don't add liquids to your corn. Corn swells up when it get wet and then it doesn't come out the holes. Second, drill more holes. We drill probably 30-50 holes all around the barrel, all just big enough for kernels of corn to trickle out. Third, beef up your hardware. Hogs are big and strong and they will tear the crap out of these things rolling them around (they also like to hump the barrels for some reason). We've had a number of barrels torn free when hogs roll them and the chain or cable binds up until it breaks. That's why it's important to have good, heavy duty swivels on the barrel hardware. I've used a chair castor as mount before. Just remove the wheel and use that as your attachment point for the chain or cable. Fourth, run your cable or chain through a piece of metal conduit. That will help keep it from binding up and breaking. Attach the end of the cable/chain to a heavy metal ring that you can slide over a tee post. You can use closed top drums (my preference) or open top drums. Closed tops are sturdier and won't come open but are harder to fill. Open tops are easier to make and fill but can come open if the retaining ring comes lose. If you use closed top drums, use a traffic cone to serves as a funnel to fill it. Cut the tip off the cone to remove the lip, invert it into the drum, and pour the corn in. These barrels work very well and we routinely have hogs at them all night long. In times of heavy rain, the corn can get we and swell up in the barrel making a mess sometimes. If the hogs break your barrel loose, they will roll it a long ways if it still has corn in it. I once found mine almost half a mile away, so secure it well. Good luck.
Todd, noticed you were using the white Tie wraps on your chain loop. Those will break down due to the UV from the Sun and eventually break. Use the black ties as they are UV resistant.
There is something called a TH Marine sure seal screw-out deck plate. It is about 41/2" round n cheap n easy to install that would make installing your hardware and loading w corn soooooo much easier. Can also be reused when that barrel is toast...
Good morning Todd, brother can you do a video on or just provide info on the camo you use on your truck? Who did it, what it's called, maybe some diy info etc
We have Bionic Squirrels in Georgia. They would chew through that barrel in one day. I am making some with steel barrels and using heavy hardware. My pigs have broken 1/4" eye bolts before. Good video though!
You mention that you need to make repairs to the previous barrel you had due to squirrels or raccoons chewing a hole or making the hole bigger. How are you making that repair?
Hi l have a sounder of 12 to 16 hogs I have been feeding for a year. I pick off one as needed but never see small piglets? Lot's of males. Do they break up and form completing sounders? I always wait till one wanders in alone then bang em. Will they come back if I blast away with the gang all there? Who should I kill first? A big sow 200lbs seems to be in charge? I bet she tastes like crap. I'm in smithville Tx.
Hi Todd, a rancher friend of mine in Ok said that he uses diesel fuel for the syrup to mix with corn. He said the hogs love it but the cows and deer won't eat it because it makes them sick. Have you ever used that? Syrup can get quite expensive.
