Yesterday I bought a metal corn crib, the tall, wire fence kind. It's down, and we're going to pick it up soon. My question is, how the heck do we build it? Build up, like a tower? Or flat, along the ground, and then somehow set it upright? What about a foundation...is one needed, or do you just set it on the ground? I've wanted one of these for YEARS, to put birds in. Can't even find new ones anymore! Got this one (in great shape, no rust!) for $175 at an auction. Any tips will be helpful.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), December 09, 2001

Answers

I don't know anything about corn cribs but it seems that if you are going to put birds in it you should consider a foundation, or maybe an electric fence wire or some kind of reinforcement along the bottom to deter predators who might otherwise dig under to get the birds.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), December 09, 2001.

We had one when I was growing up. First filled the wooden cribs, then the metal one, then made the snow picket fencing type with tarp over the top if any more corn to store.

Ours was bolted to big round concrete slab. Need stable base as wind will blow it even though its mesh. The top may act like a big sail? Small tornado finally took ours out while it was empty and twisted it into scrap iron. It consisted of bolted together slightly curved sections, then a sheetmetal top. Personally I would build it in place piece by piece in tower fashion, but if you have equipment, guess you could build it on its side and lift it up on end???? More chance of bending things though.

-- HermitJohn (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), December 10, 2001.

Try driving around your area to see if you can spot newer looking ones. Then stop and ask if the owner build them. If so, they probably would be glad to explain the process to you.

I know round metal grain bins are built layer-by-layer at ground level. The first round is connected and the roof put on it. That assembly is then jacked up as each layer is added.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 10, 2001.