Suggestions for securing feed bins?

[KikiDee]

Looking for some cheap and simple DIY hacks for securing feed bins from horses getting into them please

I keep my retired horse on a small yard that I rent with a friend, just our 2 horses there. They live out with have access onto the concrete yard at all times and 2 stables are left open for them to come and go as they please, with 1 other stable used as a feed room. Friend does the 'morning shift' and I do them in the evening.

There is a lady who helps out my friend on occasion and will pop in and feed them for her in the mornings if she is struggling with work. Problem is this lady is very helpful but a bit scatterbrained at times for want of a better word! Recently she didn't bolt the feed room door and when I arrived in the evening the horses has been in the feed room all day, eating half a bin full of unsoaked beet feed in the process Thankfully and very luckily there were no ill effects, but I want a 'failsafe' incase it ever happens again.

Does anyone have any DIY hacks for securing bog standard feed bins so the horses cannot access them should she fail to shut the door again and they get in there? They are standard plastic bins with clip lids but they managed to undo these and get into them. I don't really want to spend ££££ on new bins if I can avoid it. I was thinking perhaps a bungee between the handles or similar might work?

Link here to the sort of bins I have as can't work out how to add an image sorry! https://www.redgorilla.red/products/gorilla-bin-80l-lid

 

[Suechoccy]

Whatever you fit, (cliphooks to bin lids, etc), the underlying problem remains which is this person's careless behaviour. If she leaves feedroom doors open, then she'll just as likely leave cliphooks off bins or lids off bins.

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

Hang a laminated sign (lightweight) at head height in the doorway so you can't miss it when you leave? When I was soaking hay a lot I had a sign saying 'Tap' hanging on the gate as I'd gone home leaving the hose running enough times to realise I couldn't always remember it.

Proper metal feed bins are a good investment, and they're not usually accessible without hands. The trouble is if people leave the lid up you're in the same position, and having to hold the lid up when you're working is too much of a pain for anyone.

 

[Gloi]

If you keep your eyes open on Facebook etc. You might come across someone who needs to dispose of a large chest freezer.

 

[meleeka]

A spring on the stable door might be easier, so the ponies can't get in and she can't leave it open. I have one on my yard gate because it kept being left open and the ponies escaping onto the enclosed driveway.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-gate-spring-silver-204mm/723ve?ref=SFAppShare

 

[cauda equina]

Could you fix a stall chain across the doorway of the feed room stable, and leave it fastened full time so the humans duck under it

 

[meandmyself]

A self closing and latching door would probably be the most secure way.

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

Fit rising hinges to the outer door, with a latch that grips and closes on contact, such as the metal gate closures where you have to lift the bar to release the catch. Or ban the helping lady. The incident could have had a very different ending!

 

[KikiDee]

Whatever you fit, (cliphooks to bin lids, etc), the underlying problem remains which is this person's careless behaviour. If she leaves feedroom doors open, then she'll just as likely leave cliphooks off bins or lids off bins.

Helping lady does not ever have to go in the bins, she only pops in to give feeds that are already made up.

I'd also like a failsafe just in general as accidents happen and it's one of those things that while I do it on autopilot I have to double, triple check myself every day - like questioning whether you left the iron on when you leave the house

 

[KikiDee]

Could you fix a stall chain across the doorway of the feed room stable, and leave it fastened full time so the humans duck under it

This is a fabulous idea I would never have thought of! thank you!