Since we live in northern Arkansas and need lots of water tanks through the summer months, we had extra troughs sitting around unused during the colder winter months. Now we pull them into the horse area and use them to feed our hay. They're very sturdy, the horses eat in a normal, heads-down manner and dropped springs of hay fall back into the troughs to be picked up and munched again.

When summer comes and hay feeding time ends, they become horse watering troughs again!

Of course, damaged tanks with holes or splits in them work well for permanent feeders, too. If you have one, use it--and keep your eyes peeled for overturned or otherwise unused tanks when you visit others' farms; people often sell them cheaply or give them to you for free.

Sue