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Discussion: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
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tangledmanes |
Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Aug 3 2009, 11:26 AM EDT
| Post edited: Aug 3 2009, 11:40 AM EDT
Has anyone tried adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets? They electronically dispense up to six times per day, and it looks like you could use something like a 5-gallon bucket to make a funnel to prevent the device from scattering the feed over a 40-foot circle, instead causing it to fall into a feeder tray...They seem to start at $40, and the tripod-mounted kit sells for $100 at the local supershop. Maybe it could be placed just outside the fence, with a plastic pipe from the bottom of the automated dispenser leading into a feed dish? Any other ideas? Here are a couple links (copy & paste) to examples on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Moultrie-Feeder-Kits-Pro-Hunter/dp/B000RZ4JLY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1249312507&sr=8-2 http://www.amazon.com/Moultrie-Gal-Pro-Tripod-Feeder/dp/B000S5TQDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249312507&sr=8-1 Maybe even add a bell to sound when it dispenses (way over on the farthest side of the turnout trail, naturally ;->). JoAnn 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?
Keyword tags:
automated feeder
automatic feeder
deer feeder
JoAnn
pellet dispenser
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SpottedTApps |
1. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Aug 3 2009, 2:35 PM EDT
I've never seen one before, but the first thing I think when I see it is: there is NO WAY my horses would leave that thing alone. It would be demolished in minutes.
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tangledmanes |
2. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Aug 3 2009, 2:45 PM EDT
Oh, I totally agree -- that's why I was thinking of putting it outside the fence with a delivery tube coming off of it. They also have a model that hangs from above, like from a tree.JoAnn Do you find this valuable? |
Rose66 |
3. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Aug 10 2009, 10:53 PM EDT
I think I like the idea of it throwing the feed in a 40 ft circle. That would encourage the horses to walk around to find the treats as well as spreading the treats out so that the dominate horse doesn't hog the treats as I'm sure mine would if they poured out in one spot. I wonder if it would throw alfalfa cubes!! I could see using a rope to hang this feeder from a tree limb out of reach of the horses and then it would throw the alfalfa cubes or some kind of treat out. Wouldn't that be good? :-) I also like the idea of a bell or something sounding to alert the horses that it's treat time. I can just see my horses all running to the feeder area when they hear the sound...great exercise and great for their feet too. If anyone tries something like this, please post and let us know how it works.
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SpottedTApps |
4. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Aug 11 2009, 11:23 AM EDT
I'm guessing JoAnn's concern is losing the pelleted feed to the dirt/ground. They would be so small that kicked out like that they are just going to mix in/grind into the area. Cubes would be better, but I can't see the machine handling cubes. Too bad there isn't something between the size of pellets and cubes. Do you find this valuable? |
cleavoy |
5. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 19 2009, 8:28 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 19 2009, 8:32 PM EDT
Hi JoAnn, We recently purchased the tripod deer feeder and adapted it for our guys. I wanted something out of the elements for the winter and I did not want food on the dirt. I did test it with them out in the open to see what they would do and they did not forage for the grain. It was still there 3 days later. I had moved my horses from the boarding facility and set up a paddock paradise for my two horses on a small property we had where we hope to build a house. . I put the deer feeder inside the small horse shed in the corner. It is resting on top a 50 gallon barrel like I used for the hay feeder. Tripod legs not used of course. Gosh I love those barrels! We also made up a funnel from plastic tree pots so it shoots down into the bottom section of the same barrel which we had cut off and use as a dish. I am not using grain much, I do put in some black sunflower seeds though. We are using Buckeye pellet food. They LOVE it and it keeps them calm. This feeder has 6 feed times too. And it looks like one second is sufficient time for the amount of pellets I want them to have. We get freezing rain in the winter here and some brutal winds so we do not want them out in the elements on those particular days. Since we would not be there we had to have something to encourage them to stay in their sheds and also have enough food. Hope it works out okay. Glad you posted about the deer feeder here because I had not even thought of that idea and cringed at the thought of another boarding facility. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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tangledmanes |
6. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 19 2009, 9:49 PM EDT
Amazing job! Thank you so much for sharing. :-) Do you have any pictures yet? How fascinating that they didn't forage for the scattered feed. I think I'm glad to hear that, because I would worry about the amount of dirt they could consume. A question: If you have more than one horse, doesn't the dominant one take all of the feed dispensed into the barrel? How do you get them to share? I'd been thinking of some kind of trough or tray to catch the feed with a more intricate delivery system probably involving plastic tubes to divide it between the horses -- so perhaps I was just making the idea too complicated to work. I'm so glad to hear that it may actually work as a tool to help keep your horses on their Paddock Paradise! JoAnn Do you find this valuable? |
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cleavoy |
7. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 19 2009, 11:12 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 19 2009, 11:16 PM EDT
Well I wish I could tell you that I got my dominant horse to share but that only happens in my dreams. We had thought of different ideas to reduce the ability of the dominant horse but then I realized I really needed the feeder inside a shelter due to my particular circumstances and weather. Dominant horses can be a problem. I have witnessed my dominant horse just give a look to our submissive horse and he won't even pass by - the track isn't wide enough! I have two geldings. I have 6 barrel slow down feeders on the track-they keep checking where the pot of gold might be day and nite! They get lots of exercise. Houdini will not share - only on a rare occassion. He will also eat from one feeder for a while and then move off or chase the submissive horse from his feeder. I've thought about increasing the amount we feed but my concern is he had a weight problem when I bought him and it took a while to get him slimmed down. I will take a picture and post. What we did is pretty simple yet effective (I hope) given the tendencies of our horses & sheds are only 8' x 12'. Shadow bites things and pulls at things so I wanted the feeder protected. He also would use it as a butt scratcher like he does the barrel hay feeder. I put up one fence post to help make the rig more secure and the post also protects the programmable timer. The bottom of the barrel that we use as a dish to catch/keep feed clean is tilted so feed slides towards front. It is screwed into this post as well as the walls of shed. Shadow would pull it out if he could with his teeth or Houdini would pull it out with his pawing abilities. You need to have bottom edge of the barrel at such a height that the horse has to bend in to get the feed otherwise they can bang their heads if startled. The deer feeder lifts out of the barrel too so come summer lift out of shed and into another barrel on track. Make them hunt for it ! : ) Do you find this valuable? |
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tangledmanes |
8. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 21 2009, 9:16 AM EDT
Very nice pictures! I put them on a new page called "Modified Deer Feeder" in the "Automated Feeders" category. We can change the page title to Cleavoy's Deer Feeder if you like. :-) I wasn't sure what to name it. There's also a link to your profile, and a link to your hybrid barrel & net feeder on that page:http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Modified+Deer+Feeder JoAnn p.s. When you're ready to do a picture page for your Paddock Paradise, let us know if you'd like any help setting it up! Since yours will be the second PP in Ontario, both yours and the Costalotta Farms PP will each need a sub-page under "Ontario." http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Ontario Do you find this valuable? |
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tangledmanes |
9. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 21 2009, 9:19 AM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 21 2009, 9:20 AM EDT
Does Houdini also have a modified deer feeder? Oops, I mean Shadow?
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SpottedTApps |
10. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 21 2009, 2:55 PM EDT
This is great and along the lines I've been thinking of. My thoughts for on the track have been along this route: Sink tall post in center of track. Place 2 stall mats under post. Mount deer feeder to top of post. Hang pillow case or something over deer feeder so that grain spins out and hits pillow case to fall straight down onto mats. You used a plastic planter thingy which is MUCH better than a pillow case. I'm thinking that the grain shouldn't scatter too far, but will be spread out enough no 1 horse can gobble it, and it should take them a little longer to slurp up individual pellets. Yet it wouldn't get lost in the dirt by dropping onto the rubber mats. Thoughts? 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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cleavoy |
11. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Sep 23 2009, 8:56 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 23 2009, 9:57 PM EDT
Hi. I'm back from horse property tonite with an update. I could kick myself for even letting the thought in but it happened. I wondered if a horse could be smart enough to figure out that if they banged the feeder some grain/pellets would fall out. Well guess who spent an hour in the shed doing just that. Houdini. First he pawed & then starting using his knee. That little stinker !! He was pretty proud of himself too. So........ the feeder and bottom dish is off and we are back to the idea board. I can't use anything at all on the ground. I've tried. They just pull it away and/or play with it. I had an indoor outdoor carpet piece about 8 x 12 ft (which I use when trimming) & left it under a hay feeder to see what they would do & hours later, well it was distorted and several feet away from the feeder. I am determined to make this work still have some ideas. The next thing we think we are going to do is rig up a trough using plumbing pipe and have it feed into a small rubber dish. The feeder will be separate and protected from the bashers. We need to block the banging of the feeder. My guys would move the rubber mat too I am sure unless it was huge and heavy. Where I am when it does not rain the track can get really dusty and the clay can sometimes get even somewhat fluffy so I really need to keep the seed/grain/pellets up in a dish. No Shadow does not have his feeder up yet but we have tested him several times. He tried to open the lid latch when we did not have a top cover on at first. He also pulled one of the two funnels off from the bottom so we had to narrow the opening so he could not bend his head to get the one screwed into the base. Shadow smells the food and is very determined to get to it. Do you find this valuable? |
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cleavoy |
12. RE: Adapting a deer corn feeder to dispense pellets
Oct 26 2009, 8:06 PM EDT
Just giving an update on the deer feeder. I ended upchanging the bottom arrangement. We cut a barrel lengthwise and screwed that onto the corner wall of their shed independent from the feeder. So if they bang it only moves the trough and not the feeder so they have not bothered banging it to get it to drop food out. Another problem did arise. I had set the feeder to go off during the nite and apparently this terrorized them to the point they did not want to be their sheds. Well that was a problem for sure. So I eliminated the times during the nite and have it only going off 2 times - at sunrise and then again at 10:30 am. Interesting, that little change and they have settled down quite a bit. They do not like the sound though. Even if I gently imitate that sound they brace their necks and become wide eyed. Just not as extreme as before. They just have not been able to associate or accept the sound as a good thing yet. It is almost as if that sound in their mind is separate from the fact that food pellets seem to appear right after???????? I almost thought I would have to take them out but decided to give it 7 days with new time sets and now they are cautious instead of terrorized. Should be interesting to see if and when they make the connection and relax when it dispenses. Perhaps another 7 days???
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