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Post by ozark on Sept 12, 2008 21:06:37 GMT -5
I have a large stock type feeder that I have been feeding wildlife grain in for several years. Grain products have got so expensive that I can't afford to keep the feeder stocked. What can I substitute that will keep attracting wildlife with less expense. I was feeding close to 1000 lbs of chops, corn and horse feed per month and that has to stop. I would like to keep wildlife coming for pictures and just observing. Hopefully, some of you can give me a cheaper route. Ben
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Post by rossman40 on Sept 13, 2008 19:29:23 GMT -5
You got freeloading neighbors that take advantage of generosity too? Most of mine are two legged. If you have a bin or some how to store it now is the time to buy corn right out of the combine. The thing is to ration the feed. If you go to a barrel feeder and set the times to say 1/2 hour after sunrise and 1/2 hour before sunset and maybe a couple of other feed times if you want. Then set how many seconds of dispensing for each feeding. Competition will be tough at dispensing time but you will still get birds and squirrels between dispensings looking for left overs. You can cut back to 200lbs a month when there is plenty of other foods available and maybe up it to 400 during tough times. At 200lbs a month you will only have to fill it once a month. If you buy look for a plastic barrel for the feeder, they will never rust. The actual feed unit varies but most are interchangeable, look for a squirrel shield. The better ones have a sensor to monitor sunrise and sunset so you do not have to keep resetting the time. A small solar panel helps to keep the battery charged. Battery life will depend on number of feedings and dispensing time. Since you have bears hanging around they ain't dumb and will fiquire out they can knock over/down a tripod set up. A friend hangs his with steel cable with a pulley on a large limb and has like 5' of alloy chain on the end and another piece wrapped around the tree trunk and two padlocks. To lower it he uses his ATV winch and hooks on to the chain, takes the tension off and then unlocks one of the locks and lowers the feed bin, fills it and then raises it till he can get the lock back on. It also stops two legged varmints from taking the whole set up. He basically lowers the feeder, fills it and swaps out the battery, checks his times and raises it back up. He uses rechargeable batteries and will put the one that he has out on the charger a couple of days before switching. Even with the small solar panel it isn't quite enough during the summer when the leaf canopy blocks direct sun so he is thinking of maybe going to a larger panel.
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Post by ozark on Sept 13, 2008 19:40:33 GMT -5
Fortunately, I have no problems with two legged varmints bothering things. I guess I need to just put a couple hundred pounds in per month and let it stay empty half the time. I had automatic feeders but got unable to maintain them due to health reasons. I then put up a covered cattle feeder and it works great but feed disappears in a hurry. Bear climb up in it, lay down and stuff their bellies daily. Three or four bear can consume a lot of grain.
I think I will just raise the price on my Trail Blazer to make up for the extra cost. LOL> Ben
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Post by youp50 on Oct 27, 2008 6:01:57 GMT -5
Ben,
Can you get any sugar beets? I just passed through a beet growing area near Saginaw MI and noticed signs pricing them at 30 bucks a ton. Bears won't eat them. I had a car instead of my pick up or I would have brought some home.
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