Protein Feeders

[M Williams]

Made a home-made drop tube for a protein feeder, first time I have fed protein, how is the best way to keep rain out of your feed? I am open for any suggestions on improvements, so lets here em! The feed tube is about 40" off the ground. That ring above the feeders, i can move it up, thats just where i left it when i put it on.

[CoolHandLuke]

When we started feeding a couple years ago we tried the sch 40 pvc feed tubes. The deer tore them to pieces.

[Mertz09]

that should work.

[Encinal]

If your tubes are 40" off the ground how are fawns going to eat out of the feeder?

[M Williams]

I can short'in the legs, not real sure what height i need to put it

[Mike Murphey]

40 " are good 42" is better.....I would not have the tubes pointing up as that will increase the chance of moisture getting to the protein. Have the tubes go straight out and you will need to play with the length of them to keep protein coming to the end of the tube but not so short that the protein will fall out on its own. Make sure that the rain protector is high enough to let the bucks eat without hitting their horns.......We don't have a rain protector on ours....

[tuthdoc]

The fawns can get what mama spills, and she'll spill plenty. 42 inches is minimal for me. If a coon can stand on it's hind legs and get to the tube, you've got problems.

The tube looks like a rain catcher to me. I'm with Mike on this. Straight out is better. Leaning down is even better. Boss Buck makes about the best tube out there. I'd try and copy their orientation. If you go with the tube you have, make sure you drill lots of drain holes in the low point of that curve. Ditto on the rain protector. Make sure the deer can eat without bumping the thing constantly with their horns. With the top of the tube cut open, they will have to cock their head up and down to get into the tube. I don't think that's a good idea. If you could rotate the ends 180 degrees and recut your bevel to slightly longer on the top, you might have something.

[M Williams]

Tuthdoc, i went to the boss buck website, i see what u are talking about. That is a better idea, thanks for the input!

[KingsX]

This feeder tube is perfect! I have never had any problems with it.

[Encinal]

When you try to make a deer feeder more coon proof... all you are doing is making it more deer proof... just IMO...

They haven't invented a coon proof feeder

I prefer tray feeders or plate feeders... though I have several other kinds as well because we have bought them over a lot of years...

The plate and tray feeders are more work because you have to go clear the spout if it rains... but feed consumption out of these feeders seems to be the best.

[tuthdoc]

I disagree. If you have a feeder that is heavily used by coons, then you are pouring a lot of good protein down coon necks. We fed Bode feeders for years and the waste was horrible. Plus the coons would get in the tray and pee and mess up the protein, plus, they wouldn't let the deer get to the feed. We've tried several feeders and the boss buck tubes have cut coon waste to a minimum. Only one coon at a time can get on the tube and they have to hang upside down and can only dig out minimal protein. They bred themselves into a population based on the Bodes, and now can't get enough protein. We set live traps in the pens using protein in sardine cans and catch the crap out of them. We may catch 8 out of 8 the first night, 6 out of 8 the next and then only a coon or so. We then hit another pen.

Coons are a definate problem when feeding protein and anything that cuts their use is good. A deer can easily eat from a feeder 42+ inches off the ground. There's no problem with the deer getting what they want as our consumption per 4 tube feeder is over 50 lbs day.

We also have to have feeders that have very little chance of clogging. We check them in the off season only once per month, as we are limited in access during the offseason. A bode or try that clogs with rain can shut a feeder down for that month. The Boss Buck tubes have never clogged and we rely on them to get feed into our buck's mouths. They work.

[Mike Murphey]

A plate feeder will clog with normal dew in the morning....go with tubes...we have cut our tubes back at an angle to help keep moisture out of the protein...any moisture and the protein starts breaking down and when it dries it is like concrete and then you are not feeding..it's plugged....

[holdem]

Turn the mouthpieces over and add a short nipple behind them and you've got it.

[Traildust]

This feeder tube is perfect! I have never had any problems with it.

Can you get a close up shot of the tube ports and rain cap. Is there any divider inside the tube?

[Mike Murphey]

Something else that most folks don't do and it causes problem inside the barrel or container....make sure the container has a way to let moisture escape. Pellets have a percentage of moisture and as it releases inside the container the moisture will cause the pellets to melt and then harden to
cause blocks to form that will plug the tubes or feeder part.....I have some folks drill a hole in the top section of hte feeder and put a rain shield over it to keep out rain...thsi will let the barrel breathe and let the excess moisture out....