Will deer eat protein with weevils in it?

[ranchdog]

My Boss buck has about 600lbs of protein in it but it has weevils in it. They were not in there for many weeks now they are. Will the deer still eat it? Anyone else have to deal with weevils?

Man I hate to dump 600 lbs of protein.

Thanks, RD

[Dr. D]

They will still eat it. I made some of Joey's magic dust with wheat bran that had weevils and it didn't bother the deer. Same with corn. That's been my experience anyway. Good luck.

[Snakelover]

I can't imagine why they wouldn't.

[Red Dot]

Probably not, but the squirrels and coons will!!

[tuthdoc]

I wouldn't dump it. If they were eating it before, they'll eat it. If they weren't eating it very well before and it's just sitting there, then weavils will appear, just like with corn and flower.

To make them eat it better, you might want to get a couple bags of Beast Feast and pour over the protein. It'll work its way down. Might also buy a couple bags of cottonsead meal and pour over it. It's 41% protein. A little more cost than pellets, but our deer love it. It'll work its way through the pellets and maybe help them eat the pellets quicker.

If you have had problems with the deer eating the particular pellet your using, when it's gone, I'd try a different brand.

[ranchdog]

Thuth doc,

I did switch a while back from Purina to Record Rack and they seem to like it better. By the way do you have problems with your Boss Buck (1200 lbs one) get clogged because water is getting in? I have the extra cut off adapter that I think is letting water in and clogging the down spout right where the cone comes up. I have tried to duck tape it better and see if that works other wise I guess I will have to do away with the cutoff section. I used that to lower it to help the deer reach it better.

RD

[tuthdoc]

I've never had one of the tubes clog on the Boss Buck. Not even when they were installed on 85 gallon feeders. I don't have the cut off plate model, so I can't say if that's the cause, but it may be. The feeder in the lowest postion with the tube installed without the cut off place is plenty low enough. I like my tubes at no lower than about 42 inches. I couldn't see a reason for the cut off plate, and don't know why they offer it. If it were mine, when the feeder empties, I'd take it off and see if that solves the clogging problem.

[Jaspro]

Weevils just add to the protein.

[tuthdoc]

Here's some pics showing the height of my tubes. Does and bucks, young and old, have no problem eating from it. Fawns won't be able to reach it for a couple months after they start following mama to the feeders, but they get plenty of spillage. I'd take the plate off and mount it closer to the feeder if that's possible. Getting it closer to the feeder might be why I don't get clogging. It's protected to a degree.



Plenty of hard rain and no clogging

[tuthdoc]

I don't know, Jason. The eggs are already in the feed. The eggs hatch. The weavils eat the pellets. Seems more like a circle of protein instead of additional protein. Of course, it turns the deer from vegetarians to omnivores. LOL

[Jaspro]

Thats probably right TD!

[ranchdog]

Yeah Tuthdoc I think I will take the cutoff out next time. I could always cut the legs a few inches but I hate doing that. I lowered it cause I was having a hard time getting to eat from it last year. So I added the valve added a bunch more corn and Record Rack and they started eating it.

Thanks for all the help, RD

[ranchdog]

Here is a picture of mine.