Programmable Dog Feeder

[mooch]

I've been looking for a way to feed my dog when I'm gone and I think I've finally come up with something. The poor guy doesn't do very good when I board him and it gets tough on my end to board him only for two nights or so. He'd be much more comfortable in my backyard. I can't do a gravity style feeder because he'll eat everything in one sitting. I usually feed him 2 cups in the morning and 2 cups in the evening. I've read reviews on the little automatic/programmable feeders you can get online but they all seem pretty finicky.

My idea is to get one of those 5 gal hanging deer feeders from academy, figure out how many seconds it takes to give him his normal portions, and build a little stand for it with a piece of PVC going straight down that will catch all the food pieces and drop them directly below. I would think this would be fairly reliable and easy to use.

Does anybody else have something similar to what I'm talking about? It's just a thought right now, but I need to figure something out.

[jmoore2006]

Have you looked into the pile driver auger feeder from wildlife innovations? It can handle pellets and runs on a 12v Batt and has a programmable timer

[poisonivie]

Your idea should work fine. I do think after the first time or two with a gravity fed, he would stop eating so much.

[TxHrvstr]

I used to mount my deer timer in side a 5 gallon bucket turned open end to the ground on the bottom of the feed barrel . When feeder goes off feed drops straight down in a circle about the size of the bucket seems like something like that would do well . I called the dinner bell cause i used a metal bucket and it could be heard from nearly a mile away . Good luck. This also seems to work well for placing critters right where you want them for a perfect shot.

[texan16]

Maybe try a dump feeder

The spin feeder in a PVC tube or 5 gallon bucket should work, but you may be better using a dump feeder. There are several models/makers out there like the link below. We used to use dump feeders 30 years or so ago before the spin feeders really took over.

http://www.pennco.com/FeederModels.aspx

[gonehuntin68]

I know some people might think this is cruel but if your only leaving for two days, I would just give him two days worth of food and if he eats it all at once so be it. He will be perfectly fine not eating the second day. The most important thing is to make sure he has water.

[Buckrider]

Programmable Dog Feeder

I in fact use the la Bistro automatic feeders that you buy from petsmart or petco but I buy mine online for about 1/2 the price. I buy the bigger of the two. I had to mount the feeders up high enough to keep the dogs out of the feeder and then ran a 4" pic pipe from the drop spout down to just above the dog food bowl for the food to drop through. I get about a year out of these feeders before the timers finally give out. The only issue is the dog food needs to be the fairly consistent sized shaped like a big aspirin pill and smooth edges to minimize jamming. Once I got the correct food I never have any issues with not feeding. I feed 2 times per day. I also have a feeder for each dog to have his own spot to eat! Works like a champ. Been doing this now for probably 6-8 years now.

[mooch]

I used to mount my deer timer in side a 5 gallon bucket turned open end to the ground on the bottom of the feed barrel . When feeder goes off feed drops straight down in a circle about the size of the bucket seems like something like that would do well . I called the dinner bell cause i used a metal bucket and it could be heard from nearly a mile away . Good luck. This also seems to work well for placing critters right where you want them for a perfect shot.

Not sure I follow what you're saying here..

[mooch]

The spin feeder in a PVC tube or 5 gallon bucket should work, but you may be better using a dump feeder. There are several models/makers out there like the link below. We used to use dump feeders 30 years or so ago before the spin feeders really took over.

http://www.pennco.com/FeederModels.aspx

Never seen those before. How well does the food funnel in there? I'm feeding purina pro plan's shredded chicken formula so the food pieces aren't exactly round or tiny.

I know some people might think this is cruel but if your only leaving for two days, I would just give him two days worth of food and if he eats it all at once so be it. He will be perfectly fine not eating the second day. The most important thing is to make sure he has water.

If I'm only gone for one night, I'll feed a little more before I leave and then feed him right away when I get back the next day. The issue is when I'm gone for two nights. I try to keep him on a pretty strict diet/food plan/routine so I'd like to keep it up as much as possible when I'm not there. Just personal preference and how I've always done it, I guess.

I in fact use the la Bistro automatic feeders that you buy from petsmart or petco but I buy mine online for about 1/2 the price. I buy the bigger of the two. I had to mount the feeders up high enough to keep the dogs out of the feeder and then ran a 4" pic pipe from the drop spout down to just above the dog food bowl for the food to drop through. I get about a year out of these feeders before the timers finally give out. The only issue is the dog food needs to be the fairly consistent sized shaped like a big aspirin pill and smooth edges to minimize jamming. Once I got the correct food I never have any issues with not feeding. I feed 2 times per day. I also have a feeder for each dog to have his own spot to eat! Works like a champ. Been doing this now for probably 6-8 years now.

Unfortunately his food isn't very regularly shaped or defined. I looked at those but saw that they tended to crap out pretty easy. Still haven't completely ruled it out though.

[spread5150]

pay someone to go check on him. The thing might not go off. I pay the desk lady at my job to watch my dog for a few days when I go on my hunting trips. My dog does not enjoy the great outdoors. A half Blue Healer half Catahoula. "That dog dont hunt"