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Who builds their own feeders?

Posted By: bambam32

Who builds their own feeders? - 06/12/19 09:55 PM

I’m evaluating whether to buy or build some gravity feeders this year. I like the Boss Buck feeders but I can’t help but run the numbers if I build some myself. I would most likely start with a plastic food grade barrel and go from there. Seems like you can get most all of the part on Amazon. I’m curious to hear some lessons learned.
Posted By: sumpter_al

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/12/19 10:08 PM

Im thinking about building my own. I have several that had spin motors on them but they died. Mine are hanging style. I try to find a large limb, preferably an oak. Ill use an extension ladder to get to it and drill a 1/2" hole through the limb maybe 6 feet from trunk. Ill put a large eye bolt with an extra large washer on top. I put a pulley on it with attach a boat winch to the tree.

I drill a hole through the barrel and use a 1" x 36" threaded rod I will use metal washers with a piece of inner tube as a gasket and a couple of nuts to make it watertight where the rod enters the barrel A couple pieces of chain and it is ready. for the gravity feeder ill use a toilet flange on drum and glue some pipe with a Y on it...
Posted By: timbercruiser

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 12:33 AM

Build my own.
Posted By: Big Bore

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 12:44 AM

Can’t give away all my secrets but one I will share....get away from spinner feeders and go with a gravity type feeder (Banks/Boss Buck/etc.). You will be very happy on the lack of waste and the lack of labor required to maintain and fill these up. I hate it for Dan Moultrie but I have learned a lot about these type feeders over the past few years. Yes they are a little $$ in the front end but once you spend that money, you are done. No batteries motors etc. screw building your own! Who can justify the time/money on that?
Posted By: Squadron77

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 01:13 AM

I bought the gravity heads and leg kits from Academy and got the drums from the coop.

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Posted By: Turkey

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:20 AM

I do what Squadron77 does. I’m fortunate to have a supply of free plastic drums. I’ve also built some of the sheltered trough feeders. Google “Auburn Deer Feeders” for on-line plans.
Posted By: Atoler

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:58 AM

I’m in the process of building some out of 20” spiral ductwork. Going to put 2 in each location. 6’ of 20” spiral will hold a lot of corn.
Posted By: G/H

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 11:23 AM

So does that plastic drum come with a hinged lid?
Posted By: jmudler

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 01:29 PM

Best design ever......jump to 4:20 for proof.

Posted By: ALFisher

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:01 PM

Trough feeders are OK and easy to build, but the hogs and other critters do a number on them. Gravity feeders are easier to secure with t-posts.
Posted By: Squadron77

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by G/H
So does that plastic drum come with a hinged lid?


The drums I got at the coop have the band so the whole top comes off.

The only problem I had with these feeders is I had to fill them every week so I bought the 1200lb Boss Buck feeders.
Posted By: blumsden

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:20 PM

You can buy a 55 gallon lid at academy that fits over the top and secures with 2 stainless screws.
Posted By: fillmore

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 02:41 PM

I seem to be seeing a lot more gravity style feeders (like the Big Bucks) than your traditional spinners. Aside from not having to fool with batteries and motors, what’s the benefits? Someone mentioned not wasting corn, but in my experience very little corn gets wasted from a spinner; everything that hits the ground gets eaten.
Posted By: dirtwrk

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 03:33 PM

Squad how are you filling the 1200lb bossbuck?
Posted By: bambam32

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by fillmore
I seem to be seeing a lot more gravity style feeders (like the Big Bucks) than your traditional spinners. Aside from not having to fool with batteries and motors, what’s the benefits? Someone mentioned not wasting corn, but in my experience very little corn gets wasted from a spinner; everything that hits the ground gets eaten.



At our property, mature bucks will not come near a spin feeder. They do come to gravity feeders.
Posted By: top cat

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 04:32 PM

Don't use any
Posted By: Festus

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 05:47 PM

Use a 7 foot piece of 6" pvc pipe. Dig a hole with post hole diggers about 18" deep. Put pipe in hole....backfill inside and out up to ground level. Grill a 1" hole on opposite sides even with the ground. Paint flat black....looks like a tree stickup. Fill with corn...put lid on. Corn will obviously trickle out....but the deer will learn to paw it...hook it...to make it come out.
Posted By: Squadron77

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/13/19 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by dirtwrk
Squad how are you filling the 1200lb bossbuck?


I stand on my tool box and dump a bag at a time.

I also change my gravity head to a broadcaster in the winter. With the Boss Buck 12v broadcast unit I have to charge the battery at about 60 days. During hunting season I like to know when the feed is coming out. There is only 2 of us hunting 350+ acres so there is very little pressure on the property.
Posted By: trailertrash

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/14/19 02:37 AM

I don't like the never ending supply of corn to everything with wings or the ability to climb of a gravity feeder. Cardinals and Blue Jays always vote for gravity feeders or a spin feeder without a guard.

To the OP... Which ever you choose, I would build but I'll never trust plastic again. Once the squirrels figure out what to do.....it's over. Been there done that. The only part of my spin feeder that is plastic now is hidden behind a larger than necessary steel varmint guard. Oversizing the guard makes it hard for a coon to reach through and hit the spinner plate at his leisure.
Posted By: todd w

Re: Who builds their own feeders? - 06/14/19 03:30 PM

We have used poly barrels, but I think long term the metal drums would do better. The poly barrels can swell and bend in heat where the metal would not.
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