Built this today. Holds about 35lbs of protein. I don't have many deer at my feeder but maybe this will help. I'm there every week so I should be able to keep it filled.

Redneck engineering at its best.

The bucket and spout are mounted to a 2x4 to make it sturdy. I put it up at the ranch today. Wired it to t post and the panels in my feeder pen.

Looks good. My only criticism is that if it rains (which we pray to God that it will), the protein on the trough is going to get mushy and a little sticky. That has the potential to clog it and make deer not want to eat old soggy protein. If you could find some way to cover the trough I'll think you'll be set.

My biggest concern would be the size of the pipe. If the pellets are not broke short in length they will bridge at the top of the pipe.

Also if the deer hit it hard its not gonna last long.

I go there once per week so if it's clogged i can clean it out soon enough. I might be able to build a roof for it but if it rain hard with wind like we've been having it will still clog.



I thought about that too but when I filled the feeder today it drained fine down the pipe. I wish I had a bigger pipe laying around. That's all I had.

Do you mean it will run out or it will break?

Humidity/moisture and heat will be an issue if the pellets wick moisture up into the tube. They will stick together at first. After deer or coons start eating it will not be that big of an issue if the pellets are cut shorter in length. 5-7 deer can empty that feeder in a couple of days.

I meant if they try it and like it they could eat it all in a night.

If they empty it. That's fine. At least they would be eating it. I figured it wouldn't take long to eat it. Our big protein feeders on the place they eat about 70lbs a week right now. There aren't as many deer at this feeder though. Deer right now are eating greens. We had about 10" rain in the last 1.5 months.

glass half full or half empty

Pretty cool idea

From what I have seen rain is a concern with most any protein feeder. The thing I worry about most is coons and hogs. In a pen your down to coons.

His bucket will be full and his glass empty if it happens.

Maybe use some 1/4" hardware cloth or metal screen to cover the bottom instead of a board? That would let any rain flow through before it could soak the pellets too badly. Saw something similar to this for a chicken feeder. Is there a funnel in the bucket?

that's a great idea. I might do that if I can find some screen laying around.

No there isn't a funnel.

NEVER.....underestimate Redneck Ingenuity.

Don't waste your time with the screen, if water touches it your done.

That's interesting for sure. I think I like it.

No deer at my feeders at all this week. The other feeders had very little amount of deer also. I guess it's too hot for them to move or too green. The feeder is still full.