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Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen #6935073 10/26/17 10:21 PM
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CharlieCTx Offline OP
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I setup a new hunting area this year where I hunt about May I believe. Put up my pen of 10-12 hog panels, Boss Buck protein feeder and within a few weeks had deer coming in. Late June I put in my new Lamco (pulled out the Boss Buck) hoping to try and train them when to come by the time deer season got here. Also have some blocks in a block feeder. Have a cell camera in there so I can monitor what's happening.


We had more than a little rain then, go on vacation, go back out late July, the troughs are full of nasty/rotten feed. Turn it off, get it all cleaned up. Shorten the story... I haven't had a single deer and hardly even a coon back in there since. I've got a few pics of deer eating corn from my hog feeder close by, but nothing is going in the pen. Last weekend I turned it back on dumping 1 sec a day and spilled a half a sack of corn on the ground. Nothing...

Why has my pen become no-man's land? Is the feeder physically too big for the pen size I have? How do I get them use to there being feed, without running into the spoiled mess again?

Thanks!



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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935113 10/26/17 10:46 PM
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I dont hunt feeders, but I have in the past in my youth mostly. I had deer in an area one time and put up a feeder. They all left that area. No tracks! I scared them off with a feeder alot smaller than those. They would eat corn thrown out by hand before that all happened. Never killed a deer on that right of way. Did see a bobcat with half length legs there though. Strange


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935160 10/26/17 11:55 PM
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When I had activity or no activity like that we had a long tail cat in the area. Weird

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935196 10/27/17 12:22 AM
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Height of panels, high hog population?

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935205 10/27/17 12:28 AM
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Are those post oaks I see in the pic? If it's green and you have acorns they will not eat the protein.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935372 10/27/17 02:35 AM
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Originally Posted By: CharlieCTx
Why has my pen become no-man's land?


Technically speaking, it's actually a "no-deer" land........

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: maximus_flavius] #6935425 10/27/17 03:31 AM
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Originally Posted By: maximus_flavius
Technically speaking, it's actually a "no-deer" land........


Well, even more technically it has become "non-quadraped" land, damn coons have even abandoned the area.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935450 10/27/17 04:02 AM
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It's got good hog traffic and they seemed to be doing just fine each doing their own feeders before the new feeder arrived.

I had convinced myself that between summer heat and acorns, there was no protein eating going on anyway. When I saw pics of deer eating the corn from the hog feeder, but not eating any of what I then spread on the ground in the pen, I just don't get it.

They are standard 3 foot'ish wire hog panels, low enough for deer to get in as they were coming in to the Boss Buck.

I'll be out Saturday to clean the dang troughs out and spend my first cold night in the new blind and party with my hog friends. I think I'll leave it off and just hand corn in the pen until I see them come back in.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935488 10/27/17 07:42 AM
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Paint that sucker with some primer and then some flat based dark paint. If it soured I'd car wash it with a pressure washer and soaps. After they get aclimated to that beastly feeder they will eventually feed from it. I'm guessing. Those things can get weevles, grubs, bugs, worms, parasites, ect in them if they brew up some homemade hog slop inside.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935551 10/27/17 12:18 PM
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Protein dissolves in water...clean the feeder out and put it back in action...all will be fine. I have been using feeders inside of pens for years. Yes, there will be times when deer will not come to a feeder or very little action. This is explained at my place as Acorns, and the rut. Both will interfere with feeder and pen actions. This happens to me every year and is expected..no problem. I would suggest putting your feeder back in action with corn ....let it run, the deer will be back. This time of year I would also suggest using "Tinks 69" to help jump start action. I put out the scent all around my feeder and inside my pen every other day. Using sparingly... one drop every ten steps ...inside and out. Let us know what happens. Another problem is neighbor hunters may also be getting some of your action..be patient...continue to look for tracks, rubs, and scrapes. Don't forget to look for wacks of brush. Very important. If you hunt a large area...scout out the whole area for these signs. If you hunt a small area, check out your fence lines for crossings and brush areas for trails. Don't give up on your feeders and pens...all looks good to me...except the block..for me, the coons cleaned up, so wasted money for me. Just not my preference of feed and now protein also is not so important as corn...for me.
Good Luck ...patience and determination are the games

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935560 10/27/17 12:31 PM
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I believe that the new feeder is spooking them. When we first started to use the tubed protein pellet feeders about 10 years ago, it took the deer a whole year to start coming to them. I believe anything that looks strange and out of the ordinary will spook them. Have the deer been accustom to eating out of a feeder like this before? It also does not help having "moldy" pellets. Deer won't want to come around nasty/moldy feed.
I believe it will take some time for them to get used to this style of feeder. They would rather have the "tubed" Buck Boss style.

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935564 10/27/17 12:40 PM
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It could be a couple of things. Did you switch brands of feed when you switched feeders? I've done that before and it turned the deer off a bit.

I run one of those same Lamco feeders and when we first put it up I ended up having to open the pen for a few weeks to get the deer to come in, once they were coming in I closed the pen back up and they finally started jumping in.

I've had to clean out soured protein too so I feel your frustration. The things I've done above have solved my problems and we get a lot of action at that feeder now.

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935600 10/27/17 01:10 PM
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Is the moisture getting to the protein? May be causing it to rot. If so the deer won't touch it. So are the deer staying away allowing the feed to rot, or do you think the rain caused the protein to rot, and that's keeping the deer away? Is your protein clumped together?

Last edited by S.A. hunter; 10/27/17 01:11 PM.
Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935601 10/27/17 01:11 PM
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they will come, drill some holes n the feed for the water to drain out


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935715 10/27/17 02:31 PM
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That's my big gripe with timed trough feeders, rain and moisture. I've cleaned the troughs on Lamcos more times than I'd like to remember. I use one ton free-choice protein feeders these days. One thing you can try that will help to cut down on lost and soured feed. Put a Rainbird on it. The little white deals sprinkler guys use to cut off your sprinklers when it rains. I had some success with those when I was using Lamcos.

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935735 10/27/17 02:40 PM
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I had lazy deer on one of the places I hunted. They were there everyday until I put up the feeder pen. Everything was deer friendly and they would come to the pen but would not jump in. Then after the season was over and the browse gone they didn't hesitate to get in the pen. Been using it ever since.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935745 10/27/17 02:46 PM
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My gravity feed kept getting clogged. I ended up putting a little roof over it, problem solved. Maybe somthing like that might work for you.
Of course it would have to be on a much bigger scale.

Last edited by S.A. hunter; 10/27/17 02:49 PM.
Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935752 10/27/17 02:50 PM
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For clarity... water is not getting in the bin (feed store), problem is where feed is left in the troughs after being dispensed and not eaten. I am going to drill a few water drain holes in each trough, meant to do that last weekend.

Right now it's loaded with a corn/protein/soybean mix, feed store calls it a hunter mix.

After the initial big mess cleanup in July, I did open the pen to let hogs/cows come in and clean up what I put on the ground. Given I have cows/hogs, I can't dispense and have the gate open. About a month ago I did go in and scrub the troughs with soap (horse shampoo, Tractor Supply has everything but liquid soap!) and brush so they were really cleaned.

It probably has about 200+ pounds of protein mix in it I'm going to take out and replace with corn for the season.

Hell yeah, on adding the rainbird sensor, didn't think of that! Thought about how I might make some kind of roof that wouldn't be a bitch to get on/off, but also not blow off in the first storm that comes by.

It's not a small item, particularly up on the extension legs, might be kind of spooky, maybe I should put a smiley face on it or a sign that says "everything's fine, all are welcome". smile




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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935784 10/27/17 03:04 PM
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Lamco actually makes rain sensors for their timed protein feeders. I am not familiar with a rainbird sensor, this may be the same thing Lamco sells. Also, my experience is that deer consumption of protein drops off quite a bit this time of year and will pick back up in the Spring.

Last edited by rabbit_jack; 10/27/17 03:06 PM.
Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6935814 10/27/17 03:17 PM
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Probably is the Rainbird. Their website says it is an "accessory" meaning add on. Glad to see they incorporated my idea! roflmao

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: Pitchfork Predator] #6935840 10/27/17 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted By: Pitchfork Predator
Are those post oaks I see in the pic? If it's green and you have acorns they will not eat the protein.


This.........


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6936006 10/27/17 06:05 PM
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Just went and picked up an Orbit brand at Lowe's. Only problem I see is it also has a freeze guard that activates at 37'. That won't work for feeding early AM in winter. I think Home Depot here carries Rainbird brand.

Fouzman, you recall how you wire it in? The manual is below, not helpful (to me anyway) and it references 24V usage when the feeder is 6v?

Rainbird Manual


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6936015 10/27/17 06:14 PM
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why i wont go to timed... if deer are use to free choice they dont like getting put on a diet.. with a year like this were they dont really have to come to feed they wont unless they know its an easy get to. i have a timed feeder going next to my free choice and if it goes out only 10% hang around to mess with the timed one

Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: Navasot] #6936087 10/27/17 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: Navasot
why i wont go to timed... if deer are use to free choice they dont like getting put on a diet.. with a year like this were they dont really have to come to feed they wont unless they know its an easy get to. i have a timed feeder going next to my free choice and if it goes out only 10% hang around to mess with the timed one


That's a cool observation always wandered about it.


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Re: Unusual issue with timed-protein feeder and pen [Re: CharlieCTx] #6936988 10/28/17 06:33 PM
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I would not worry about protein consumption this time of year. You probably did spook your deer, but they will get used to it. It may take them a while. I've had similar situations before.

The first couple of years I fed protein I tried to feed year round and it was a waste of time. Most of my deer pretty much quit using protein feeders as soon as acorns start falling (September-ish).

They would only hit protein occasionally from September-February.

Protein is a long-term project. Not an attractant for the upcoming deer season.

Deer have to grow up on it to actually get used to it. If it's there their entire lives they will not know any different.


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