Texas Hunting Forum

Feeder Pen Question

Posted By: Ryan06

Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 06:05 PM

Admittedly, this is like the third or fourth thread Ive posted with a beginner question. I always get great supportive responses though so it's hard to not utilize this forum.

Anyways...my family now has a piece of property that I can hunt here in north texas. It is late in the game, but this is the only chance I have to not risk life and limb on public land. My question is-How should I set up my feeder pen? I have made them once before and we used hog panels and made it a square. I noticed my uncle put his panels low to the ground and in a circle. Is there some benefit to this? Thanks
Posted By: JethroODB

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 06:30 PM

A circle has the greatest amount of area per given unit of circumference. 4 - 16 foot panels in a square will give you 256 square feet of feeder area. 64 feet of panels in a circle will give you over 300 square feet of feeder area.
Posted By: Ryan06

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 07:24 PM

Oh ok that explains it, Thanks
Posted By: Rustler

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 07:29 PM

I build feeder pens with 34" x 16' pig / hog panels, 10 minimum usually 12 - 14, t post every 8', panel on ground no gap, in a circle or close to it.
Posted By: sprigsss

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 07:42 PM

I built mine with 8 panels and feel it is easily big enough, but I agree the more panels the better.

I usually buy my panels from tractor supply. I lay them out and wire each panel together overlapping 1 square on each end. After all 10 are laid out I get at one end and start rolling. I will then add a wire every couple of panels to keep it from unraveling.

I then roll it to my truck, put a strap on each in and roll it in my bed. If you don't put the strap in it, it will spin on you.

Then when you get to lease you unroll it and make a circle. I use 2 carabiners to close the gate, so I ovelap the 2 ends and close the circle with the carabiners.

I start with 1 T-Post where each panel overlaps and then I go back and put 1 T-Post in the center of each panel except for the door where I'm going to back in my truck to fill feeder. I always put my T-posts in the center since pigs and cows may be pushing from the outside. You almost don't even need to wire the T-Post to the fence if they are on the inside.

Everytime I've had employees at tractor supply tell me I couldn't get all 8 panels in my truck. I kept telling them I've already done it, but they almost couldn't wait to go outside and watch me fail.

Next ice down the beer, hand your wife the T-post driver, and then sit down and supervise.
Posted By: krmitchell

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 08:16 PM

8 panels is fine, if you want to spend the money more is better. 6 is a little small but will work. OP, what are you trying to keep out of the feeder pen? Hogs or cows? If you just want to keep the cows out and let hogs in, put one panel a foot off the ground. This will let the turkey and deer go under as well. If you don't want hogs put them on the ground and go on. I leave a panel up on every feed pen at the end of the summer for a month or so. The hogs will come in and clean up all the grass for me so I don't have to mow.
Posted By: PMK

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 09:30 PM

sprigsss ... you lay out 8 panels end to end (overlapping one square & wiring together) and roll up the entire 8 panels length into one roll??? so it's like a 5-7' diameter roll containing all 8 panels connected ... interesting!!! and sounds like a heck of a lot less work than chopping each panel in half (8' lengths) to fit in the truck bed and having to assemble on site (twice as many wired connections).
Posted By: QuitShootinYoungBucks

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/24/17 09:47 PM

Originally Posted By: sprigsss
I built mine with 8 panels and feel it is easily big enough, but I agree the more panels the better.

I usually buy my panels from tractor supply. I lay them out and wire each panel together overlapping 1 square on each end. After all 10 are laid out I get at one end and start rolling. I will then add a wire every couple of panels to keep it from unraveling.

I then roll it to my truck, put a strap on each in and roll it in my bed. If you don't put the strap in it, it will spin on you.

Then when you get to lease you unroll it and make a circle. I use 2 carabiners to close the gate, so I ovelap the 2 ends and close the circle with the carabiners.

I start with 1 T-Post where each panel overlaps and then I go back and put 1 T-Post in the center of each panel except for the door where I'm going to back in my truck to fill feeder. I always put my T-posts in the center since pigs and cows may be pushing from the outside. You almost don't even need to wire the T-Post to the fence if they are on the inside.

Everytime I've had employees at tractor supply tell me I couldn't get all 8 panels in my truck. I kept telling them I've already done it, but they almost couldn't wait to go outside and watch me fail.

Next ice down the beer, hand your wife the T-post driver, and then sit down and supervise.



Great way to do it if you don't have a trailer handy.
Posted By: Txduckman

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 05:47 AM

Nice way to do it. I would go with 8 minimum. We have feeders with 6, 7, 8 and 11. I just measured the radius out with a string for the size and then drop a t-post every 8 feet minus a few inches. Then go and hammer them in. String keeps you measured perfectly out from the center. Works perfect.
Posted By: huntindude

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 01:35 PM

if you go with 8-10 panels you better only use 6 volt spinner, 12v will throw outside the panels. (circle pen) I did 10 and its not enough. Still have pigs. On camera the pigs dance around the perimeter. Spend the extra money and get 14. I should have listened to someone on this forum who told me the same thing. Gonna be a pain the add panels.
Posted By: Stratgolfer

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 01:50 PM

I will say that even if the amount of area doesn't allow for that many panels, a round pen still works. I have two 5 panel round pens and have had up to 4 deer inside the pen with others outside.
Posted By: sprigsss

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 03:50 PM

Originally Posted By: PMK
sprigsss ... you lay out 8 panels end to end (overlapping one square & wiring together) and roll up the entire 8 panels length into one roll??? so it's like a 5-7' diameter roll containing all 8 panels connected ... interesting!!! and sounds like a heck of a lot less work than chopping each panel in half (8' lengths) to fit in the truck bed and having to assemble on site (twice as many wired connections).


Yes sir, that's exactly how I do it.

Roll into one big roll, fits in the back of my pickup truck, no trailer needed.

Tricky part is getting it into the truck, because it will want to spin when you are trying to roll it in and it is quite heavy.

But by putting a strap on the front of the roll we were able to roll the "spool" on the strap and into the truck. My T-post driving wife and I got it in the truck by ourselves.

Then when at the site you just stretch it out, connect the 2 ends, position it just right, open a beer and watch your wife drive the T-Posts.
Posted By: SapperTitan

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 03:53 PM

Id use 8 panels, I've seen as many as 5 bucks in one pen that size before. If you want the hogs to still come around from time to time for target practice you can make an oval where some corn makes it outside the pen.
Posted By: sprigsss

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 03:53 PM

Originally Posted By: huntindude
if you go with 8-10 panels you better only use 6 volt spinner, 12v will throw outside the panels. (circle pen) I did 10 and its not enough. Still have pigs. On camera the pigs dance around the perimeter. Spend the extra money and get 14. I should have listened to someone on this forum who told me the same thing. Gonna be a pain the add panels.


My feeder definitely throws corn outside of the pen, but I like that. That way if there is a hesitant buck there is corn on the outside, and I don't mind pigs eating some corn, just don't want them to eat ALL of it.
Posted By: SapperTitan

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 03:56 PM

Originally Posted By: sprigsss
Originally Posted By: huntindude
if you go with 8-10 panels you better only use 6 volt spinner, 12v will throw outside the panels. (circle pen) I did 10 and its not enough. Still have pigs. On camera the pigs dance around the perimeter. Spend the extra money and get 14. I should have listened to someone on this forum who told me the same thing. Gonna be a pain the add panels.


My feeder definitely throws corn outside of the pen, but I like that. That way if there is a hesitant buck there is corn on the outside, and I don't mind pigs eating some corn, just don't want them to eat ALL of it.
The Alamo feeders the stand and fill type spread corn in an almost perfect circle with none going outside panels when using 8 in a circle.
Posted By: chalet

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 06:31 PM

Originally Posted By: sprigsss
Originally Posted By: PMK
sprigsss ... you lay out 8 panels end to end (overlapping one square & wiring together) and roll up the entire 8 panels length into one roll??? so it's like a 5-7' diameter roll containing all 8 panels connected ... interesting!!! and sounds like a heck of a lot less work than chopping each panel in half (8' lengths) to fit in the truck bed and having to assemble on site (twice as many wired connections).


Yes sir, that's exactly how I do it.

Roll into one big roll, fits in the back of my pickup truck, no trailer needed.

Tricky part is getting it into the truck, because it will want to spin when you are trying to roll it in and it is quite heavy.

But by putting a strap on the front of the roll we were able to roll the "spool" on the strap and into the truck. My T-post driving wife and I got it in the truck by ourselves.

Then when at the site you just stretch it out, connect the 2 ends, position it just right, open a beer and watch your wife drive the T-Posts.


I like your style.
Posted By: Hunter Daddy

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/25/17 08:59 PM

My digital timers have a "low," "medium," and "high" setting for the spin plate. I just keep it throwing on low setting and the corn stays in my pen. My pen is 6 panels.
Posted By: krmitchell

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/28/17 12:37 AM

7 panels on this pen, plenty big for the party. That all seasons 12v motor will throw a couple kernels of corn out but not enough to matter.

Posted By: Hogflyer

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/28/17 11:28 PM

Those short panels are fine, easy to climb over and service your feeder if need be, as far as square or round its your call. If your trapping pigs, round pens make it harder for pigs to leepfrog over each other to get out of the pen once caught, but just for a feed pen, square if my vote, had about a 30, 30 pen for years now that the damn pigs have moved in again form the lake area, several years ago purchased these short hog panels now, pigs dont come around as much, since they cannot get to feed in the pen. Some of hte older does feed from the out, younger and some bucks jump over the panels. My opinion either or. Yet some will still debate it! cattle still lean over the pen, just use a few extra T-posts if you have to.


hunt safe....
Posted By: Diodog

Re: Feeder Pen Question - 10/29/17 11:18 PM

I followed this simple step by step hog panel build which was studied by Texas A&M... Mine works great..later

http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/media/7351/usi...ng-stations.pdf
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