I have a ton of 100 year old 2x6 boards. And a ton of screws and a ton of time.

I was thinking about building a protein feeder out of them.

Here is a very basic plan:



I would seal it some how between the boards. Probably caulk. I would paint it also. I would have an overhang over the part where they eat to keep rain out better. Probably angle the roof some and angle the part above the mouth where they eat.

Just wondering what y'all think about it and what problems y'all can see?

Would the wood make the protein mold? I could make the lid not seal perfectly to vent the moisture out.

Any thoughts? If I make it I will have to figure out the capacity but that's easy for me.

It will be extremely heavy. All 2 x6 boards and 4x4 legs.

Here is one I found online. It's out of new material but the same basic idea. I would make it a little different because on his a lot of protein fell out.

You need to think antler clearance. The pics you have will not allow enough space for a buck to get his antlers in and still allow him to eat with out damaging his antlers while growing in velvet. People who design feeders like this do not really know what they are wanting to do.

Something like this is what you need. Bucks really do not like sticking their head in something that they can not see thru. They will learn to do it but would rather eat from something they can see danger coming from in all directions.

I think I could make some feeder tubes. It would be work but I think I can do it.

Maybe something like a real feeder. Like this.



It would be a tripod. The legs would be about 6 ft apart. It would have a four way feeder tube at the bottom.

Yes much better just leave enough height for a buck to raise up when eating for antler clearance also so he does not his antlers when he raises up.

You can buy a feeder for like this one pretty cheap:
http://www.mummesinc.com/wildlife_feeder...ein_feeder.aspx

Thanks! Is it ok to make it out of wood? Will the protein mold? Would the wood soak water? I would seal it and paint it. I think it would be fine. Growing up our hogs feeder was wood. But it wasn't sealed ish.

Thanks but I don't want to spend money and it would be fun to build. Mainly it would be fun.

I posted that for pricing but also for you to see the height of the feeder for clearance of the bucks antlers. You will need to make the feeder so that water can not get into or contact the pellets. The lid will needs to be snug but allow air flow so the feeder can breath. It needs to keep rain out though, so a lip or overhang is ideal. You can make an open style trough with a roof over it. That way you can fill it weekly when you go. Just a long trough with a roof.

Thanks for the help. I think I have a plan. I built one like the one for sale this year. I will draw it up on paper to scale and post it on here for y'all to tweak tomorrow. I plan on building it this week.

Here are some drawings on an app

You can just put a flat plate for the feed tray for the deer to eat of also. If you use it then I would add a small roof over the feeder like you have drawn above to keep as much moisture off as you can.
Here is a style of feeder that was made from a couple of different type feeders. Just took the better features of several along with some of their own ideas to make the feeder.

That's perfect!!! I was thinking of making the roof on the lid on top but now that I think of it if I make it lower like the one in your picture it would keep the rain off better. This morning I went and got a ton of 1x12's from our pile of old wood and brought them home. I didn't know we had 1x12's. they will make it much lighter and easier.

My plan for the legs is to use 4 legs now. Having the lower roof will screw perfectly to the lower leg supports on how I'm picturing it now.

It's all coming together!!!

I'm thinking of making the leg mounts like this around the feeder



That way I can attach the 1x12 roof boards like this:

How high should the feeder plate be off the ground? It's south Texas deer height.

STX how high is the one in your picture off the ground?

Here's what I've built so far...



I should have made the legs farther away from the feeder. I can't change it now. I hope they won't be too scared to eat out of it due to the close legs.

I will be shortening it once I get it to the ranch. And once I know what height to put it at...

I still need to build the roof to keep the rain off the protein plate or do y'all think it will be fine?

I will build the lid in a few minutes.

That's an awesome design

Id get a can of spray gasket and go to town on every side of the feeder just to be sure.. and treat the whole box... wood aint the best for keeping out moisture

ALso if you have squirrels they are going to be a problem

I have I will be painting it well. Lots of coats.

We keep our raccoon population down so they shouldn't be that much of a problem.

What else do y'all think I should do to it?

I know in the end it might not work well but I hope it does...

It will work just fine and for being something you made it should pay itself off quick... I see squirrels chewing through it eventually but should give you a season at least

lol put a crazy hot sauce in the paint mix and maybe that will teach them a lesson

Those were adustable with a 18" during fawn season and 24" the rest of the year. You do not have much room for bucks/deer to get in and eat comfortably.