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For you guys that feed protein #7194484 06/11/18 04:35 AM
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sunsetroosters Offline OP
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What’s the best bang for your buck protein feeder? Any pros and cons of certain brands and kinds as well.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194550 06/11/18 11:49 AM
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I made one from a 55g metal drum and pvc, i just set it up Saturday so, I'm not sure how it's gonna hold up yet. I just couldn't see spending $200 bucks when i have a welder and materials to make it myself. I bought the funnel and lid for it.


Go get in the woods
Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194592 06/11/18 12:46 PM
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My preference is Boss Buck protein feeders.
Easily converted to corn slinger, one feeder inside your pen can sling corn during season, free choice protein all other times.

When you go cheap on a protein feeder you get what you pay for. clogged drops & spouts, sweating inside, wasted moldy feed.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194606 06/11/18 12:53 PM
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These really are some of the best feeders out there. Especially if it rains. Won't clog. When I was feeding I ran into almost every feeder know to man (at the time) and they all would clog in rain or leak or clump up inside from condensation. Not these. You can also change the feed head in the fall and can convert to spin. I am not associated with Bossbuck since 2011.

https://www.bossbuck.com/products/feeders/onepcleg_protein.html

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194626 06/11/18 01:03 PM
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Best advice I can give you if you’re serious about feeding, is to buy as big as you can afford including feed. I started with a 350 lbs feeder, then to a 600 lbs, now have a couple 2k lbs feeders. I go about every 3-4 weeks to refill and want to ensure I never run empty in between. We’ve been rebuilding for several years now and the number of mouths have increased drastically, so a 350lbs feeder won’t last more than a week on a 150-200 acre section of our lease. Use to be a 350 would last me nearly 3 weeks, so factor in your headcount to the best of your knowledge when buying a feeder.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194633 06/11/18 01:12 PM
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I have two of these 1000 lb feeders on my place. One is penned this one is not. The spouts are high enough the deer can get to them but so far I have yet to see a hog reach it. I love the fact I can put a lot of protein in it and not worry about it for a long time. Once the deer start using them a 55gal drum is not gonna stay full very long.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194823 06/11/18 03:57 PM
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If you are serious about starting protein then as the saying goes "Go Big or Go Home". I recommend if you are purchasing a feeder then go ahead and cry once and buy big capacity, BUT do not fill it up to start with. Start with just a couple hundred pounds until they find it and get on it, then you can increase your fill. I have a 1500 lb that spins corn and 1,000 lb protein. Size does matter as I don't get out to place as much as I'd like so the larger capacity helps with keeping trips down. I'd also recommend since you are just starting to keep records (fill weight, consumption rate, etc) as this will help you in long run.j

Southtexasranchman has some really good info in his post responses on this subject.

Good luck and enjoy.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194941 06/11/18 05:39 PM
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IMO your feed ports look a bit to high in the second post..what height are they? With them turned up a younger deer will have a difficult time eating out of the feeder. Over time they will wear a depression after rains on the ground under each port. That will make it even a bit more difficult. Do you have a drain in the bottom of each port to let rainfall drain out? How much clearance do you have between the port and the legs of the feeders? Like posted above I would never fill a feed completely full to start. If the deer have never been fed protein I would put a 50 lb bag of corn in the feeder the first time till I got deer eating out of it. Then mix in a bag of corn and protein. When they eat that then put in a couple of bags of protein. All Seasons sells a funnel with 4" opening for making your own protein feeders. They also sell a protein head with spouts to make your own feeder. Boss Buck sells the funnel with downspout/ports to make your own feeder also. I have started with one 300# feeder with they idea that over time as the consumption goes up to add another feeder(s) to same location. I never want more than 10 deer eating per feeder if I can help. I want the deer eating as much as they want when they want it. So far I have not had to add any extra feeders. When I bought my feeders I put dug each leg down so the feed ports were only 32"-33" of the ground, not 37"-38". Deer range in body size a lot around the state. I bought J&N Feeders at a local feed store since they were well made and all galvanized. They were priced very competitive at the time. IIRC I paid $230/feeder for a 300# capacity(corn weight). They are 5.5 yrs old now and still look in really good shape.


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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7194988 06/11/18 06:19 PM
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Last couple we have bought have been allseasons stand and fill 500 lb capacity feeders, they have been good and the deer seem to use them well.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7195109 06/11/18 09:14 PM
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Boss Buck works well for me, but I would follow the advice the folks above gave you. Go big. I’m using the 300 or 350 lb model and they are cleaning it out quickly. I was there filling it this weekend thinking about how I wish I got a bigger one!

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7195481 06/12/18 05:18 AM
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Dang. You guys are rocking. Ours are 55 gallon barrels. Low deer density though. It sure makes a difference in consumption rates. Ours hit protein well. I don't think we feed enough to make a lot of difference though. Alfalfa field is bringing them in strong. I've been pouring the water to it every 2-3 days. Not sure how long I can keep that up.

Last edited by Erathkid; 06/12/18 05:20 AM.

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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7195593 06/12/18 01:11 PM
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Our little experiment last year...worked really well and only cost about $150 in materials to make. It will hold about 1800lbs though I've never put more than 1000 in it. Would like to install some kind of barrier or membrane to help keep the protein and corn/soy mix separated. Also considering making another for each pen so we can have 1 for protein and 1 for corn/soy. Had to convert from a 4 port drop tube to just using slits as they were eating about 350lbs per week. The tube with slits slowed them down a bit....now I only have to make that 4 hour drive every 6 weeks instead of every month. Really like the Boss Bucks too....especially the ability to easily convert....but I think i like making my own crap more....




Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7199943 06/17/18 04:15 AM
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Best bang for your buck if your deer will eat it. Feeder cost $50. 1,440lbs of cottonseed was $120. $160-$220 per ton depending on mill and time of year.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: CGB] #7201068 06/18/18 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: CGB


Best bang for your buck if your deer will eat it. Feeder cost $50. 1,440lbs of cottonseed was $120. $160-$220 per ton depending on mill and time of year.

I been Doing research about this. How much can you get in the bed of a long bed truck? Will it blow out? Or will it ride like dirt. How did you transport yours

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7201248 06/18/18 07:31 PM
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That was a long bed truck worth in that photo. I’d say 1,500lbs in a long bed about 1,200 in a regular bed. I’ve hauled 4,000 on a 16ft trailer before. I cover it with a cheap tarp. Some of the guys on my lease don’t cover it and loose maybe 50lbs getting it to the lease. Most cotton gins sale it from December through May then run out.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7201563 06/19/18 12:22 AM
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Awesome. I’m definitely gonna try this next year. How do you find the gins? Just google em?

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7201573 06/19/18 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted By: sunsetroosters
Awesome. I’m definitely gonna try this next year. How do you find the gins? Just google em?

Yes just Google to find them or list of them for your area of the state. Don't expect deer to just readily take cottonseed at first unless you are lucky and someone has fed close by or in the past. If not it may take a very long time or a drought. Might be easier to find a dealer that carries WCS in 50# bags and by a few to start then get a larger quantity after that.


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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: stxranchman] #7201776 06/19/18 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted By: stxranchman
IMO your feed ports look a bit to high in the second post..what height are they? With them turned up a younger deer will have a difficult time eating out of the feeder. Over time they will wear a depression after rains on the ground under each port. That will make it even a bit more difficult. Do you have a drain in the bottom of each port to let rainfall drain out? How much clearance do you have between the port and the legs of the feeders? Like posted above I would never fill a feed completely full to start. If the deer have never been fed protein I would put a 50 lb bag of corn in the feeder the first time till I got deer eating out of it. Then mix in a bag of corn and protein. When they eat that then put in a couple of bags of protein. All Seasons sells a funnel with 4" opening for making your own protein feeders. They also sell a protein head with spouts to make your own feeder. Boss Buck sells the funnel with downspout/ports to make your own feeder also. I have started with one 300# feeder with they idea that over time as the consumption goes up to add another feeder(s) to same location. I never want more than 10 deer eating per feeder if I can help. I want the deer eating as much as they want when they want it. So far I have not had to add any extra feeders. When I bought my feeders I put dug each leg down so the feed ports were only 32"-33" of the ground, not 37"-38". Deer range in body size a lot around the state. I bought J&N Feeders at a local feed store since they were well made and all galvanized. They were priced very competitive at the time. IIRC I paid $230/feeder for a 300# capacity(corn weight). They are 5.5 yrs old now and still look in really good shape.


My feed ports are 3 foot 6 of the ground, that's about what the commercial feeders are, i was trying to keep it high enough to keep hogs and young deer out. I put a 50# bag of corn in the bottom and mixed a bag of corn with a bag of protein and put that on top of the corn.

Last edited by Mike Mathena; 06/19/18 10:59 AM.

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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: Mike Mathena] #7202869 06/20/18 11:45 AM
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I use the bunk feeders. But I’m here every day and hand bag it. I only feed my house pasture of my home ranch. Leasers feed other ranches. Currently feeding 350# of antlermax and 2 bales of alfalfa each day. If it doesn’t rain I’ll be feeding more soon.

Hand feeding each day gets me out in the field with them and gets them used to seeing me. It also helps me know exactly how much they’re eating.

Last edited by therancher; 06/20/18 11:48 AM.

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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: Mike Mathena] #7202953 06/20/18 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted By: Mike Mathena
Originally Posted By: stxranchman
IMO your feed ports look a bit to high in the second post..what height are they? With them turned up a younger deer will have a difficult time eating out of the feeder. Over time they will wear a depression after rains on the ground under each port. That will make it even a bit more difficult. Do you have a drain in the bottom of each port to let rainfall drain out? How much clearance do you have between the port and the legs of the feeders? Like posted above I would never fill a feed completely full to start. If the deer have never been fed protein I would put a 50 lb bag of corn in the feeder the first time till I got deer eating out of it. Then mix in a bag of corn and protein. When they eat that then put in a couple of bags of protein. All Seasons sells a funnel with 4" opening for making your own protein feeders. They also sell a protein head with spouts to make your own feeder. Boss Buck sells the funnel with downspout/ports to make your own feeder also. I have started with one 300# feeder with they idea that over time as the consumption goes up to add another feeder(s) to same location. I never want more than 10 deer eating per feeder if I can help. I want the deer eating as much as they want when they want it. So far I have not had to add any extra feeders. When I bought my feeders I put dug each leg down so the feed ports were only 32"-33" of the ground, not 37"-38". Deer range in body size a lot around the state. I bought J&N Feeders at a local feed store since they were well made and all galvanized. They were priced very competitive at the time. IIRC I paid $230/feeder for a 300# capacity(corn weight). They are 5.5 yrs old now and still look in really good shape.


My feed ports are 3 foot 6 of the ground, that's about what the commercial feeders are, i was trying to keep it high enough to keep hogs and young deer out. I put a 50# bag of corn in the bottom and mixed a bag of corn with a bag of protein and put that on top of the corn.

If you want all deer to eat then I would drop that height down to a height they can easily eat from the feeder. Hogs around a feeder are going to keep the deer that are eating away from the feeder. IMO it defeats the purpose of feeding if all the deer can not eat easily and hogs are keeping the deer away. Hogs will learn to rub against the feeder over time to shake feed out onto the ground. Also IMO the angle of the feed port is making it even more difficult for deer to try to eat from them.


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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7202980 06/20/18 02:06 PM
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I build them, pm me for more info if interested





Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7203012 06/20/18 02:33 PM
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In the above post, how many lbs. would you estimate are in this comtainer ? We can buy it locally in 50 lb. bags?? Curious how much space 50 lb. would take up.

Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: therancher] #7203194 06/20/18 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted By: therancher
I use the bunk feeders. But I’m here every day and hand bag it. I only feed my house pasture of my home ranch. Leasers feed other ranches. Currently feeding 350# of antlermax and 2 bales of alfalfa each day. If it doesn’t rain I’ll be feeding more soon.

Hand feeding each day gets me out in the field with them and gets them used to seeing me. It also helps me know exactly how much they’re eating.

Bunk feeder is the best feeder for allowing deer to eat with out any restriction around them. It is also much more labor intensive over the long run. Many still use them in South Texas when they have a daily or weekly presence on their land but they put a shed roof over them to keep the feed from getting rained on...if it ever rains.


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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: Wilhunt] #7203215 06/20/18 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: Wilhunt
In the above post, how many lbs. would you estimate are in this comtainer ? We can buy it locally in 50 lb. bags?? Curious how much space 50 lb. would take up.

Cubic foot of corn weighs 44.8 lbs. Protein would weigh about 10% less per cubic foot.


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Re: For you guys that feed protein [Re: sunsetroosters] #7203384 06/20/18 08:38 PM
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STX, protein or cottonseed hulls?

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