About a month ago, I bought a stand and fill feeder at Academy. It seems to me that the feeder is dumping a lot of corn directly under the feeder instead of throwing it out more. Is this normal (see pic below)? Before, I had been using Moultrie feeders where you don't control the spinner plate height/gap and/or speed. I set the spinner gap as per the manual but do I maybe need to decease the gap a bit or maybe increase the spin rate? Any feedback is much appreciated.

The varmint cage is deflecting the corn.

Yes Sir. Thats the answer.

Yeah, I knew the cage was deflecting some of the corn, just not sure if that much was normal.

Minimally, you can insert a piece of sheetmetal in your cage with a slight break/bend at the top so the corn will fall out of the sides vs piling up underneath.

These sandwiched spinner plates are all the rage now, varmit cages are old school.



Depending on how amibitous I get, I was considering trying to modify my All Seasons Corn feeder similar to the above. Put in a top plate and take out some of the cage sides... we'll see.

Charlie

Yes, I'd adjust the control box to help move the spinner plate closer. Depending on the spinner plate you're using it should be about 3/8-1/2" below the hopper funnel and yes, if the motor speed is adjustable it should be on high. You could also change your spinner plate out to a gate plate spinner or even the Eliminator plate to keep winds from messing with it as well.

Those are 6 volt motors also... Do they spin up to the same speed/torque as the 12 motors? Do some kernels make it a long distance?

Yeah, this is a 6 volt motor. Some kernels do make it a good distance. I'll try moving the spinner closer and cranking up the RPM's. I don't want the hogs eating the corn too quick....want them to hang around a while so I can observe them...lol.

This is the way to go. I Have feeder with a box much like the one in your photo, I was able to put a varmint plate on mine and let the bottom o0f feeder serve as the top plate. Made my varmint plate out of an old 55 gallon barrel lid, Throws corn 15 to 18 feet.

The pictured Lamco feeder will stop varmint/bird issues and evenly spread corn through out a 45 X 45 pen.

BiggeSmalls is right ! Your flooding the spinner plate and it can't throw the corn properly! I have similar feeders and varmint cages and a little will build up underneath, but not that much!

I have the same feeder as the OP. I set mine to the instructions. I always thought that it was the varmint cage knocking the corn down. It is thick with a lot of metal built into it. I will be interested to hear if adjusting the motor box closer to the funnel actually makes a difference.