Confused here - please explain how this set up works?

just your typical wire cottonseed feeder with 2"x4" wire fence, with some mods.

1. I used 1/2" fence around the top to limit the 'spillage' while filling. This experiment needed adjustments since (as you can see) sometimes the cottonseed would get wedged and hung up. I fixed this by increasing the diameter of the cage to a minimum of 36". Not a problem anymore.

2. Since I can't get out to the ranch EVERY weekend, I made it 7' tall. I need a ladder to fill it, but it allows me to feed a little more and it lasts 10-12 days during the heat of the summer.

3. I crush in the bottom. This way I don't have a 36" diameter wire tube touching the ground with a pyramid of cottonseed in the middle that the deer can't get to.

Got it. Mistakenly thought the portion on top was by design.

Most people feeding WCS will set the wire basket over a single T-post and not tie it to the T-post(s). With the wire feed basket tied to the T-posts on both sides in two locations it makes it difficult for the deer to get to the last of the WCS in the center of the wire basket. As they try to push the sides of the basket to get to it, they can and will damage the velvet antler tips. With the basket setting over a single T-post it allows the basket to move as the deer eat from the outside. It "floats" so to speak. They can move the wire basket easily enough around the T-post to get to the last of the WCS. You can make a larger basket that is shorter and easier to fill, it will last longer with it larger in diameter also.

You could add a couple extras to cut down on trips to refill.

Thanks STX. I'm always looking for better ideas and ways of doing things......

We had some cotton seed feeders like yours, except the top half was a 55 gallon barrel with a 3 foot long basket of the fence wire hanging off the bottom of the barrel. The whole set up was on 3 legs, with the bottom off the ground about 2 feet.

Yep, I have a couple of those too, except my wire goes all the way to the ground in the shape of a funnel point.

From an older thread on here shows what I describe above.

Funny, until only recently, I used to tie them to the T-post. Why Forrest, why?

What type of wire is that? and approximately how big (diameter) is the basket?

Cottonseed as deer food is new to me. Is it cheaper than corn/protein? Much protein value?

We utilize a 48 inch high net with 2 x4 inch panels. I believe STX is showing you the same thing only in what is referred to as a no climb net. It has diagonals within each frame. We make cut the net so as provide a 6 foot circumference. It's extremely easy. Then you drive a post, put the basket over the post and fill.

Cottonseed is higher in protein and much higher in fat, but has no minerals. Pellets have the disadvantage of being highly desired by varmints and birds. If in pens, the cottonseed is pretty much utilized by deer only. The cottonseed is almost immune to precipitation which cannot be said about protein pellets.

If starting anew, I would look at cottonseed first. The cost of the basket pales in comparison to any type of bulk feeder.

We feed both. Last year, the cottonseed accounted for 27% of our total supplemental feed bill, but who is counting. The very good thing is we know for sure that 100% of our cottonseed went to deer.

That is called V-mesh or used to be called Elwood wire IIRC. Most of the ones I have seen are 18"-24" diameter, but you can make them larger to fit your needs. I would just not make them to large of diameter because if they are to short so the deer will not try to eat over the top edge. They could get antler damage or push the top edge of the wire down and try to get inside the basket. Most guys that feed WCS only will put two or three baskets inside a feed pen. I have also seen guys buy the 8' cattle feed bunks(metal with plastic liner) to feed WCS out of also.

I'm looking to buy WCS in bulk, live in Round Rock but I know I will need to drive to get it. Anyone know gins that are still selling it? Seems most of the 'close' ones have become micro-brewery's, restaurant, or purely ag supply houses.....

have a friend from Gtown that calls around to find it, then buys a couple thousand pounds dumped on a 16' flat bed trailer with plywood sides, then covers with a tarp to transport to his Junction lease. If memory serves me, he has used the gin in Granger, one around College Station and one around Giddings. I will see if I can find out the names but you might be as well off just using Google

STX gave me the Texas list, but I need to see if they still sell it, and the prices.

Blackland - 512-859-2261 - granger
Waterloo - 512-352-2921 - Taylor
Williamson County Gin - 512-352-2321 - Taylor
Payne Gin & AG - 512-898-2737 - Thrall

Not intending this to be a stupid question, but do they also sell it bagged or bundled?

Think I saw it in a bag at feed store around $14. I think. Not sure of the bags weight. was not large.

we only purchase it in 50 pound bags

it's sold in 40 and 50 pound bags, ranging from $12.50 - $17.50 depending on the feed store.

Sounds like less labor than shoveling the bulk from a trailer. What’s the price of bulk compared to bagged?

One arm, but not the leg....yet. About twice as much, but you are paying someone for bagging it(which is a PITA) and the convenience of a bag vs a shovel.

and depending where you live, you might not be able to find it in bulk w/out driving 100+ miles to get it.

We don't have the equipment to effectively handle buying cottonseed in totes. We feed by hand. last year we fed out 139 bags from January 16th through the end of September. This s for seven cages in pens. It's not all at one time and not much of an issue.

The biggest issue with the bagged cottonseed is how quickly the bags will fill up the bed of your P/U. The good thing is the stuff doesn't really go stale and you can buy a bunch, carry it on a trailer, store it and use when needed. .