I have always used funnels on my barrel feeders. I'm questioning if there is really a need for one. I'm building a new winch-up barrel feeder and I don't think I'm going to use a funnel this time just to see how it works. What are your thoughts?

I had some barrel feeders I used for many years. Never had a funnel in any of them.

Don't need one but flow will be better with one. In barrels that I haven't had one in, there is some dust settling that occurs at bottom of barrel.

Hey DQ, what do you mean by flow better? Is there a chance it will clog up without the funnel?

I am running 13-15x 55 gallon barrel type feeders and none have an internal funnel, just the small one mounted to the bottom of the barrel above the spin plate. When the feeder is empty, there might be a little bit of corn remaining away from the hole but nothing substantial.

external bottom funnel example mini funnel

This.

Its your call really, having a funnel gets most or 95% all the feed out, where as without theres a left overs on the sides
of your. bottom. Some people that bothers them, i used both, and they work. Just make sure in filling corn or whatever
you minimize cobs, and trash that gets in feed sacks. Unless your doing bulk filling, then anyones chance you get junk
in the barrel itself. My first barrel feeder i made back in 70's i made my own funnel, laid it out on garage floor, with roof flashing
rivited together. still using it today, works fine, today its easier just to order one!......


hunt safe, good luck....

Unless you like corn rotting on the bottom of the barrel, I'd put a funnel in. Barrels do sweat. Moisture will get to the corn that doesn't move because its on the bottom of the barrel.

Doing things half arse can get you most of the way there

I used to build Winch feeders and I will tell you this as the hogflyer said you will get 95% (I think more) of your corn out by using a funnel. With corn pushing $24.00/100, and considering the weivels that are going to get into your fresh corn a $30.00 dollar funel starts looking purty cheep. I stopped making winch feeders bout five years ago now but I never had a customer say they wished they had not done it.
Is you are building awinch feeder no matter what else you do make sure you use a BRAKE WINCH for a winch. By the way I have the first two I ever made still in service after almost twenty years of year round service. Do it right once and be done.