Pheasant feeders

[Snap-Cap]

What are you guys using as pheasant feeders?

The ones we have are the blue plastic drum type but the squirrels are a nightmare for chewing through them & getting to the feed or letting rain in & then rotting the feed?

Deer are also a problem we have we've had to change the spring type feeders to the cone type at the base of the feeders

We have strapped the feeders to some trees & put pallets around them as a form of deer proofing this allows the pheasants & smaller birds in to feed but keeps some of the deer at bay.

Does anyone know a good source for finding metal type drums at relatively low cost?

Looking forward to you're replys

 

[Bo Diddley]

Blue plastic on good legs with spiral springs, and four stout stakes in a square with a double rail around them stop the deer pushing them over, just make sure you don't let them run out of wheat, then the squirrels won't need to gnaw into them, make some boxes up to put Fenn traps in and have one next to each feeder to trap the squirrels. When you stop feeding make sure you empty the remaining wheat out, don't leave the dregs in the bottom, that's when you get squirrel damage.
Atb
BD

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, What about some small type metal galvanised dustbins ? Spray on Paint, and fix some legs on and a cone type feeder , leave out a trap for Squirrels, Deer may need more thought

 

[Tim.243]

What are you guys using as pheasant feeders?

The ones we have are the blue plastic drum type but the squirrels are a nightmare for chewing through them & getting to the feed or letting rain in & then rotting the feed?

Deer are also a problem we have we've had to change the spring type feeders to the cone type at the base of the feeders

We have strapped the feeders to some trees & put pallets around them as a form of deer proofing this allows the pheasants & smaller birds in to feed but keeps some of the deer at bay.

Does anyone know a good source for finding metal type drums at relatively low cost?

Looking forward to you're replys

I had a couple of dustbin feeders made up the legs and 6mm pop riveted them on.
Converted one to an auto feeder for the ducks and put a hoop of wire around that with 3 stakes .

Shoot the deer feed the guns/beaters with it in a stew

 

[Greenmist]

Trap the squirrels, a tunnel trap on a fence rail, leaning against the nearest tree or up to the feeder will give good results, if deer are bothering them, fence round with stock mesh, or if you have access to IBC cages use them

 

[old 30-06]

Deer are not a problem, they are a resource ! We use the blue plastic drum type on legs, and where they are subject to deer interference I bang in a length of rebar and tie the feeder to it. Rebar is a lot easier to carry around and knock in that fence posts.

 

[Greenmist]

Deer are not a problem, they are a resource ! We use the blue plastic drum type on legs, and where they are subject to deer interference I bang in a length of rebar and tie the feeder to it. Rebar is a lot easier to carry around and knock in that fence posts.

A ring of stock mesh upside down, fixed in place with decent canes , no need to knock in fence posts

 

[VSS]

A ring of stock mesh upside down, fixed in place with decent canes , no need to knock in fence posts

Wouldn't any deer just push the canes over and trample the wire? Fallow can be pretty harsh on a properly erected stock fence, let alone one that's just held up with canes.

 

[Greenmist]

Wouldn't any deer just push the canes over and trample the wire? Fallow can be pretty harsh on a properly erected stock fence, let alone one that's just held up with canes.

Can't comment as I have no fallow to contend with, only roe

 

[Bo Diddley]

No need to buy fence posts, just use some nice straight Hazel or Ash, indeed anything that will be strong enough to discourage the deer, a nice rustic structure is pleasing on the eye, and even more so when you have a dozen pheasants perched on it all....

 

[jall55]

I would avoid metal as the condensation wets the corn and blocks the slots
As for squirrels - shoot them

Deer - i hang my feeder on scaffold poles - so the deer can push them about but not over

 

[Dillon]

Springs with deer guards are the best, I use the old Sycon springs that are adjustable, unfortunately you can’t buy them anymore, however you need clean wheat or you have to check them often. The Feeder cones are good in that they block up less but the roe will feed out of them, fallow seem to leave them alone. I’m not a fan of the Wright feeder, although some swear by them.
Pan feeders are ok if you have no deer!
Quill top hat feeders are OK but again fallow can play havoc with them ( hence why I’m selling all mine ) a Harpic toilet block did put them off for a while.
The only time I’ve had a problem with squirrels or rats knawing any of my plastic feeders is when the food stops coming out but there is still some food inside, hoppers need to be full or empty, when they are empty don’t screw the lid back on.
There is no perfect feed hopper yet, I’ve tried them all, I think the closest to being perfect would be the Feeda cone with a deer guard, something I intend to look into this year.

 

[jall55]

And remember its worth feeding all year round - helps the birds raise broods - and gives a good focal point to hammer vermin

 

[old keeper]

Blue plastic on good legs with spiral springs, and four stout stakes in a square with a double rail around them stop the deer pushing them over, just make sure you don't let them run out of wheat, then the squirrels won't need to gnaw into them, make some boxes up to put Fenn traps in and have one next to each feeder to trap the squirrels. When you stop feeding make sure you empty the remaining wheat out, don't leave the dregs in the bottom, that's when you get squirrel damage.
Atb
BD

Exactly this.
Keep the feed level up and ensure the spring is working. I always found it's when there is no feed in the spring or hopper that the damage is cused.

 

[johnnytheboy]

I make them from an oil drum!

Welded on legs and I put 1 x 50mm hole in the bottom middle, usually I use a pan feeder as they are the most conservative but if it’s near a pen and I need a fast feed rate I put on a spring, by only drilling one 50mm hole it means I can swap between feeder attachments.

We had loads of badger, squirrel and deer damage and this really saved on our feed bills. With the legs welded wide enough and full it’s very hard to push over.

If you know anyone in the motor trade they will get you oil drums as they are now charged to remove them due to oil being inside they are a contaminated container! They seem to last pretty well, I just retired one this season that was 10 years old!

I just welded one into an IBC cage to keep the sheep away