DIY - Gravity Feeder

[Triple Creek Reaper]

I want to thank IL2H and Mr Lolo for giving me some ideas and pointers on putting this together. I kind of went all out on these but I know they can be put together much cheaper. I intend to mount these at the new lease, God willing and the deer cooperating I will not have to move them for a long time. One is being strapped to a tree and I may mount the other attached to a 4 x 4 sunk into the ground at the intersection of 3 overgrown firebreaks.

I decided to go with a larger setup than most but based on some calculators I found on the internet, the difference between the holding capacity of a 4" pipe and a 6" pipe is 2.25 X more capacity. Based on my tube length, the difference amounts to 31 lbs vs 72 lbs of corn.

Parts List

One (1) 6" x 14' Sewer Pipe (much thinner and lighter than the white pvc but you have to cut off the bell end to make fittings work)
Two (2) 6" Sewer Caps
Two (2) 6" to 4" Reducer Couplings (moving to 4" fittings will save 50% at the feeding end)
Two (2) 4" Double Wye's (using singles wye's will save close to 50%)
Two (2) 4" Flush Clean Out Plugs (don't forget to drill some holes for drainage)
Note: Only Lowes in my area carried the 6" pipes and fittings

So the son and I headed out yesterday afternoon with hacksaw, drill and glue in hand. I had a great time watching him use the drill and learning how to put everything together. He is really looking forward to painting some homemade camouflage this weekend, weather permitting. I'll post the painted pics when we get it completed. It was a great project for him and I am pretty sure there is no way these are going to be installed without his supervision now.

[kc45]

Great job! They look huge!
So each one is 7'+ tall?

[Triple Creek Reaper]

Great jon! They look huge!
So each one is 7'+ tall?

The main tube is approx 7', w/ the fittings attached, a little over 8'

[davedirt]

how much corn do they hold? What was the cost?

[davedirt]

How do bears like them? What I mean is has any one had one with bears messing with them.

[Iluv2hunt]

When I hunted around bears, they would snatch them right off the tree

[sam03]

Nice work! Cant wait to see pics!

[Triple Creek Reaper]

how much corn do they hold? What was the cost?

I am guessing a little over 72 lbs of corn total. I have just over $40 into each one, if I went with 4" all the way through, I think you can build them in the $28 to $35 range.

[deutze]

don't forget the cheap lttle plastic cap that fits inside of the tube before the end cap, or whereverver you choose, and creates a small false bottom. you put in some marbles that will make noise when the tube is nudged and 1 animals will think it's always full and 2 it will wake you up when snoozing. costs under 1$.

[Triple Creek Reaper]

When I hunted around bears, they would snatch them right off the tree

I am worried about this...It seems most of the people on here had more problems with bears reacting to timed feeders flinging corn than hand spread or gravity feed. Its a gamble but I figured you can't buy a very good timed feeder for $40 and if these do not get messed with, they will hold a hell of alot more feed.

[M12Gunboy]

Nice, looks like that'll work!

[Kortsman]

How are you going to prop them up or attach them to a tree?

[Triple Creek Reaper]

How are you going to prop them up or attach them to a tree?

I have 4 cheap ratchet straps that I could use for securing it to a tree or 4 x 4. I have been thinking lately about security though. I could mount a couple of eye bolts and then use cable or chain to make sure they don't just walk off.

[Kortsman]

The reason I asked is because 7+ feet is pretty high to be lifting bags of corn. It's gotta be something that can be taken off fairly easily so you can lean the tubes over to fill. I had a 5' feeder attached by large zip ties and sometimes there was a lot of spillage when refilling...

[Triple Creek Reaper]

The reason I asked is because 7+ feet is pretty high to be lifting bags of corn. It's gotta be something that can be taken off fairly easily so you can lean the tubes over to fill. I had a 5' feeder attached by large zip ties and sometimes there was a lot of spillage when refilling...

I will definitely be leaning these over for filling. I think the ratchet strap idea makes the most sense for a quick release. Either that or straps with quick release buckles, I am not so sure they are up to the task though, I have a good idea these things are going to hold 2 full bags of corn.

What have you found to be the right height off the ground?