Anyone make a timed dog feeder?

[Kelpy]

I am trying to come up with a solution for feeding while I'm off hunting on weekends and such. There is no way I can free feed my dogs (unless I want them obese) so what can I makeshift to feed them daily while I'm away?

My only thoughts so far is some sort of deer feeder rigged up with a catch chute down to several separte bowls. . . Anyone tried this?

Thanks, Kelpy

[david]

There is a bunch if stuff out there. Never tried any of it. Most look too flimsy but maybe you could use the timing unit to build a sturdy system.
www.Perfectpetfeeder.com

Sweeneyfeeders

[david]

Looks like you can buy electronics and components at www.westtexasgamefeeders.com

[Grzyadms4x4]

I've seen on the web somewhere where a guy made an electronic timed chicken feeder that opened up at a certain time and closed at a certain time. Maybe do a startpage search for that and modify it for dogs.

[Maynardshounds]

You know it's funning I was thinking the same thing one day I was off work for a while after I had knee surgery. I was sitting there thinking because it hurt so bad I wish I just had a timer feeder but how do I do thing so when I'm hurting or of hunting or my wife wants to go on vacation so I don't have to pay someone to feed my dogs I was thinking more like a electronic deer feeding with a hose on it too the dog bowl somehow. Something like that I think would work the best like you would have to take the spinner off hook a hose to it and test how much comes out but I think that should work. Hope that helps you out out.
Let me know....

[FullCryHounds]

They make automatic programmable dog feeders. Just buy one of them. The better ones are made of galvanized metal and mount to the wall. I wouldn't buy one of the cheap plastic ones. Most dogs would chew right through them to get to the food on the first day.

[david]

http://www.perfectpetfeeder.com is a stainless steel model.

But I have a long term solution: breed up some dogs that don't over eat. There are some really good dogs that can be left on constant feed without making themselves obese. Make it a breeding priority.

I have also seen and owned really good dogs that will over eat terribly, but it always lowered my opinion of them a notch or two. Have even seen dogs I considered pretty smart otherwise, that would over eat. Made me wonder how smart they were really.

Back twenty years ago I got in a situation where I needed to leave my dogs for around ten days. I had a Freind that could quickly check on them, but I did not want him to have to feed and water.

I gave each dog three barrels, laying down, attached side by side, with plywood spanning the topside of them for lounging. Each had an opening on one end. One was the dog house, one was filled up to the opening with water, and a swinging door to keep light and dirt out, the other was filled up to the opening with dog food, and a swinging door to help keep birds, and other critters out.

The dogs did really fine on it, and if I remember right, my Freind never had to add food or water over the ten days. Seems like I even had an over eater among them, but she just got over her obsession, with a huge pile of food available. At any rate, they were all happy and healthy when I returned.

[walkerhoundsjandrin]

Did you ever make the feeder or find any good solutions for one? I too am starting to look for ideas, I was thinking some sort of auger mechanism that would flow the dog food out hooked to a motor and timer.

[mike martell]

[pegleg]

There are automatic "valves" that fit into large diameter PVC. They adjust to a specific time frame . so you have to measure the amount of feed that flows through in a given time then set them accordingly. Most are for poultry or hog feeding but can be adapted. However you will have to use the same feed or reset it each time you change.
I agree some hounds are gluttons. I've had some interesting run ins with a few. Sometimes unlimited feed in a kennel in two separate locations will break them of this habit. But this might mean three or more bags of food wasted in quick order. Between what comes back up and what comes out the correct end be prepared for clean up duty for a few days. There's also the increased risk of bloat most hunting hounds are unusually prone to this though. If you have bloodhound crosses or larger dogs it might be more of a issue.
Using a mineral supplement that the dog doesn't really like to much and is labeled for dogs sprayed on the food sometimes speeds up their learning curve as their body will start rejecting a mineral overload if they are receiving enough food otherwise.
Dogs on varied diets don't seem to develop into gluttons as often.
Like David said it is genetic. Some lines are prone to it while others almost have to be forced to eat.
The drawback to light eaters is often they will go off feed completely if hunted hard for several days and not forced to stop and eat.
A easy keeping hound that is also easy to feed is probably ideal. However it is something people don't focus on.
Some hounds weight changes seasonally a lot. And all of them go through increases and decreases in consumption.
A general rule is feed open choice feed with good nutrition and small treats or scraps. Then when weather changes or hunting increases go up in protein and fat % . if you hunt colder areas fat is important. In warmer areas less so. And commercial feeds tend to be to high in oil and fats for hard hunting in warm climates. Boiled eggs crumbled and added to food daily makes a big difference. For picky eaters it encourages them and tired hounds seem better able to digest it. It might surprise some how well dogs do on only a couple boiled eggs daily in a pinch. I wouldn't suggest letting them in the tent though.
I think hounds should be able to eat together and it can be done. Then if you have to leave food out for several days it isn't a crisis. A trough or tub with plenty of room seems to work best. Start this early and depending on your hounds it usually goes easy enough. If not be more forceful.

[Pwilson]

Mine have been on self feeder for about 4 years and I have never had any dogs get fat I hunt 2 or 3 times a week and I have no ideal y ur dogs would get fat if u just put them on self feeders


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[scrubrunner]

It's a neat idea and maybe something to piddle with if your a mind too but if I'm gone for 3 days I give them enough for 4 when I leave, if they eat it all the first day they'll be hungry when I get back but they'll be fine.
I have people close to feed mine when I'm gone longer, if I didn't I'd use self feeders, wouldn't want dogs to go hungry because of a mechanical malfunction. If they get fat you can easily get the weight off, after all they can only eat what you give them. It's a lot easier to get weight off most dogs then it is to put weight on some of em.

[TrophyHusband]

I believe our hounds should be handled and interacted with daily. Even if its a quick scratch behind the ears and a good boy at feeding time. The closest I have to an automatic feeder are my kids. If I'm gone for whatever reason they take turns feeding and interacting with our hounds. I will admit that some of the feeder ideas posted are probably a lot cheaper than kids in the long run, but feeders can't replace the handling.

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