Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa, Mo
Posts: 2066

Thinking about getting some. I've always fed in the morning and night.
Wondering the pros and cons of switching to these. I feed Diamond E.A, alittle worried about them over eating, but all my hounds are hunted regularly. Also getting a pup (7 weeks old) and just starting him off with one.

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Matthew Fann
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Registered: Aug 2011
Location: Emporia, Kansas
Posts: 381

everyone has an opinion on them.
personally the cons is that one tends to slack off on the daily handling of the hound that is of great benefit to the handle you have on one.
the pros
I feel that the hound will remain in better condition using them. I started using them in the 80's when my job started taking me farther away from home for longer periods..

It may take 2-3 weeks for the hound to adjust to them but after they get to that point they will not eat any more than they will hand feeding.--- rest assured in that time of adjustment you will surely have a good bit of shovel work cleaning up the pens!
I feel that a hound on self feeders is not as likely to bloat.
only had 1 on self feeders bloat.. the other 4 were being hand fed ( 2 after I retired!)

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa, Mo
Posts: 2066

The reason for the change is partly because of my schedule and too keep down some of the barking at night/early morning while I'm feeding. And I won't have to worry about stepping in dog crap as I'm leaving for work while it's dark. I've had crappy dog paws put on me more than once too. Also I'm just wanting them well fed on their terms. I've found 3 - 30lbs stainless steel feeders for $200.

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Bawl, Chop, Bang, Thump.

PR. Missouri Hi-Dollar Slowpoke HTX

PR. Missouri Nite Hunt Hitman - R.I.P
08-08-2013 - 07-15-2015
Starved to death by a S.O.B named Austin Tibbits.

American Black and Tan Coon Hounds
----------------------------------------------------------

Nt.Ch. "PR." Wildside's BugEyed Betty (W)

Matthew Fann
816-565-1660

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

I used automatic feeders for several years.Only problem I had was the food will start to mold in the bottom.With new food feeding down from above some feed stays in the bottom and absorbs moisture.I raised mine up off the ground and that helped.I still use them from time to time if I go outta town.They work good.Got mine a TSC.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: Berlin Center,Oh
Posts: 2424

I have never left food in them over nite. I use them becauase they hang on the kennel well and keep the food in them until they have eatin it all. No bowl to be stepped on and spilt and food laying around to draw in rats or mice. The biggest downfall I see in them is if one doesn't know when the older pup,young hound or an older hound has last eaten then chances are they'll get sick in the box when hauled to the woods but worse case,I myself don't like to hunt one on a full or half full belly. For one seems to make them sluggish and two,better chance of twisting thier stomachs and if one has never seen a hound that has twisted it's stomach,its not a pretty sight and a long slow painful death. I know when I finish eating,last thing that I feel like doing is walkin to hounds all night.Might try some oversized easy slip on boots to go over shoes and some kennel manners for them wanting to jump up on you. That would be my fix for the problem! JMO!!

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Registered: Aug 2011
Location: Emporia, Kansas
Posts: 381

I forgot to mention that in the summer, there is the problem of getting carrion bugs in the feed. so once in a while you must clean out the old feed.--- still good for a coon feeder!

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Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

One thing you shouldn't take for granted is that a young dog or pup will push the door open. You might have to prop it open with a stick till they get use to it. Some feeders I have under roof I open the door and put a sheet metal screw through the side to keep the door open. That way I can see in the feeder.

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Registered: May 2006
Location: Wiscoonsin
Posts: 1941

I use them in the winter. Have a hard keeper. It helps keep the weight on her. She pigs out at first. Then levels off after a couple of days. Like Danny Glista mentioned. I also worry about bloat. So I pull mine in the morning if I plan on running that night. I bought mine at Walmart.

Scott

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Registered: Sep 2005
Location: palmyra mo
Posts: 1958

mine wont quit till its all gone lol little pigs. I also like to talk to them play a little with them a little down time from the real world

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Springfield, Ga.
Posts: 4254

I have used them and yes they work really well for most dogs, and they'll get to where they will only eat when hungry, instead of racing through what you feed them. I did have one that never got the fact that it was always there and they could eat when wanted. This hound would literally eat a hundred pounds a day if you would keep it in the feeder. Constant eating. No, that didn't last long. Went back to feeding her by hand, until she found herself a new home. She didn't eat herself out of house and home, just home. lol

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