Fermented feed feeder

[hennible]

You could try tying something between the top of the PVC elbow and the top of the bucket, or making a tripod for the elbow. Either one would take some of the strain off the seal, I think.

The marine silicon holds great, but those are both good ideas.

 

[hennible]

Well it's cold out all my feeders froze solid and are currently sitting inside to thaw while the birds eat dry feed... Even if I can't figure out how to keep them thawed through the cold, it was still a pretty good run they will definitely come back out in the spring.

Next I'm going to try rotating the feeders. I'll bring out to warm ones in the morning ,bring the frozen ones back in the house to thaw and rotate each day....
Not as ideal as finding a way to keep them from freezing but I'm still working on something that's going to actually function in -20 and colder... There were no heated bases in the store today so I am SOL on that front...

 

[armorfirelady]

Well it's cold out all my feeders froze solid and are currently sitting inside to thaw while the birds eat dry feed... Even if I can't figure out how to keep them thawed through the cold, it was still a pretty good run they will definitely come back out in the spring.

Next I'm going to try rotating the feeders. I'll bring out to warm ones in the morning ,bring the frozen ones back in the house to thaw and rotate each day....
Not as ideal as finding a way to keep them from freezing but I'm still working on something that's going to actually function in -20 and colder... There were no heated bases in the store today so I am SOL on that front...

I use heated dog bowls all winter for their ff. They shut off when temps are above freezing

 

[hennible]

Do you think it could keep a 5 gallon bucket from freezing?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Do you think it could keep a 5 gallon bucket from freezing?

What about heat tape that is intended for water pipes? Could that be wrapped around your bucket?

Or maybe a bird bath heater in the bottom of a 5 gal bucket, add water, then put your feed bucket inside that?

 

[hennible]

I think the heat tapes would burnout trying to do such and a big area. I think the bird heaters are my best bet, i'll have to go to out of town to find one but that's not a problem... I just really like keeping it all outside from start to finish, DH is a good sport but I know he doesn't want the FF in the house...
Thanks for the ideas.

 

[hennible]

Or a fish tank heaters right in the FF bucket...

 

[Lacy Blues]

I suppose that is a possibility... never even thought of it. Do they make big ones for big tanks? I imagine the consistency of your ff might have an effect on performance of a tank heater. You'd have to be super extra careful not to bump it unless they make them out of something other than glass now...?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sounds like a fire waiting to happen by short.

I do use fish tank heater in one of my water buckets. But definitely not in feed.

 

[hennible]

Good point... It's doubtful it could handle the volume at -20C and not burn out... Back to heated base.