i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[pollipazzi]

also. @RoyalChick ...
did i ever mention how cool i think your setup is?
if i did, i think it's worth mentioning again

 

[RoyalChick]

also. @RoyalChick ...
did i ever mention how cool i think your setup is?
if i did, i think it's worth mentioning again

Aww. Thank you!

 

[pollipazzi]

day 2. one side of the feeder opened. the other didn't. i don't think the side that didn't open clicked down as good as the side that did when i set it last night. i'll try again tonight. 3rd time's a charm, right?

no mouse last night. i did chop up mint leaves and put them on the ramp under the door and stuffed into the sides. i doubt that's why he didn't come, but it couldn't hurt to try.

 

[pollipazzi]

day 3. neither side opened at the time i set the feeder for.
i went out to open them and they still had 2 notches (i think they are 10 minutes per notch).
i was reading some of the reviews last night, and some said that the timers can be off to up to a half hour. like they aren't calibrated or something. but once you figure that out, you can adjust how much time to set it for. so i'll try again tonight. i hope it works out. it would be perfect if it did. but the whole point was not having to go out there in the morning. ha!
if it doesn't open tomorrow after setting it to open earlier, i think i will return it for another one and try again. i am one of those people who would get the malfunctioning one. or the one whose order is missing (or wrong) from the takeaway. or weird health issues that stump doctors. yep. that's me!
there's over 10,000 reviews and only a couple had bad timers.

no mouse for the second night in a row. maybe one of the cats got him. the three legged one has been around at night, but i don't know if he's quick enough to catch speedy.

 

[RoyalChick]

day 3. neither side opened at the time i set the feeder for.
i went out to open them and they still had 2 notches (i think they are 10 minutes per notch).
i was reading some of the reviews last night, and some said that the timers can be off to up to a half hour. like they aren't calibrated or something. but once you figure that out, you can adjust how much time to set it for. so i'll try again tonight. i hope it works out. it would be perfect if it did. but the whole point was not having to go out there in the morning. ha!
if it doesn't open tomorrow after setting it to open earlier, i think i will return it for another one and try again. i am one of those people who would get the malfunctioning one. or the one whose order is missing (or wrong) from the takeaway. or weird health issues that stump doctors. yep. that's me!
there's over 10,000 reviews and only a couple had bad timers.

no mouse for the second night in a row. maybe one of the cats got him. the three legged one has been around at night, but i don't know if he's quick enough to catch speedy.

Well that’s frustrating.
Are they battery operated or mechanical? Is it possible it is cold enough for the batteries to have failed? Maybe run some tests in the house during the day?

 

[pollipazzi]

there's one AA battery. it hasn't been very cold here the last few days. it doesn't ever get TOO cold here. so it's been probably in the 40s-50s F. plus the run is a tiny bit warmer than outside since i put the roofing on the front. i could try testing it in the house i suppose. i would just have to pay attention. or set a timer on my phone. i would end up forgetting otherwise, and wouldn't know if it opened on time or not. i do have an alarm to remind me to check on the camera that the door opened in the morning, so i can see if the feeder opened out there at that time.

 

[pollipazzi]

the other thing i like about the feeder is the open dishes. the ones i was using that you have to turn upside down to take the bottom off... they are a pain if you just want to add a little more feed. i think the chickens like it too because they just stick their whole heads in there to eat and they are both eating really well!

 

[pollipazzi]

i was way off! each notch is one hour! so there's no exact time at all. give me a chance. i'm a little slow, but i'll get it
focusing!
i have it in the house now. both sides set to open in one hour. reminder set.

so those two notches this morning meant it wouldn't have even tried to open for two more hours.
before i had set it on 16 hours but yesterday i was out a little earlier and probably just screwed up the time.

also! the 10,000 reviews were not all the 2 bowl feeders. there's the 1 bowl and 3 bowl reviews mixed in. seems like most of the reviews are for the 3 which is a very very different machine.

 

[BDutch]

i was way off! each notch is one hour! so there's no exact time at all. give me a chance. i'm a little slow, but i'll get it
focusing!
i have it in the house now. both sides set to open in one hour. reminder set.

so those two notches this morning meant it wouldn't have even tried to open for two more hours.
before i had set it on 16 hours but yesterday i was out a little earlier and probably just screwed up the time.

also! the 10,000 reviews were not all the 2 bowl feeders. there's the 1 bowl and 3 bowl reviews mixed in. seems like most of the reviews are for the 3 which is a very very different machine.

Can you return to sender and get a new one if this one is broken?
Maybe change it for a 3 bowl feeder?

 

[pollipazzi]

Can you return to sender and get a new one if this one is broken?
Maybe change it for a 3 bowl feeder?

i can, but i want to see if it's user error first (it could be! or a little of both) my first test, the right side opened about 20 minutes before the left side did. now i am testing again with the little clip that's supposed to open both lids at the same time. i am guessing if that works, it will open at the time the left side opens since the timer on that side is slower.
the 3 bowl feeder is different because it rotates. people complained because the third bowl is open. so it really would be one is for immediate use and then you can time for the other two bowls. one bowl is always open.
i think that has a digital timer. i'll check...
yes. digital.

i think testing would have been a good idea to do before using it first. i just expected the timers to work.
i mean. i guess they work, but there's a big area when they decide to open.
i could try setting it an hour before the coop door opens, but sure, the mouse was in there the other day at that time. lol!
maybe the mouse is gone, but there will surely be others.
i did get peppermint oil yesterday and put it on the ramp and around the door. and around the little window.
i was thinking i could use some fabric bandage tape and put a little on that on the feeder lids. just in case.
just where i put it so far, the run smells minty fresh! it's strong.