Opinions wanted on treadle feeders

[MCArt20]

does anyone gave experience with these type of feeders? Hoping to keep out other birds and rodents....

Thanks!

 

[Kiki]

yikes....rodents during the day...I'd fix them with a bb gun.
They are hard to get rid of.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

I think I'll set up a snare.

 

[RUNuts]

You tube is your friend. Also, the best way to keep a secret is don't tell anyone.

The squirrels around my place drop from lead poisoning. Durndest thing. They shouldn't ingest lead. And they are made of protein.

My current crop of dogs like to chase them, but not during nap time, eating time, if it's too hot, if it's too cold, sometimes the sun is too bright or maybe they are just taking a day off. From what, I don't know. The wild bird seed just doesn't last long. Bird seed appears bad for their health too.

Funny thing about the dogs, they are VERY interested in the chickens. We keep having talks about job responsibilities. I don't think they are taking me seriously.

On a bright note, haven't seen opossum in the backyard. The one in the front yard didn't stick around.

If you need an alibi, we never had this conversation.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

You tube is your friend. Also, the best way to keep a secret is don't tell anyone.

The squirrels around my place drop from lead poisoning. Durndest thing. They shouldn't ingest lead. And they are made of protein.



If you need an alibi, we never had this conversation.

I wonder what kind of lead squirrels like to eat? (just so I can be SURE not to keep any in the back yard?)

 

[RUNuts]

Funny that you mention it. They were eating the lead flashing off the house and making leaks. Then they started on the pelletized form of lead. I'd recommend the pellets. The crumbles weren't as effective. <wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know-what-I-mean?>

Say no more!

 

[texsuze]

My opinion on pedal (treadle) feeders, after a year of using them: squirrels were the first to learn how to use them, cottontail bunnies were the next to learn how. I've had squirrels get caught twice inside the feed hopper All of my hens eventually learned how to use the pedal, except my 6 year old BAs (now age 7). The feed still gets 'billed' out, still spills, and wild birds still access the spilled feed.

I now have hanging feeders back in the runs, and one pedal feeder in the barn during free-range time; that feeder goes into the feed room at night.

The bunnies still arrive each morning when I let my girls out of the run to free range, and all the generations of bunnies have learned to use the pedal feeder. So... there is good and not so good about using these feeders. Your mileage may vary...

 

[Kiki]

no experience with these types of feeders.

You can also try to raise the feeder off the ground...hang it to help keep rodents out of it. Also picking it up at night so the rodents don't have ANY thing to eat would be good too.

 

[SueT]

I am subscribing to learn more....just watched some youtube videos on treadle feeders. Do they really keep out mice?

 

[MCArt20]

I have raised the feeders, rodents get into them anyway, and I do take them in at night, but rodents are out during the day too. Other birds like crows and sparrows that carry mites access it too....thought maybe this would help all issues....but wondering if they really work as they look....