Wooden Trickle / auto feeder - Instructions

[jus10inla]

So i cant take credit for this; but i think i have improved a few areas. Note i used OSB particle; i have ALOT on hand, and my boxes for the most part are out of weather. I have made a few out of treated 1/2 or 3/4 solid plywood. These are at no cost to Me. this will be pic heavy. Also as this is just a diagram, i do caulk all joints to not allow any moisture.

 

[jus10inla]

for bottom / base, i used a 18x20 , followed up with a 3x20 to use as a lip. This lip can be raised as birds grow. Then screwed onto front of the 18x20

 

[jus10inla]

Next was to add feet. This box can be started off with chicks, (have seen chicks as young as 2 weeks old in my full size alot taller than this)

i did a bit of testing around over time and found a 20° incline worked the best.

front feet i made 1” tall in front, cut to a 20° taller in rear
back feet was 7 1/4” cut to 20° shorter in front

(you wil see how i got my rear measurements in pics)

 

[jus10inla]

Next was to add the back.

16x20.

i dropped down 1” from where base landed , as this gave me a good groove inside to lay caulk inside normally and a solid screw point in the legs

 

[jus10inla]

With grade being 22” to top, and 19” to widest point of rear to fromt, i made my 2 sides

21.5” x 19.5”, then i marked off 4” in front to slope back on The 21.5 tall side

 

[jus10inla]

Now back to front. This is what really irked me to get rite the longest time. But i found whaat i believed made feed trickle the best.

i measured 3” from bottom, and 4“ back, drilled screw for anchor point at that spot. That gives an almost 2” gap for feed to go thru.

next i measured from the anchor point to front corner of a side. Measured that distance, and 14.5 x 20.25 was magic number

 

[jus10inla]

As you can see this gives a 4” off ground, easy spot for chicks to jump into / sit on ledge and eat. As time goes on ive added taller lips as bigger birds will drop some , and the taller feet so they dont break there necks droppong down. Also note the sides do not fully go to ground either

 

[jus10inla]

AND THATS A WRAP! for a top, i would use a 30x30 , take small strips and put the back one 4” from rear, and sides 1” from each edge of outside measurement of feeder. The larger footprint gives a shaded area or roof for the birds to be under while eating, and wider sides again for moisture

 

[jus10inla]

Heres a few pics of final results of a few ive doen… u can see the taller lip on first 2, Thats for the ducks. Thee feed on ground is where i rocked the feeder forwRd to see how much it had left. I put 50 lbs in smaller, and have put 130 lbs in larger before. Ive had 10-12 birds lined up across big feeddeer, and 5-6 ducks at theres all the time. If anyone has any questions lmk!

 

[jus10inla]

@Ragfrey … hope this cleared anything up. ALSO; not sure how close u are to baton rouge but if u want it its yours!