wannabe_keeper Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) Right well my new buckets have arrived today... they are 25kg blue buckets. They are a good thickness and have nice sealing lids. I have 30 of them for my new shoot but cant decide on how to turn them into feeders. I have decided i am going to use springs so will be drilling the required holes in the bottom but i'm not keen on just hanging them from trees as i think they will just sway around in the wind. I contemplated building 3 legs for each one but this would be a lot of work and also deer would knock them over and then thought about banging in 5ft stakes and hanging the buckets by their handles to a screw hook in the post and then maybe screwing the buckets from the inside to the post? I know that these types of buckets aren't ideal and as good as the bigger barrels but i couldn't get these for my budget so the buckets will do. Any other suggestions on how best to convert these into feeders? Edited March 5, 2013 by wannabe_keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 what i would do is use 1.5inch square tree support stakes (v cheap) bang 3 in the ground so that the bucket sits in them like legs but the rim of the bucket rests on the top of the stakes and wire around them to hold them in that way its solid but also easy to remove for summer or cleaning. OR hang them from a tree but wire the bucket to the tree to stop it blowing about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Out of interest where did you get them from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe_keeper Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Ye ol' faithful: eBay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Can I ask how much mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 if they are tied to a decent limb on the tree that doesn't flap about in the wind then there should be no real problem with blowing about unless the bucket is empty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe_keeper Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 I've decided against springs now as don't want to be feeding the vast badger and deer population. And I'd be spending a fortune on 30 springs and 30 deer guards or spikes. Has anyone had any experience with these: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330397641675 They don't look too bad. I can't justify paying upwards of £6 each for the wright feeder nozzles and the pan and window type ones are also fairly pricey but these seem reasonable just not sure I they have been tried and tested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Search solway feeders, the wright is 3 quid odd from there, plus discount for 30 or more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattSoanes Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 A good way to stop deer and badger cleaning you out, 4 pallets (on edge)made into a square around the feeder, cut a hole out in the bottom of each pallet big enough for a pheasant to get through. They soon get used to to going in and out. Give it go, it works fine for me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Tried thoose feeder things and thought they were useless, was to stop deer but they just butted the hopper and it would run out of the bottom., there still 3 quid, u'd get a spring and deer spike for that? A neighbouring shoot to us is going back to only holes instead of springs, saves them clogging and stops other things eating it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillmouse Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Shame you cannot get them in a nice dull green colour. I have tried all sorts of feeders but badgers will wreck most things, squirrels are worst if the hopper runs empty. I have tried pig netting surrounds against deer and badgers, they wreck them eventually, as do wooly maggots which do get in the woods. Its a perennial problem. best leg system I have seen is a metal triangle with angled legs and uprights to stop deer knocking them over. Best I had were metal barrels painted NATO green with wooden 2x2 legs and spirals or pans. Pans seemed less badger and crop prone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomh111 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 You can drill them to trees or strap em on if u dont want to mske legs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe_keeper Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 But are the spikes really any good as have heard mixed reviews. I will probably use a mixture of hanging from trees where suitable or posts. Thanks for the suggestions. Will just have to think which nozzle design to use. Probably still leaning more towards to badger proof ones after reading this: http://www.solwayfeeders.com/blog/post/2011/10/03/Feeder-Nozzle-Review Seem to be the best vermin proof, least wastage and cheapest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocknee Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 A fair number of shoots around here don't bother with springs or anything myself included just drill about a dozen or so 12mm holes in the in the centre of the bottom of the bucket they work a treat just don't let them stand empty the poxy squirrels will chew holes in them trying to get at the few bits of grain left that won't come out the holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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