Automatic "pest proof" dog feeder. Heavy gauge galvanized steel construction.
Magnetic strips help keep door closed. Sizes are approximate amount of food, depending on size of the kibble, that each feeder will hold. The 25lb feeder is around 12x11x22. You put feed in the top and the dog can open the door and eat when ever
he wants.
Our experience is that
most dogs will adjust to the constant availability of food within a few days
and will only eat what they need. Occasionally you will run into a dog
which will over eat and stay overweight if kept on an automatic feeder-- but
these dogs are the exception. Our experience is that most dogs will
regulate their food intake and stay in excellent body condition on an
automatic (gravity flow) feeder. We do not recommend automatic feeders
for puppies, however, because we believe that the human contact associated
with hand feeding is very important in the socialization of puppies.
There is a small, thin magnet on the inside of each side of the door frame which helps keep the door close
to the frame.
The magnets are usually 1/4 or
more up from the bottom of the door. You may have to slide the magnets down some
so that they will help the door stay closed better.
It is a good practice to "shim" the back of the feeder (or the back of the legs if you
don't mount the feeder on a fence or wall) so that the feeder is tilting slightly foward.
This lets gravity help the door stay closed.
The door cannot seal tight (or have a very strong magnet) because the dog would have
difficulty opening the door to eat if it did.
Being made of sheet metal, sometimes shipping causes the door to not hang properly.
Usually, you can "adjust" the door some, if needed, by applying LIGHT pressure to
the door to move (or bend) it slightly.
The feeder needs to be faced away from prevailing winds. Some use silicone to help
reduce the risk of rain getting into the feeder. However, you need to the check the
feeder frequently because food can mold just from being in a humid environment as
well as by getting wet directly. We suggest that you do not fill the feeder with more
than a few days food supply and that you check the food every few days.
This automatic feeder should last several years. However, although it is not designed for
mounting, it will last longer if you
mount it on a fence or wall so that the bottom is not touching the ground/concrete. You will
need to drill a couple of holes in the top back and mount to a wall or fence with 1" (or longer)
wood screws and washers. A backing board will be needed to mount it to a fence.
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