Feeding deers can be one of the best experiences in preserving nature and appreciating your environment.
It is the responsibility of the deers to feed themselves; however, you can be a critical part of their ecosystem by providing food for these animals.
As you feed these deers, you realize how fast you attract a crowd, which can be a good scene for photography.
To feed the deers effectively, you need to have the best feeders located strategically to attract the deers and ensure they feed without being scared.
You can support the animals during the winters when the climate is sometimes too harsh for them to feed on grass. In return, there are many benefits you can gain from feeding these deers.
There are different types of deer feeders in the market, and you have the choice to select from the endless list.
Consider these factors when buying a deer feed.
Durability
Durability is significant for selecting machines, especially those with extensive metallic parts.
The feeders are used in open environments and subjected to harsh weather; hence you need to have a feeder that will survive the extreme sunshine, rainfall, and other conditions that can corrode and cause the metals to rust.
You can select those made from galvanized steel that can withstand environmental conditions and effectively protect the feeds.
While installing the deer feeders, you need to ensure they are sturdy enough to withstand the effects of other animals such as bears, raccoons, and even deers brushing against them.
You also need to provide a protection system to protect the deer feed from environmental factors such as rain and sunshine that can accede the food quality in the feeder.
Ensure it has a lid to preserve the food longer and keep it fresh.
Lightweight and portability
Portability is critical since you must keep changing the feeder’s position. Deers keep shifting their path; hence you need to locate the feeder on the route the deers follow.
Therefore, you need to select a feeder made of lightweight metals such as aluminum.
You can also consider those made of lighter materials enabling you to carry and change the location of the feeder.
While selecting the lightest feeders, you also need one with the capacity to withstand environmental changes and one which can secure the content.
Setting up other electronics
The best deer feeders should be automatic, meaning you need to install machines that operate the feeders.
You cannot connect these machines to power sources such as house sockets, but you need to ensure they have a constant power supply.
Since you locate most of them in the open, it is best to buy solar-powered deer feeders with backup batteries for extra energy needs.
Therefore, you need to select the most sustainable and affordable feeders and ensure the feeder is compatible with the charging unit before purchasing it.
The power sources or the battery should also have extra energy capacity for other needs. It is amazing to record the deers; hence you need a camera.
You can sleet the best night vision camera to record the deers the night and day. You need to connect the camera to the power source to ensure you do not run out of power while recording.
One of the best times to record and learn about the deers is when they are feeding. You can capture other activities such as mating, fights, etc.
You also need a feeder with a capacity or a space for the cameras to record the deers. Therefore, you need a feeder with a solar mounted to charge the battery all the time.
You should consider feeders with voltage capacity between 6 and 12; these batteries can last between 4 and 6 weeks.
The automatic or digitally programmed feeders are convenient since you can regulate the deers’ food and monitor the amount remaining in the storage area.
You can also get gravity-controlled feeders; however, with these, you cannot control the amount of food the deers get. You will have to refill frequently.
Ease of installation
There are different types of deer feeders and different ways to install them. You need to select one that is easy to mount.
The ease of installation will depend on the capacity and the types of feeds they can carry.
Some feeders will require additional support to mount them on the ground, while others will require hanging lines or straps to mount.
You also need to consider other needs, such as the ease of refilling and the amount of stability required for the feeder to withstand environmental factors and animals brushing on it.
The mounted feeders are easy to use due to stability and ease of refilling; the best option is the tripod feeders.
They are easy to set up since all you have to do is bury the supporting stands and poles onto the ground and pour cement or ballast to make them firmer.
Capacity
The feeders have different capacities, and the choice will depend on the number of deers you target to feed.
They range from 50 to 300 pounds and more. You can select smaller feeders to install in your compound to feed one or two deers.
However, the bigger feeders will enable you to feed the animals longer without refilling frequently.
Conclusion
There are different types of deer feeders you can get in the market.
They vary based on size, operation design, battery capacity, mounting methodology, and the materials used.
A suitable feeder should be durable, digital, easy to install and withstand different weather conditions and interferences from other animals.