Introduction
Deer feeders act as a crucial element to feed the heedful animal.
These work great to hunt deers or catch a glance at them. But it is very easy for the food inside to get molded.
During the summer season, this gets worse.
This is why it’s better to know how to keep moisture out of deer feeder.
You can keep the moisture out of the deer feeder by avoiding overfilling the feeder. Investing in a proper feeder is a necessary step as well. You can use a Moultrie hanging feeder or a gravity feeder. A breathing kit can also help with lessening condensation inside the feeder barrel.
If you are facing a situation where your feeder is turning moldy then look no further.
Here we have provided some helpful tips for you to prevent moisture from forming inside your feeder.
Keep reading to know more!
2 Methods On How To Keep Moisture Out of Deer Feeder!
Moisture can easily turn your homemade deer feeders moldy or spoiled. Having your deer feeder rotten is the worst thing that can happen when you are feeding them.
The heat and humid atmosphere act as a catalyst to making the food go bad.
You can follow these methods given below to keep your deer feeder good for a long time.
Method 1: Choose A Proper Feeder Barrel
Selecting a feeder barrel with the deep feeder breather kit can save the food from getting mold.
When you buy a deer feeder, you should keep a few things in mind.
It is essential to choose a feeder barrel that can avoid moisture from forming inside. You should choose a feeder which can lessen the formation of condensation inside the feeder.
The material of the feeder should be durable and must be rust-proof.
A hanging deer feeder works as a great option for keeping the moisture from generating inside.
You can use a gravity feeder or broadcast feeder along with a breathing kit.
If you have deer as pets then you can feed them using these deer feeders. You can fill these feeders with a proper mixture of food for the deers.
You should not put the feeder barrels where there is too much sunlight. As it might compromise the quality of the feeder barrel.
To keep corn from molding we have picked out the best deer barrels you can invest in.
Method 2: Controlling the Supply of Food Inside the Feeder
Deer feeder filling system should not be excessive as the deers may not finish it in time. This leaves the food left inside the barrels susceptible to getting bad.
Not checking up on the food can also cause the food to get bad quickly.
An easy solution to this issue is measuring the amount of food you feed the deers. Also checking up on it from time to time is necessary.
Measure the Amount of Food in the Barrel
You should refrain from overfilling the barrels. This would ensure that the deers eat all of their food at once.
Having the extra food left inside the barrel makes it prone to getting mold. But measuring the amount of food can put an end to the wasting of food.
Deers typically consume about 6-8 percent of their muscle mass everyday.
A fully grown deer weighing nearly 200 pounds can consume up to 15 pounds of food.
You can start by putting in less food than usual. If the deers are able to finish it then you can start adding more food next time.
You can observe the amount of food the deers finish this way. Once you start measuring the amount of food, you can find an approximate estimate.
Check Up on the Food
You should keep an eye on the food every once in a while.
If the corn starts to get moldy then it might cause a ripple effect. Which can lead the whole batch of corn to get moldy.
For this, you should look out for molds in the feeder every once in a while.
What Should You Do With Corn that Has Molded?
If your feeder corn gets molded, you have no other choice but to throw it away.
Once the deer feeder gets molded it produces mycotoxins. Although a certain threshold of mycotoxins can be used with discretion.
If a large amount of corn gets molded then you can send that corn to a lab. You can then find out whether the levels of mycotoxins can be disregarded or not.
Mold spores counted under a million can be safe for the animals to consume. But anything over it should be thrown away.
Molded corn can be a serious health hazard for the deers and other domestic animals.
FAQs
What Can I Put in Deer Feeder?
You can usually put corn to feed the deers. Besides corn, other great options include acorns, apples, soybean, etc. Deers are mostly fond of corn and can feed on it all year round. However, it is not ideal for supplying protein to them. Putting protein pellets in their food is a great idea as well.
How Long Does Deer Feeder Last?
Deers usually eat around 12 pounds of food every day. A 30-gallon feeder is supposed to last up to a month. If you put about 300 pounds of corn into the feeder, it would last around 75 days. Using a spinner makes it last longer. When you have a 55-gallon feeder, it would last around 12 weeks.
Where Should I Place a Deer Feeder?
You should place the deer feeder in an area where the deer can feel safe. Placing the deer feeder in an area where the deers tread around comfortably is necessary. You can place the deer feeder next to a large open area like a field. Areas covered by trees are also a good place to place the feeders.
End Word
We hope our insight on how to keep moisture out of deer feeder helps you. You can finally feed these wary animals without worrying about their food getting moldy.
You should set the feeder high up so squirrels can’t get inside through the muzzle.
Wishing you the best!
