Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Show me your floating feeder.

Has anyone built a floating feeder? I'd like to build something to attach one of the five gallon bucket type feeders too. Right now one of my ponds is so far down that I'm not sure the feeder could throw the feed to it. I'd like to make it so that I could set it next to the water and in the event it ever rains again enough to raise the water level, I could just pull it ashore.

I built a pump that floats in the creek to pump water to the pond. Don't have any pictures but I used two six inch pieces of pvc pipe with caps on each end as pontoons. Works great.

I would think that two pieces of 4" or 6" PVC pipe capped on each end could act like pontoons or outriggers to support a platform to mount a feeder on.

The two pieces of 6 inch pipe I used are about 34 inches long and they hold up a 1hp submersible well pump and are still out of the water by about half(3inches)if that helps.

That helps a lot actually.
I already have the PVC, just need to get the caps.

Almost forgot...when you put that second cap on be prepared to tap it on with a hammer and hold it until the glue sets up some. First time I did it I pushed the cap on and the air pressure popped it right back off. :)Good luck.

Good idea. I've been trying to figure out how to keep one of the five gallon bucket feeders out over the new pond so that the neighborhood bear and his smaller masked bandit friends don't get it.

By the way, I just replaced the bucket/lid on my old feeder, and I also built a new feeder. Home Depot now has translucent 5 gallon buckets so you can see how much feed is in the bucket. But, even better, they now have water tight screw on lids. Gamma Screw-On Bucket Lid. The translucent 5 gallon bucket was about $5 and the screw on lid was about $6. I really love the new lids. For some reason, Lowes doesn't have either.

Ken

Bullhead..,.I've thought about buying one of these.

I saw those too Zep. I hate to spend that much money though because I only need mine to float in the case of a flood. Otherwise it's fine to have it on the shore. We don't have bears around here (yet) and I can handle the raccoons.

True Bullhead...they are kind of pricey, but really about the same as a Texas Hunter.

I am saving for two feeders, but not sure which one I will go with...may eventually try one of each.

This floating feeder looks to be about half the price of the other floating feeder, but I have no idea about the quality.

Zep Texas Hunter may come out with one at somepoint. We do sell the fat bass if you decide to go that route.

After problems with bears I put the feeder on a tripod.

After the Bears learned how to swim I had to suspend the feeder between 2 trees with a pulley on one side so I could raise and lower it.

Adirondack,
If you could provide a few details of your suspended system, that would be MUCH appreciated. Rope or cable? Pulley tied to the tree or nailed in? Etc., etc. We are thinking of placing one on a public lake and would like to deter naughty kids from tampering with it. Thanks for any info you can provide.

I have a heavy duty rope tied to a tree on one side, it runs across the pond then thru a small pulley that is attached to a tree with a hook, then down to a clamp at the bottom of the tree.
The feeder handle is tied to the overhead rope and I can lower the feeder and refill it from the canoe. The bears haven't bothered it, I guess it's too far for them to hand over hand (paw over paw) out to the feeder.
If your having trouble with kids, maybe use a cable and loop so you can lock it at the bottom of the tree.

Thanks.Not currently having trouble with kids, but you know how they can get when they have too much time on their hands.....

BH, a friend of mine has a floating feeder on one of his ponds. Just saw a picture of it the other day and I've asked him for the specs. He didn't build it, but is going to get the info from the guy that did for me. Will post it here when I get that.