Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Moisture Affecting Feeder

Here in South Mississippi, we have had several days of rain in a row, including a couple of monsoon days where the rain was coming in sideways at times.

Imagine my surprise, when I went to the pond yesterday and the feeder went off but NOTHING happened. I could hear the motor running and there was plenty of feed in the feeder. Battery was fully charged!

After emptying about 40 lbs of feed, I found the issue. Moisture had created a thick 'paste' from wet pellets that was clogging the intake. Taking a small stick, I cleaned out the 'paste' and tested the feeder. It worked again!!!

I posted this for folks who are NOT actively monitoring your feeder weekly. After a long period of rain, I advise you check the feeder to make sure it is actively throwing food.

What kind of feeder was it, if you don't mind me asking?

I have a 30 yr old Sweeney feeder that I havent had many issues with, even with really wet conditions sometime over the yrs, except when the seal was going out of the site glass.

I figured out what was causing the issue and after taking the site glass out and completely re sealing it, it was good to go again.

You might check to see if you have a seal or something like that getting weak.

Good Luck!

It's a Texas Hunter feeder and it has been absolutely wonderful! I would definitely buy again even with this issue.

I plan on using silicone to seal the site glass. I hope this post helps others identify problems before they occur or figure out what is going on if that situation happens to them.

Over the years the forum has accumulated numerous reports of problems with feeders.

In my fuzzy memory, it seems to me that "horizontal rain" has been one of the worst culprits for causing these problems.

I think posts on any good "fixes" would be appreciated.

ML10, I've saved a ton of wet pellets by not keeping the hopper stay full. I'll let them get close to the funnel and then pick out any mildewed pellets. That also helps not getting things clogged up.

They make replacement gaskets for the sight glass.

Yes, I think in the future I'll be more deliberate about when to fill up.

And...before I refill, even if it doesn't 'seem' clogged, I'm going to take a small stick and clean that area well just in case. Lesson learned!