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Putting out a new hunter fish feeder this weekend. Anybody know about how long to set it to throw at first. Fish will come up to feed on hand thrown feed.
Thanks Pat W
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Feed the amount that they will consume in 15 minutes or less.
The feed amounts thrown will vary with the size of the pellets. Unfortunately, every pond is so different, that there's no set clock time to have the feeder run. Your fish will tell you. I know it's not much help.
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The 15 minute "rule" is OK but who could afford what those pigs will eat in 15 minutes. I'd start at 3 or 4 minutes and adjust from there. Let the fish tell you.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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As a newbee myself to feeding, I found the Texas Hunter to throw out a lot more than what I was by hand feeding. I am sure this is a big variable between each person. Like Dave, who can afford to feed as much as they want? I throw enough out that they seem to hit it pretty hard for a few minutes and it's mostly gone. They will then pick away at it here&there for the next ten minutes of what's left. For the most part, I only do 1 second, but my stocking numbers were light. Don't forget, unused feed will add to possible unwanted FA or other.
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Lunker
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The 15 minute "rule" is OK but who could afford what those pigs will eat in 15 minutes. I'd start at 3 or 4 minutes and adjust from there. Let the fish tell you. Dave has got it right! Sorry Scott......
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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George, that's why I put the "or less" in there.
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Lunker
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Yeah I know - Iknow.... You also know I don't like that rule....
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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I know it's not the norm, but I basically use a 20 minute rule. I want 20 minutes of feeding a day whether it's 1 throw, or 5. Currently, I'm throwing 5 times a day, and my fish usually take 3-4 minutes to consume all the food thrown. This has worked well to keep the food from floating to the bank and eliminating waste. If they start eating the food in less time, then I bump up the throw times.
This is probably not the best method, but it works for me.
AL
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Lunker
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Al, I would not consider that a rule..I call that a "program" based on age/size of fish, season of year etc, based on observation such as what you do. G/
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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It really is best to keep and eye on things when feeding with an automated feeder. I try to get out once or twice a week. Over the last few years I have seen some odd things with our fish. Summer months they just stop eating it and take to the minnow population. Spring and fall I set it to shoot 3 seconds of feed if they eat all that in 10 minutes then another at 3 seconds and so one till they stop eating.
Like this spring we had 4~ 3second feeds and now we have only one at 2 seconds and its just feeding the minnows. The perch are completely off the feed. I expect as the water cools they will go back on the feed like they did in years past. Or just maybe they will stay on the crayfish and minnows and I will be done feeding for now.
Long story long.... keep and eye on it and don't over feed. Hungry fish are aggressive fish.
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Lunker
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This is probably not the best method, but it works for me. "Program", "rule", or suggestion, one just has to look at your fish to see that it's working great, Al. Sounds like really good advice. One thing to remember about Texas Hunter feeders is that the gap between the lower edge of the hopper and the spinner plate is adjustable [and therefore variable between feeders]. A 10" cycle with identical feed can result in markly different amounts being delivered by otherwise "identical" feeders, so specific recommendations about run times are hard to make. Also, smaller feeds such as AM 500 or GFC will likely require shorter feeding times, as a lot more of those small pellets can slip through that gap and reach the thrower than with AM 600 or some of the 7-8mm pellet foods.
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Lunker
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To determine amount of feed thrown for any given setting, mark hopper and add weighed amount of feed. I find that 20lbs of feed gives a good average. Keep record of time required to reduce level of feed to previous mark in hopper. Do the math.
IIRC, 10 seconds on TH feeder throws ~1.5 lbs of AQMX 600 feed. G/
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Thanks George , That was going to be the next question: what is the best feed, the fish are all sizes now and hopefully the have gotten a few spawns off this spring and summer,CNBG, RES, and some untimely introduced LMB
Pat Thanks to the rest of the gang for the input, it does help
Last edited by Pat Williamson; 08/23/14 01:55 PM.
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Pat, “our” ponds are owned by son Jeff, but I have managed them and written the checks. Jeff now handles all the pond/feed business but I continue to work closely with him. We used Purina AQMX for many years with satisfactory results, but when Purina produced inferior product and poor dealer service couple of years ago, we switched to Cargill. Can’t tell any difference from Purina. As mentioned earlier, our Freestone property is only 17 miles gate to gate from Overton Fisheries, so convenient to do feed business with Todd. G/
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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George1 We are only 20 miles from Todd ! Also in freestone co. Near oakwood. We must be close. If you don't mind telling me what protein food is it or name of it Thanks for the info
Pat W
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Pat, like I said, my son takes care of the feed business. I do know that Overton uses Cargill feed for his fish and that is good enough for me. Since you are nearby, you might check them out.
Our place is about halfway between Fairfield and Buffalo. Ponds are in N.E. Texas about halfway between Paris and Sulphur Springs but Jeff picks up feed from Todd each month when he is checking on our property. George
Last edited by george1; 08/23/14 06:00 PM.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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George1 I'm a little southeast of you I think but not far at all... I will try the feed from Todd's and give it a try. Pat W
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Has anyone ever added a little cornmeal into the feeder to feed the fry, I know in saltwater throw a little cornmeal along the shoreline and go back a little later and shrimp will be all over the cornmeal
Pat
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Also are the fish meal feeds better than the feeds that list grains as a major part of their Feed? The catfish feed seem to have a lot of percentage of grains in its makeup.
Pat
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"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Pat, yes and no. The higher proteins, as a constant diet, can damage a catfish's liver. If you're going to eat them at 2 to 3 pounds, it's not a big deal. The fish meal ones are fine for everything but BG seem to get larger on it. In my forage pond with BG of all sizes, the fish dodge the Aquamax and other fish meal pellets to get to the grain based Purina Game Fish Chow.
One thing to remember. Some fish feeds just list the protein amounts. However, they don't say what the protein is. For quite some time they have been trying to find a use for chicken feathers. Chicken feathers are high protein but are indigestible by fish. I know of a place to buy high protein fish feed cheaper than Purina can buy the ingredients. I have verified that. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Thanks guys for the info. And good thred info. I can see this is a very complex issue. I am feeding CNBG and hopefully the crappie will eat the BG . At this stage I don't have any CC so y'all would prob go with fish meal based feed then?
Thanks a lot for the input
Pat W
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Pat, I think it's more of an issue of getting quality feed from either Cargill, Purina or other known sources. The BG will do just fine on Purina Game Fish Chow but will get bigger on AMAX. I've never used Cargill due to availability in my area but a lot of others here do with good results.
Some of the other stuff might work as well but I've seen some that is junk that is sold at feed stores. I tried some that my fish just wouldn't eat. I'm no Biologist so I go ahead and spend the extra $.
Why take a chance for the difference in costs?
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Dave, I look at fish food like human food. You can gain weight by eating macaroni and cheese every meal, but it's probably not the best thing to do. Most cheaper fish food just doesn't have the nutritional value I'm looking for.
If I buy quality fish food, I can also get better results with less food thrown. To me, this lowers the cost and gives me a better ROI. Why throw 5 lbs of lesser quality fish food, when 3 or 4 pounds of a quality fish food will give you better long term results?
AL
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Yep, and if the 5 pounds really doesn't have what they need; you're only filling their gut.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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