You mention feeding by hand at first...if your situation permits, you may find hand-feeding accomplishes everything you require. Feeders don't always have to be mandatory for raising bigger fish, especially in a small pond. There is a flexibility available with hand feeding that no feeder on the market can match, in my opinion.

If you live off site, or are unable to feed by hand for whatever reason, then a feeder can make a real difference.

"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.