American Survival Guide – October 2019

96 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [OCTOBER 2019]

UNIVERSAL

FEEDER

How to build a universal autofeeder

What you will need:

• (1) 5-gallon food-grade plastic bucket with
  lid and wire carry handle


• (1) Stiff tin pan with 2- to 3-inch lip (Pan
  should be at least 3 inches larger in diameter
  than the base of the bucket)


• (2 each) 1 x 2 x 12-inch wooden skids


• (4) 1.5-inch sheet metal screws


• Durable cordage (length determined by
  installation location)


• Marker


• Tool to cut the plastic bucket


• Hand and eye protection

DIRECTIONS

1. With a marker, mark the cut lines for the
   three feed holes on the outside of the base of
   the bucket. Each hole should be about 8 inch-
   es wide and 2 inches high, and holes should
   be about 4 inches apart. (These holes should
   be no taller than the sides of the tin pan.) The
   bottom of each hole should be flush with the
   inside surface of the base of the bucket.


2. Using the cutting tool, carefully cut out the
   feed holes on the base wall of the bucket,
   making sure you leave no sharp shards or
   edges exposed on the cuts.


3. Put the wooden skids on a flat level surface,
   parallel to each other about 6 inches apart
   and with the 1-inch side facing down. Center
   the pan, right side up, on top of the skids.


4. Center the bottom of the bucket in the pan.


5. Starting from the inside of the bucket,
   screw the four sheet metal screws through
   the plastic bucket base and the pan, into the
   wooden skids, firmly securing the bucket and
   pan to the wooden skids. Ensure that the
   screws do not protrude through the bottom of
   the wooden slats.


6. Fill the bucket with food pellets and place
   the bucket lid securely on top.


7. Tie the cordage to the handle and hang the
   bucket in a dry area with the tin pan about
   goat chest height. Hang it away from walls
   and other obstructions that will prevent
   360-degree access by the goats.

‹ These are the materials required to build your

own goat autofeeder.

‹ Regardless of the cutting tool you use, be sure

to polish any shards or sharp edges on the cut

edges.

‹ The skids are intended to support the weight

of the pan with food in it, so be sure they are

parallel and separated by about 6 inches.

‹ Place the lid securely on top of the bucket

to ensure the food inside stays dry and free of

impurities.

‹ The author used a black indelible marker to mark the cut lines for the three feed holes. Each hole

should be approximately 8 inches wide and 2 inches high, and holes should be about 4 inches apart.

‹ You can use manual tools in place of the rotary

cutting tool and power drill shown here, but they

make this project go much quicker.

‹ The base of the bucket is shown centered in

the tin pan. Note that the feed holes are lower

than the sides of the pan to prevent the feed from

running over the edge of the pan.

‹ Screw the components together starting from

inside the bucket. If you like, you can add flat

washers to the screws to ensure the screw heads

don’t work their way through the plastic bucket

over time.

‹ Hang the autofeeder at chest height of your goats

to give them a comfortable eating position.