Flush-Mount Feeders

Also called---------FLAT-NOSED FEEDERS :x :x
""and a whole lot of other names"" while I made them. :x :x

I've espoused "Fine-X Feeders" all along. But, I've ran across
circumstances where the Fine-X just don't do the job properly.
"Scratchers" can destroy the bottom wire and waste a lot of feed.
I have several "Flat-Nosed" feeders that I will occasionally use to deter
a rabbit bent on self-destruction or "suicide" if you will. Scratcher's and
Digger's don't last very long in this rabbitry.

My skills........and patience were stretched to the limit with this little project.
I don't believe I'll attempt making anymore of these. Although a little pricey
out of Bass Rabbitry.......I've concluded they're worth every cent they get.
Bass carries two sizes...I opted to duplicate the larger of the two. Using wood
in lieu of the sheet metal. What a nightmare....messing with all those tiny
pieces of wood. Every piece MUST be exactly like the one before,
and exactly like the one that follows.

Here's all of the pieces cut to specs and stacked, sans the wire backing.
Those little jewels were a real pain. More about them later... :angry:
BTW: I'm gonna need every one of them little clamps here in just a second.


Some of these pieces were so small, I couldn't use any kind of metal fastener.
Consequently, I laid in a healthy supply of yellow-glue before I started.


Pretty little buggers aren't they! I bought two containers of those small
clamps, and I can find a hundred uses for them in and around the rabbitry.
Plus, the wood shop. This pic shows the 16 wood-pieces it takes to make one feeder.
Plus, you gotta remember: There's a left-hand and a right-hand side to each one.


Things are starting to come together. Sorry for not taking more pics, but I
was well to the limit of my "frustration" by this time. Several of the pre-cuts
weren't exact, or the wrong material, and had to be re-made.


The wire inserts were horrendous! Each had to be cut 1/16th inch undersize
on the width to work properly. I curled the end just like you would a piece of
paper pulling it over the edge of the table. You have to build these from the
inside-out. Otherwise, you can't anchor the wire properly.
(Ask me how I know this little tid-bit of information!) :evil: :evil:


It's nearly complete...yea!! Here's a pic showing the angle board and the
face of the feeder installed.


The unit lying "face-down" on the bench. I was like that a time or two. LOL.


A "mounted" view using junk wire.


All the little "piggy's" all in a row. I chose to make a dozen.
Why????? I have absolutely no clue. But, the extra pair is up on the saw
and out of camera shot.




Final Note: I wouldn't recommend trying this. I was pushed to the limit
in patience and "nerves".... The ""edges"" touching the cage must be
protected. Otherwise the inmates will make mincemeat of them in a few days.
The one hanging on the junk wire has those safe-guards already installed.

I beleeb dis is da worstest project I ebber twied.

Hope you enjoyed the pics.
grumpy.

Poor Grumpy! :encourage:

My eyes lit up when I saw those (a project for HUBS! ), until you explained the woes of making them. I think I will spare him the agony.

Times like this, don't you wish you had a metal brake and press?

I think you're wise to just pay Bass for these in the future! As inexpensive as those are, and for the time/materials these cost you, your hourly rate was not worth your time, not to mention the frustration!

We have the bass feeders and love them. We bought all larger size feeders except for our buck - if I had to do it all over again, we would have just bought all larger feeders. The little one took some tweaking before it would release the food properly, and the small opening really slows you down putting the feed in and we end up spilling food if we're not extra careful.

MamaSheepdog":23kssk9u said:

Poor Grumpy! :encourage:

My eyes lit up when I saw those (a project for HUBS! ), until you explained the woes of making them. I think I will spare him the agony.

Times like this, don't you wish you had a metal brake and press?

Click to expand...

MSD:
Yes..............and...........No. LOL.
I spent 22years working in a steel-mill. But, I never learned
that much about metal-working. I had a couple of rudimentary
classes in High School, but nothing beyond that.

I've spent the majority of my life working with wood. It's a good craft and
one that I enjoy. However as Comet007 stated, these little devils weren't
worth the time and effort it took to make them.

Once I "start" something......I'll finish it, or "die" trying.
I could have pitched all the pieces into the trash barrel, but that would
have meant quitting and that word doesn't set well with me.

BTW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :happysun:
grumpy.

Grumpy, that was brilliant and hilarious! I think I will never do it myself. :lol:

If it's enough to try YOUR patience, I think I would have gone strait to the loony bin on that one. Face into brick, just like this guy. :wr_brick:

Madpiratebippy":1y0aemk4 said:

If it's enough to try YOUR patience, I think I would have gone strait to the loony bin on that one. Face into brick, just like this guy. :wr_brick:

Click to expand...

I'm brutally honest about myself. Sometimes...that's good. Other times, it ain't!!

Now........I'm a pretty fair cabinet and furniture maker. Matter of fact,
I used to make my livin' doin' it. Back in the day....I figured my time at
$25.00 per hour. The customers were happy and so was yours truly.

Welp, those little nasty's are priced out somewhere around $28.53 a piece.
Which means.........I could've bought 4 dozen...!!! :x :x

But....the bigger picture is the fact that I can unequivocally state.
DON'T DO IT..........BUY THEM LITTLE @#$%@!%^'S..!!
All kidding aside......I learned a few things. First: Some things aren't
worth the effort. Second: Being a tightwad sometimes costs you more
in the long run. Third: I've got better things to do with my time.

Grumpy.

This is sort of related and sorry if I shouldn't be bumping an old thread but do the flush mount feeders cause less waste? I have a metal fine-x feeder and there is a 2 foot mound of feed under the cage that the bunnies pushed out/scratched out. Granted, I didn't cut a hole in the cage and just hung it inside. I would like to reduce the amount of waste and was wondering if the flush mount feeders were better. Also, is it necessary to cut a hole in the cage to attach the feeders? My cage is a wood frame with hardware cloth walls. Easy to rip apart for those dedicated predators so I did not want to encourage them by creating an access hole.

As a general rule, "Yes" flush mounts reduce wasted feed. A "scratcher"
that wastes feed out of a "J" feeder is less apt to scratch feed out of a flush
mount.

However, there is always an exception to the rule. If and when you encounter
a rabbit that incessantly scratches feed, you've got two choices.

First: Severely limit their available feed to no more than they'll eat in 20 minutes.
Second: Not knowing what their purpose is, you can process the scratcher or
???? find other avenues to eliminate it without selling the animal to someone
else. DON'T pass your problems to another.

grumpy.

I have a Satin doe that scratches feed when she is pregnant. I put a golf ball in the trough and that stops her.