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How to Construct a Bird Proof Pet Food Feeder
How to Construct a Bird Proof Pet Food Feeder. You may love to feed your pet outside on a daily basis. While this can be a great way to minimize mess and to let your pet enjoy some outside time, there are also other animals that may go after your pet's food. Birds will quickly learn that there is food available. A surefire way to stop this from...
You may love to feed your pet outside on a daily basis. While this can be a great way to minimize mess and to let your pet enjoy some outside time, there are also other animals that may go after your pet's food. Birds will quickly learn that there is food available. A surefire way to stop this from happening is to build a feeder that only your pet can access. Making a cone that hangs above your pet's food allows your pet to eat, but prevents birds from accessing the food. These homemade cone feeders will resemble livestock feeders that are used to limit birds' access to livestock food.
Things You'll Need
Cone collar from vet
Rope
2 metal rope snaps
Screw-in metal hanging hook
2-inch metal ring
Assemble the cone collar. You can purchase a cone collar or you can ask your vet if you can have a used one. It will start as a flat sheet of plastic. Run the rope through the holes that are inside the edge of the collar and then assemble the collar into a cone shape.
Pull the rope until both ends are even, and then tie it together. Cut off the excess rope, allowing no more than 1 inch of excess length. Make sure that the knot is tight.
Measure the width of the cone at the middle of the cone. Cut the rope into two pieces that are two to three times the length that you measured. Tie each rope to the collar at the narrower end. Tie the ropes at the holes that are about 90 degrees apart on the cone, or about a 1/4 of the way around. Slip the other ends into the 2-inch metal ring and then tie to the other side of the collar, again about 90 degrees apart.
Screw in your hanging hook above the area where you will want to feed your pet. You can hook it into a tree, an overhang of your house, or, if your outside area is covered, the ceiling. Hook the ring from the ropes attached to your cone onto the hanging hook. You will want to make sure that the cone is hanging over the food, but not too low so that it will knock the food over when your pet pushes it out of the way.
Show your pet how to move the cone. You will feed your pet as usual. When she approaches the cone, gently push it so she can see where the food is. Make sure she is able to push the cone aside. The dog will access the food by pushing the cone to the side. When she is done, the cone will swing back to position. The bird will not have a big enough opening at the top of the cone to enter, which keeps the food safe.
