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Anyone spin rolled oats? Corn is too freaking expensive, and oats have more nutrition. Do the oats clog up? Do they work in a feeder? Wanting to try something new this year.

I've used a sweet feed type feed by Purina that had oats, sunflowers, various other seeds, and protein pellets. I had to mix it with corn for a good flow. If that stuff would work, oats would be a breeze. We seed oats from an OT spreader, so they should spin fine in a feeder. You'll probably get alot of birds on them, but the deer may eat them as well. Corn may not have the nutrients of other seed, but deer seem to prefer it to other seed. I often hear folks say corn is poor for deer, but I wonder why deer in the midwest are so large when they have nothing but corn to feed on in many areas.

Some around here use rosted soy beans. I haven't priced them and they may be even more expensive than corn. Deer seem to have to be trained to eat them but once they get started will lap them up.

BCR

Corn. And you don't worry about cost. Compared to the rest of expenses feed doesn't make much of a difference in my end bill.

BTW as corn rises you might consider pricing protein pellets... some years there is only a dollar or so a bag difference.

ANd if the budget gets tight you might check into a bale feeder for cottonseed if you can get it.

only deal on pellets, they can absorb moisture and clog a feeder, have to be careful with that. My feeder plate stays shut by spring pressure so I don't have the issue as bad, but most don't have that type of spinner plate.

I replaced the spinner with one of those bolt on gravity type down spouts and use it for protein - next to a newer corn spinner. Just an option without quite the cost of replacing the whole feeder. You could also make one out of pvc if you like. One thing, this aftermarket one got clogged and I found openings at the folds where the downspout meets the top plate where water and moisture could get in. I duct taped to resolve.

I start corn with C'Mere Deer powder a month before the season. Then shut it down little by little over the month after the season ends. I do not use a lot, just enough to keep a constant flow of Does around the area. Somewhere around 1200 #'s for two feeders for 8 months. One gallon of C'Mere deer powder per 100 pounds of corn.
Compared to the rest of my gear and other fees, $8/100#'s is still pretty cheap.

I was getting corn for around $5.00 a bushel last year. I think that is like 56 pounds. I am hearing that corn prices will be way higher this year. I plan on running 4 feeders this year.

Where are you located?

We are in Amish country so it stays pretty low unless we have a considerable drought.

No diesel or gas needed for draft horses.