Automatic feeder
An automatic feeder is an electronically controlled device that provides animals with time-controlled or individual feed.
Areas of application and variants
Aquariums
An automatic feeder for aquarium fish usually consists of a small drum that has an adjustable gap and which is filled with dry food . At certain, freely programmable times, the drum rotates and the food falls through the gap into the aquarium water. Automatic feeders are particularly needed during vacation times when the aquarist does not have a replacement carer. The use of aquarium feeders during irregular working hours, which prevent species-appropriate, and therefore often regular, feeding is also becoming more and more common.
There are three types of aquarium feeders: Automatic feeders with
- a large feed chamber,
- many single feed chambers,
- Screw conveying of the fish feed.
Each type has its specific advantages and disadvantages. For example, automatic feeders with only one large feed chamber are often susceptible to sticking and, as a result, mold of the fish food. The reason for this is the very high humidity to which the automatic feeders are exposed due to the evaporation of the aquarium water. Some machines have preparations for an air pump or have this already integrated so that the fish feed can be dried continuously. Aquarium feeders that have many individual chambers are not affected by this disadvantage. The amount of feed for a single feeding is stored in individual feed chambers so that the small amount of fish food stored together does not lead to sticking or mold. The disadvantage here is often the small number of feed chambers and thus the absolute number of possible feedings. The screw conveyor is very well suited for the exact dosing of granulate feed, but is very unfavorable for the dosing of the flake feed that is often used, as this often leads to the screw conveyor becoming blocked.
Large animals
Automatic feeders for horses or other farm animals have a timer which, when the time is up, activates a mechanism to open the lower flap. Thus the feed falls into the feed trough attached below. These feeders can only be set for one ration at a time.
Electronically controlled automatic feeders allow variable programming of the amount of feed and feeding intervals.
Small animals
Automatic feeders for small animals, especially dogs and cats , are available for different application scenarios, among others
- time-controlled machines with a feeding bowl that open at the preset time,
- Time-controlled machines with several food bowls, usually arranged in a circle, which are opened one after the other at set times or
- Chip- controlled machines that only open a food bowl for an animal identified by means of an RFID chip and close again after the animal has been removed.
Trivia
In addition, there are machines in animal parks and zoos where ready-made feed for the petting zoo or approved zoo animals can be bought. It is noted on the package for which animals it is suitable. These requirements must be strictly adhered to, as the feed may not be digestible or only with great difficulty for other species and feeding with unsuitable feed could result in serious illnesses in the animal. In extreme cases, unsuitable food can even lead to the death of the animal.