Dry feed dispensers are indispensable if several cats or dogs live in the house. This modern device simplifies feeding and absolutely does not take time from the owner. There are many options for dispensers, from budget to more expensive devices. Their advantage is that the pet can be without a host for several days and eat independently. The plus is that dispensers are easy to make at home.
What is a feed dispenser?
This is an automatic device that allows you to regulate the flow of food into a pet's bowl. A feed dispenser is a useful and irreplaceable thing, especially if there is no way to control the nutrition process. Expensive models of automated feeders have the ability to program a meal regime and even record the voice of the owner, which is important for dogs. Voice control notifies the pet about the time of feeding.
So, using the modern system, you can create the illusion of being the owner next to the pet. This allows the dog or cat not to feel lonely and not to remain hungry for the whole day. For example, if the owner is at work. A feed dispenser with a timer is an excellent option if the animal is sick, and it needs to be fed by the clock.
Principle of operation and internal arrangement
All automatic dispensers are produced in the form of containers that have two or more departments for dry and wet food. Containers are available with and without a timer. The first option helps to set the time for serving food. Tanks for food can be of different sizes, depending on the type of animal and its needs. The feed dispenser is equipped with a special food loader that resembles a cooler, or a bowl with a lockable lid.
Bulky dispensers are designed for large pets who eat large meals several times a day. Small segmentation feeders are suitable for miniature breeds of dogs and cats. Such a feeder looks like a round closed bowl with departments into which various types of feed are poured, including water being poured. The complexity of the internal arrangement of the dispensers depends on the manufacturer and price. The advantage of automated feeders is that they are durable and easy to care for.
For example, a one-time dispenser with a hinged lid works according to the following principle. Half a kilogram of wet or dry food is placed in the container and the opening time of the lid is set. In such a feeder, food is not ventilated, but it must be constantly filled throughout the day.
Classification and types
At the moment, several types of dispensers for small and large pets are produced. This is a dosing unit for wet food, feeders with segments, with hinged lids, programmable devices for large animals and a large container volume. The classification of feed dispensers can be carried out according to the degree of automation of devices that are designed for different types of food.
Minus of automated feeders: they contribute to the weight gain of a pet with good appetite, do not regulate the number of servings, do not have a delayed start. Plus - these dispensers are budget and easy to use.
How to make a feed dispenser?
If you want to save money, you can make a simple feed dispenser with your own hands. Take a large plastic bottle, gently cut off the top and bottom. Fix it on the pet's bowl, leaving the hole below, from which the feed comes. Food will be strewed in a bowl as you eat a serving. For an adult large dog, the instructions for creating a feeder are more complex. In this case, a number of tools, a lot of time, materials, skills and a workshop are required.
How to choose an automatic feeder?
The selection of feeders in specialized stores is huge. Before buying a feed dispenser, decide which model suits your pet. Low-cost devices are also available that do not have a timer and cannot provide long-term storage of feed. Automatic devices work according to the principles of deferred balanced feeding, long-term storage of dry and liquid foods.
When choosing a dispenser, be guided by the following indicators:
- Pet size.
- Daily food system.
- Serving Size
- How long has the pet been alone.
Electric dispensers are equipped with a timer and electrical signals. Most models run on ordinary batteries. They are safe for animals, as the risk of short circuit and sudden shutdown is reduced. Recent dispenser models have the ability to record the voice of the owner. This function adapts the animal, so that it quickly gets used to eating from a new bowl. Automated feeders are self-contained, so they can be installed in any convenient place. When choosing, consider the cost, functionality and purpose (type of animal).
Useful Tips
In case of prolonged absence of the fish owner, a feed dispenser for the aquarium is provided. It is selected according to the same principle as for cats and dogs. Automated devices are filled with food, which pours into the aquarium at a certain time and is filled again.
Dosing feeders are selected based on the needs of the pet and its owner. If it is possible to fill the dispenser sections as they are empty, buy a small segmented feeder.
If the owner of the pet is practically not at home due to work, long trips or leisure, get an advanced dispenser model. Such a device will competently serve wet or dry food at the allotted time for this.
Buy a stand for the dispenser. This will keep the feeding place clean and will not spoil the posture of the pet during meals. If it is possible to make a feeder yourself, try to save in this way.
Reviews
Judging by most reviews of owners of dogs, cats and other pets, feed dispensers are an indispensable thing. They allow you to control the procedure for eating. Automatic feeders are suitable for those pets who stay alone at home for a long time. They can satisfy hunger at any convenient moment. Users note that they are not afraid to leave the dog or cat for a long time, since the dispenser economically calculates the servings.
Of the shortcomings that buyers highlight are the high price of automated devices, and the dimensions. If there are many pets, everyone needs to purchase a separate dispenser, taking into account the size of the pet. In general, this is a useful device that can really be done independently.