To Hopper or not to Hopper

Batdad · 09-02-03, 09:32 PM

Ok so my rodent rack is just about finished. What I am trying to figure is if I have to bother with drop down feeders or can I just use the hardware cloth on the top of the bins to dispense the food. The mice are in Rubbermaid dish wash pans and the rats in sheet metal bins about 7" deep. The hardware cloth is 3/8" over the mice and 1/2" over the rats. The thing that concerns me is not so much the adults mice or rats, if they can't reach they can hang upside down to eat I guess

,but rather the young. When first weaned I am not sure that they will be able to reach the food. is this an issue or am I just out to lunch. I have a plan for the drop down hoppers but it could be a bit of a pain to use, not sure yet. So I don't want to waste my time dickin' around if I don't have to. Got three BPs coming tomorrow and need to get all rodents out of reptile room

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Any input would be appreciated

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Thanks
Bruce

Linds · 09-03-03, 12:38 PM

I've seen many people with racks using the top covering hardware cloth to hold the food, however I always had the same concerns as you. I went the extra step with drop down hoppers, as I was not comfortable with the other method. The babies are feeding before they even could jump up and dangle. Although some half-eaten food does drop down, there is still all the other rats to contend with. IMHO drop down hoppers are the best method.

Lisa · 09-04-03, 02:35 AM

I don't think they're able to reach the tops either. we're using bowls but when we build our racks we plan on a hopper system that you fill from one central point.

jwsporty · 09-04-03, 02:52 AM

Linds,

Would you kindly post a pic of your drop down hoppers, this is a problem I have been fighting with as well. Were they prefabbed or did you make your own?

Thanks
Jim

Linds · 09-04-03, 08:14 AM

To Jim and whomever else is interested,
PM me your email address and I have a series of pics showing them and how they work that I can send. My gallery is full right now. It's pretty similar to <a href="http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5785&highlight=hopper"> Cas' hoppers</a>