On amazon many buyers are happy about the "ingenious invention" of automatic feeders for dogs and cats. As our evaluation of customer reviews showed, there are many different reasons for the purchase of an automatic feeder. some pet owners would like to sleep longer on weekends, but are woken up in the morning by their hungry four-legged friends; others are often away from home for long periods of time. The automatic feeder opens the flap with the prepared food at the right time. Our excellent consumer portal has used external tests to research the most reliable models that are easy to clean and easy to program. the popular manufacturer petsafe does not yet offer user manuals in german language.
i come from the foothills of the alps and like to spend every spare second out in the fresh air with my two dogs. my private ‘animal park’ at home also includes rabbits, several aquariums, 4 budgies and a cat. As a testing editor, I focus on outdoor and pet products.
automatic feeder best list 2022 – the best automatic feeders in the test& comparison
Last updated on: 16.01.2022
I come from the foothills of the alps and love to spend every free second out in the fresh air with my two dogs. my private ‘animal park’ at home also includes rabbits, several aquariums, 4 budgies and a cat. as a testing editor, i focus on outdoor and pet products.
What is an automatic feeder?
These are feeders for pets, which varies greatly depending on the animal species. If we are talking about a dog or a cat, the automatic feedert around a bowl with a device that feeds amounts of food into the bowl depending on the setting. From there it can feed the animal. Automatic feeders for birds work similarly, but offer the bird the food in the way he prefers to eat it. There are also feeders for terrariums and aquariums, which in turn are more complicated. They are particularly demanding for the terrarium, because in this environment the food often consists of still living animals, which are released into the terrarium at a certain point in time.
function independently of the animal species automatic feeder but all the same. they are filled beforehand with the animal’s food, which must be durable. They are therefore unsuitable for wet feed. The dry food can be portioned as required by the animal individual needs. Then it is possible to set when the animal should be fed. There are very simple systems that work without electricity, but are usually only made for filling a bowl and not for use under water in an aquarium. Intelligent feeders work digitally and with them it can be timed exactly when the feeding takes place and how much food the animal should get. Even the duration of a feeding can be precisely adjusted on the high-end units, as it is important for some animals that they are not permanent feed have at their disposal.
diagram of the price-performance ratio of the feeders
how does a feeder work?
The way it works depends first of all on whether the device is powered or unpowered and whether it is intended for a terrestrial animal or an underwater species.
Simple automatic feeders for terrestrial animals consist of a bowl or allow it to be attached to them. Larger animals need automatic feeders, which can fill a trough or a bucket.
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – various mounting options: either free-hanging on the tree, on the wall with the hook hole or with optionally available rod or railing holder
At automatic feeders for dogs and cats, for example, the bowl is divided into four parts, three of which are covered. next full section can be turned to the opening in the lid, which is done manually. This allows food to be pre-portioned and are offered at the right time. The same form is available with battery operation, which makes it possible to set when the next feed portion is provided. This works with a timer. Other forms of automatic feeders without electricity and battery have a tube running upwards, into which dry food is filled. Gravity causes the food to slide down in portions. However, it is not possible to set when the animal will be fed. The the daily ration is fed into the automatic feeders filled and gradually slips into the bowl. When it is full, nothing can slip in any more. If the bowl is emptied, new food can be added again.
Digital automatic feeders function already worked out. With each machine of this type it is possible to set when the animal should receive the next ration. how much food the feeder can hold depends on the size of the memory. the size of a portion is also adjustable. Depending on the capacity, the animal can be supplied with food for a longer period of time, even if no one is at home to feed it. Nevertheless, the normal hours for the meals are not interrupted.
A special feature automatic bird feeder for pets, which read the microchip of the animal. They can be individually adjusted to one animal and are used when several animals are fed without supervision fed at the same time are to be fed. The animal sticks its head through a hole that either blocks or releases access to the food. While it does this, it is identified by its microchip and the automatic feeder recognizes if another animal wants to eat the ration. does not allow this. In this way, in the absence of the owner can still be two animals are fed at the same time and it is avoided that one animal eats the ration of the other or gets its food when it should not.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in the test – the feeding place is protected from rain
feeders for under the water surface are used in aquariums for fish. They are also under water and dispense the fish food in the same controlled quantities as a automatic feeder for a land animal. The only important thing is that the fish food is durable. Well suited for such feeder are flakes or pellets that the fish eat immediately when they are released into the water. Is the automatic feeder correctly adjusted, nothing is left over and the water in the aquarium cannot be contaminated by the food.
Emsa bird feeder silo test – easy to fill
advantages& application areas
The automatic feeder offers a number of advantages over feeding the animal in the presence of a human being.
First comes the feeder used when the owner of the animal is not at home at feeding time, but the animal can stay alone for a while. Dogs and cats develop a feeding rhythm over time and get hungry just like humans if not fed appropriately. So before they have to wait too long for their next meal, the automatic feeder and their keeper does not have to come home earlier than planned just because of feeding. For animals that do not mind being alone, the automatic feeder even take over the feeding for several days at a time. this is the case, for example, with rodents, in the terrarium and in the aquarium. this is the supply of the animals during a short vacation it is ensured, as long as you have enough water available during that time.
Automatic feeders but are also popular when owners are disgusted by the food of their animals. Some people love their reptile or fish, but don’t want to have anything to do with the mealworms or plankton that their pets eat. automatic feeders for terrariums and aquariums can be filled with live food, without necessarily having to touch it. Gloves offer the best possible protection best possible protection. This makes it easy to keep such an animal even if you have difficulties with feeding it.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in the test – easy to fill
for land animals this is rarely such a big problem that a automatic feeder really necessary would be. There are of course always exceptions, for example when the puppies of a bitch or the kittens of a cat are just starting to eat solid food. The quantities that must then be available for replenishment are not insignificant. Rather, there are species of fish, amphibians and reptiles that are permanently on the lookout for food can develop health problems, when they get nothing. Their keepers are faced with the decision of either being at home a lot to constantly check on the food – or providing the animals with an automatic feeder feeders and in this way ensure the supply of your pets supply of your pets.
Practical are automatic feeders also for larger animals that are on the pasture or in the stable all day long. Since it is not always possible to bring them their food in time, they can get it from an automatic feeders get. Especially if the pasture is located a little further away, the livestock farmer can use a feeder save a long way to his animals. especially if the animals can stay outside at night during the warm months of the year, it would not make sense to bring them back into the house only for feeding. Even then the automatic feeder for use and ultimately also saves the animals a lot of stress. It only needs to be refilled when it is empty, but in the meantime it is just as programmable as a automatic feeder for an animal living in the house.
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – simple fill level control
What types of feeders are there?
price range automatic feeders from very cheap models to quite expensive ones. It depends on what they can do, how much work they take from the pet owner and how much food they can contain.
Programmable models allow you to set when the next portion should be given and how big it should be. Other models consist only of the bowl, which is divided into several segments. Like a spice jar, there is an opening in the lid that releases one of these segments per ration. They work with batteries and allow the pet owner to set when the next feed is due ration is to be released. If there are several dogs or cats in the household, automatic feeders can still be used – as long as the animals are chipped. every feeder is first adjusted to the chip of an animal. The respective animal sticks its head through a wide hole to get to the food. In the process, its chip is read. If it is the right animal, it can eat unhindered, with another animal the bowl is covered and the animal cannot reach the food. In this way, several animals can be supplied with different types of food. For cats there are now even automatic feeders, that cool wet food and save you the dry food.
more complex is the world of feeders for aquatic animals. For fish there are vending machine, which can be used in the aquarium and in the pond. They are filled with dry food and release it depending on the setting. So that they can, these feeders all battery operated. For fish that feed only on live food such as plankton, there are also fillable automatic feeders, which ensure that the food reaches the fish alive. reptiles in the terrarium often need live food as well, for example worms. For these there are special feeders, to which a grating or a floor with fine holes is attached, so that the worms do not simply slide to the ground at feeding time. instead, they wriggle down and the reptile can stand up under the automat to pull them out. Many reptiles need this, as they refuse dead food or do not eat it, if they do not get the feeling of having to hunt for it first.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – made of weatherproof wood
farm animals such as cows or horses also have feeders, for example, if you spend day and night outside on the pasture. They are designed to provide supplementary or concentrated feed to the animals. Such an automatic feeder naturally has a much larger capacity than the variant for a domestic animal. Also, there is no way to adjust how much feed each individual animal should get. However, they save the keeper of the animals from having to go to the pasture only for feeding, if the animals are to stay there for a longer period of time. They could also be used in the stable, but are rarely used there. a bucket or trough must be attached to them, because they do not have their own device for the food. They resemble a silo and are powered by electricity.
This is how the automatic feeders are tested
A automatic feeder must provide the animal with food, as long as its owner is not at home to take over the task itself. So the animal must be fed at the right, usual time the get the necessary amount of food and should be able to eat them as usual. In addition, of course, the feeding still species-appropriate happens and with live food also the living feeders are not harmed. Here the animal welfare knows clear limits. Holds a automatic feeder these promises, it can be taken home without hesitation.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in the test – simple flexible attachment
Some animals, like humans, need small portions on a regular basis, not too much and not too little. Others, however, have to food always available have or even eat gas all the time, otherwise you will get health problems. This applies to some fish, but also to guinea pigs. Can the feeder adapt to these needs, it can be used without hesitation.
It is particularly pleasant when the automatic feeder in the test not only allowed to offer several portions. It is also important that the animal gets these in adjustable time intervals. A simple adjustability of the feeding habits and the alignment of the automatic feeders distinguishes a high-quality test winner. Plus points are given in a test, if several portions freely divisible in the quantity in the vending machine can be given, because then it is also suitable for longer absence.
When the bowl is empty, the mealworms have all been eaten, and the fish flake reservoir is empty, the animal must be fed feeder to be cleaned. Often there is not much time left for this – and as a pet owner, you don’t want to have to invest it. A simple cleaning brings in product test here’s why plus points.
Finally, it is important that the automatic feeder test winner remains affordable. There are many not-so-cheap high-tech solutions on the market, as well as very affordable alternatives. There is nothing to be said against purchasing them if they meet the requirements and make it easier for humans and animals to live together. nevertheless, the price-performance ratio in the test is what counts. Does another product perform as well or better than the high priced variant – or does a very low priced one perform better? automatic feeder does not serve its purpose properly – then alternatives are better.
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – simple flexible mounting
What to look for when buying an automatic feeder?
When buying a feeders the most important thing is whether it can be filled with the kind of food that is species-appropriate for the animal and that it will accept. If the cat does not like any dry food available on the market, then it is no use trying out every variety again – only to find that the cat still does not like them. They need a automatic feeders for wet food, if they eat only this. Similarly demanding is the choice of a automatic feeder for reptiles or fishes, which feed on live food. In this case, it is not only necessary to take into account that the pet itself is well. The live food is subject to the laws of animal welfare. It cannot simply be put into a feeder like dead food automatic bird feeder be filled, if it would suffer thereby. If there is no coherent option, then comes a automatic feeder simply out of the question.
Furthermore, it is important that the animal understands how the automatic feeder works, and also accepts it. Some animals don’t realize that they need a automatic feeder have to put their head through a wide hole that first reads their microchip. Others simply do not want this and prefer to leave the food. problems can also occur with give anxious animals, even simple automatic feeders can scare you. So before the pet is really scared with the automatic feeders left alone, it should be introduced to this. Pet owners can usually judge their pets well enough to guess whether they have a automatic feeders perhaps only with good persuasion or not accepting at all will be. If the animal is afraid of sudden noises or movements, for example, the automatic feeder must be selected in such a way that it is guaranteed not to frighten the animal.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – dimensions: 39,7 x 32,7 x 11,5 cm
That would bring only annoyance, if the more expensive feeder from the specialized trade would be taken nevertheless unseen. It also makes sense to think about to inform experiences of other keepers and especially with more expensive bird feeder before tests view. If the question arises as to whether feeding is still possible in a manner appropriate to the species, it is advisable to before the purchase perhaps also the veterinary surgeon is consulted. Better to inform yourself before buying a automatic feeders a little more thoroughly, instead of then being faced with the problem of not being able to use the device at all, as you thought at the checkout counter.
There is nothing fundamentally against the use of a automatic feeders, you should check the model you want to use to see if it is suitable for your individual application. If you have an animal to take care of that eats day and night, the automatic feeder run around the clock, even when you are at home. If it is a question of leaving the cat alone for a weekend or a night, provided that it does not mind, then the automatic feeder have the right amount of filling to put their offer several meals in succession. If, on the other hand, only the dog is to get its portion of dry food when you go to the cinema one evening, then a very simple one will suffice automatic feeder.
Emsa bird feeder silo test – suitable for small songbirds such as titmice, house sparrows etc.
Brief information on leading manufacturers
- Trixie
- Karlie
- Juwel
- Surefeed
- JBL
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – material: natural wood
Internet vs. Specialized trade: where do i buy my automatic feeder test winner best?
A automatic feeder is an easy to understand product, which answers all open questions at the latest with the reading of the operating instructions.
If it must go fast, the animal trade is surely the most meaningful option. If the species of animal that will eat from it is not too exotic, here are some models to choose from. automatic feeders for dogs and cats are always in stock here. If you need advice, you can also go to a specialist shop, because they can offer basic product advice. Also you can unpack the product on the spot and have a look at it. Who has the dog with, can this with the opportunity a treat in the automatic feeders lay down and make sure that the dog accepts the device.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – easy assembly
Many pet owners buy their bird feeders but still online, because it is simply more profitable for you. You do not need extensive advice at all. you have to online informed and possibly get better advice than you would have received on the spot. If it is not exactly the old established store in the small town, have many sellers in the animal store no extensive experience at all more with your products. Demanding questions about the feeders sometimes they can’t answer, so customers are more likely to turn to forums and information websites run by professionals. There are more discount campaigns, sales and voucher codes online than in brick-and-mortar stores; the pet trade in particular rarely offers discounts on equipment such as feeders, let alone in a plannable manner. The online purchase is therefore often cheaper – for exactly the same device, seen in pet stores for more money. Feeders for exotic species or models that are not in great demand, pet stores may not even have them in stock. Also, to meet these needs, keepers of such animals tend to look online. In addition, this way they save the trip to the store, because often pet stores are not exactly close to the easily accessible city center.
Emsa bird feeder in the test – place the feeder in such a way that you can observe the birds optimally
things to know& guide
the history of feeders
feeders are a fairly new phenomenon on the market. For farm animals there are comparable constructions for several decades already. The farmer wanted to save himself long journeys and a lot of effort to feed farm animals, which had to stay day and night on a farmer’s farm away from the pasture and not come back to the barn to feed them.
the need arose, of course, not only for dogs and cats, but also for all other types of pets. Had to have these used to be given to a vacation care, if you were away from the house even for a few days at a time, they could stay alone through the automatic feeder and were still cared for. for fish, amphibians and reptiles this is the easiest solution, because it is not so easy to find a caretaker for them, who really knows about them. Especially an aquarium would not be easy to transport to the place of care. Thereby have automatic feeder the keeping of such animals more pleasant and easier to realize, so that they are also suitable for people who are not permanently at home.
Emsa bird feeder silo test – for garden, terrace and balcony
numbers, data, facts around the feeders
To decide if the capacity is enough, a simple formula helps. The daily requirement of all the animals to be fed is multiplied by the maximum number of days you want to be absent. If this coincides with the capacity, then the feeders do a good job.
Normally a bird feeder designed to feed a single animal. This is what you should look for when buying a feeder if you want to feed several animals with it. You should also find out whether your plan will work at all, because some animal species become aggressive against their conspecifics, if they are fed and other bird feeders also get their ration. In these cases, it would be dangerous to start with feeders to work for several animals. they would have to be separated for feeding so that they do not injure each other. Alternatively, you could make do with two feeders that are physically separated from each other, so that the animals do not sit in too small a space when feeding.
When an animal is fed with an automatic feeder feeding a pet does not replace the care it receives from its owner. Animals such as fish or reptiles do not need to be stroked, but should nevertheless be fed in their weight and feeding behavior are checked at regular intervals. The automatic feeder poses the risk that eating irregularities or problems may not be detected if the animal only ever eats in the absence of its keeper. The same is true for dogs or cats that eat even one meal of the day from the automatic feeder get these but regularly.
Emsa bird feeder silo in test – easy cleaning – all parts can be disassembled
If an animal can be fed exclusively from the automatic feeder?
Some animals don’t mind getting their food only from the automatic feeder To get. fish and reptiles, or species that need to eat constantly, actually benefit from this. The keeper can thus make the feeding of live food easier for himself. However, it is important that the keeper of the animals occasionally pays attention to how the animals eat. if they eat enough and several animals do not attack each other in the process, there is nothing to be said against this kind of feeding.
Feeders would need to be cleaned?
The automatic feeder must also are cleaned frequently like a bowl or other device for feeding the animal.
does a feeder harm the feeding behavior?
Animals that have no difficulty getting enough to eat will take the food from a automatic feeder without any problems. However, there are a few picky animals that do not eat everything without complaint. With these it can be, that they can avoid the food uptake from a feeders refuse. Especially often this happens when the automatic feeder in its structure does not resemble the device that the animal knows. with dogs and cats, for example, it can take a while until they are ready to put their head through the hole that reads their chip and identifies them before feeding them.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in the test – easy cleaning
Useful accessories
Useful accessories for one automatic feeder depends entirely on the type of animal and the function of the automatic feeders from.
Should live food be fed through a automatic feeders feeders, it can be useful to equip the automatic feeder with gloves to be filled. For this purpose, disposable gloves or rubber gloves can be used for rinsing. Many pet owners do not necessarily want to use the live food of your pets in contact come and can avoid this by wearing gloves when filling.
An alternative to gloves can be a good solution for everyone automatic feeder a dosing aid in the form of a small ladle or a measuring cup. In the case of dry dog or cat food, some manufacturers supply a dosing aid anyway. This can be used to feed just the right amount into the automatic feeder to feed.
For cleaning, a bottle brush prove to be useful. It gets well into nooks and crannies of the feeder that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Regardless of what the automat was filled with, a thorough cleaning is important. first, the animal would suffer if it had to eat dirt with its food. Soon, however, the bird feeder the silo will clog itself and will no longer let the right amount of food through. Such contamination can be prevented by cleaning the feeder regularly before any stubborn dirt is present.
Impressions from our bird feeder test
Emsa bird feeder silo for small songbirds in test
Emsa bird feeder test – suitable for small songbirds like titmice, house sparrows etc.
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – made in germany
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – decorative& functional
Emsa bird feeder silo test – easy level control
Emsa bird feeder silo test – material: plastic, color: granite
Emsa bird feeder silo test – easy cleaning – all parts can be disassembled
Emsa bird feeder silo in test – easy filling
Emsa bird feeder silo in test – perfect for dry storage of bird food
Emsa bird feeder test – year-round use
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – various mounting options: either freely hanging on the tree, on the wall with the hook hole or with optionally available rod or railing holder
Emsa bird feeder silo in test – place the feeder silo so that you can optimally observe the birds
Emsa bird feeder silo in the test – simple, flexible attachment
Emsa bird feeder test – for garden, terrace and balcony
Alternatives to the bird feeder
Too many alternatives to the automatic feeder there is no such thing when the animal is to be supplied for a while without human intervention.
This is not a sensible solution for animals that have to eat constantly to avoid getting sick. If you still decide to buy a bowl, you can order one online at zooroyal and with a voucher you can get it a little cheaper. Feed on stock can work well on the other hand, if dogs or cats eat their dry food only piece by piece anyway. For the duration of a day they would be provided with it. Very intelligent dogs would possibly even learn over time that they have to divide up their food.
Some pet owners try to get an bird feeder to build yourself. For some species, like chickens, this works well because there are sensible instructions and the result doesn’t have to look like anything visually – it’s outside anyway. Keepers of pets are more likely to avoid this method, because the bird feeder it says inside and you would have to have studied computer science to build a programmable feeders how to construct from the trade. In view of this possibility, it would seem easier to feeders easy to buy.
If the pet does not accept it, there remains the option of ask neighbors for help. During a vacation, you may be willing to take over the feeding of an undemanding animal such as a cat or a rodent. If no neighbor or someone from the circle of friends can be found, there is professional animal care. They do not cost little, but understand the animal kind and know what to do. The owner can go on vacation with peace of mind and know that his animal in the best possible care – also in every respect outside feeding.
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in practice test
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – the parts must be assembled
The assembly is very simple and takes up to 15-20 minutes
Karlie bird’S world wild bird house rena in test – easy, flexible installation