Deer and other nocturnal animals may be allowed to feed from a feeding
device which also restricts feeding by squirrels, birds, and other
diurnal feeders. The apparatus includes a walled enclosure having a
sloped bottom for facilitating the gravity flow of animal feed toward an
outlet from which the feed can then be accessed by the target animals.
The opening is provided with a sliding cover which is controllably
movable between a first position aligned over the opening to prevent
dispensing of feed, and a second position removed from the opening to
allow dispensing of feed. To prevent blockage of the cover by the feed
when the cover is moved from the open to the closed position, an internal
member is disposed within the enclosure which creates an accumulation
chamber or dead space into which feed can be readily moved out of the
path of the moving cover. In use, the cover can be moved to the first,
closed position during daylight hours to prevent or limit feeding by
diurnal feeding animals, and to the second, open position during night
hours to allow feed to be dispensed to nocturnal feeding animals.