Here’s what you need to know:
1) This wet/dry feeder needs to be the sow’s ONLY source of water.
I know, it’s an odd request, but trust us on this one. This feeder is a system that trains the sow to clean up her
bowl with every drink. If the sow has another option with a side waterer, she will have the option to NOT clean
up her bowl with every drink. That’s counterproductive.
The water in the bowl also serves as a dispensing regulator. She can’t over dispense from the MealMeter
because she needs to get to that water.
This means you don’t have to worry about having multiple waterers for the sow AND you don’t need to worry
about regulating the feed dispenser. The sow does it all for you!
Do you already have a side waterer with a nipple for the pigs? No worries – just plug up the sow’s access and
you can continue to use the bottom nipple for the pigs…..
OR, read the next tip.
2) The bottom of the feeder should be no more than 4” off the pen floor.
We recommend this for a low entry height to the feeder. This benefits those longer sows that may need some
more head room as well as for the pigs. Pigs 7-10 days old can often be found hopping in to play with the
leftover morsels and the button nipple. The low entry height often eliminates the need for a pig waterer in the
pen.
3) Install the Lactation Boot on the hinge side.
If you install the Lactation Boot and MealMeter on the hinge side, it allows you the freedom to open the head
gate without any major movement to the feed line or hopper. No feed on the floor makes for a happy pork
producer!
4) Don’t let the sow run out of feed.
Ad-lib feeding means the sow has the ability to eat at her own pleasure…. Except when her hopper or feed line
runs out of feed…. So don’t let it! After the sow farrows, keep feed in the tube or hopper so she has access
whenever she’s ready to eat. This keeps her from getting frustrated and you’ll see the benefit of a wellconditioned
animal.
5) The corners at the bottom of the feeder need to be closed in.
Is this going in your own head gate? No problem! Just make sure the bottom corners of the feeder are closed in
so no pig can wiggle their way out of the pen.
6) “Charge” the MealMeter so the sow is immediately rewarded when she bumps it.
Training a sow is very simple and the vast majority catch on quickly with this tip. Before the sow enters the
crate, turn the MealMeter so all four inside chambers are full of feed. Sows have better noses than blood
hounds and are curious creatures, so they will bump the MealMeter when they smell the feed inside. That’s all
there is to it for training.
If you have any other questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call (888) 354-0112 or email
support@pigeasy.com.
