SWAN FEEDER – Aut-O-Dine 25
Formerly Known as the “Blitz Dog Food Feeder”

  Click Images to Enlarge

Our 2009 “Blitz” Feeder was by Blitz Pet Products.  ( I think )

For a while these Feeders were made by Bergan Pet Products..
They were Renamed the “Aut-O-Dine 25” – for the Capacity.

Now Aut-O-Dine 25 Feeders are made by Coastal Pet Products.

We have had LOTs of Exposure to and Experience with these.
They are used by about 50 Percent of the Swan Ponds we know or Visit..

The Aut-O-Dine 25 – (Blitz Feeder) as used for Swans.
This is a GREAT Idea, that has some Design Flaws.
And they are NOT Trouble Free…
Because they are Dog Feeders Adapted for Swans.

If some of the information on this Page helps you Avoid
some of the Problems we have experienced – Great.
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We purchased three when they were “Blitz” ( $75.00 each)
and at least 3-4 once Bergan LLC started to Make
these Feeders renamed Aut-O-Dine 25 ( $35-37.00 each)

In Dec. 2017 these are Manufactured by
Coastal Pet Products       Address & Contact Information Below

I have Purchased them from Different Sources..
Mostly OnLine.  Search for ( Aut-O-Dine 25 ) 

The Basic Design is very similar..
The BIG Difference is they are now MUCH Thinner.
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I am adding Notes on the use of this Feeder all the time..
I WISH these were as Wonderful as they seem..
But, until there is a better alternative.. many try to adapt.
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Swans NEED a Different Diet then Ducks and Geese.
Swans Should NOT have a HIGH Protein Diet.

https://swanlovers.net/category/feed-captive-swans/

When you have all Three Types of WaterFowl on your Pond/Lake
you NEED a Way to Provide your Swans a Healthy Feed Mixture.

   A Pond with Assorted Domestic Ducks, Geese and Swans.  

If Everyone could Relax and Sit with their Swans while they
SLOWLY Graze and Enjoy their Feed Mixture and Food Items..
Finding Another Way to Feed them would not be Necessary.

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Things We have learned over the Past 10-12 years…

These Feeders were not Meant to be Outside in the Weather.
This is a Semi-Permanent Mount.  More Work to Move.

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What you want this type of “Swan Feeder” to do:

Keep Feed Mixture Dry during Summer Months.. Less Spoilage.

Keep Rodents out of the Feed Mixture.

During Warm Weather Mice, Rats, Opossums, Raccoon, Squirrels, Little Birds, etc.
WILL Consider Open Containers of Feed Mixture a Snack Bowl.
Animal Saliva and POOP carry Diseases. 

Keep Feed Mixture from Freezing during Damp Winter Months.

Keep Geese and Ducks from Raiding your Swans’ Feed.

Ducks and Geese are Gobblers.. they EAT Quickly and Move on.Swans are Grazer.  They Like to Eat Slowly – Nibbling All Day.

It is more Natural for Swans to have Food-Feed Mixture
Available all through the Day Light Hours.

Works Best Mounted 15-18 Inches above Shallow Water.
Swans will Drop Part of the Dry Feed Mixture as they Eat.
Having Floating Pellets as Part of Mixture the Swans will be Able to Graze on them.
 It is BEST to Feed your Swans in the Water. 
They are Safer from being Stalked and Grabbed by a Predator..

Adjusted to a Height so Shortest Swans can Reach-In…
…So Ducks and Geese can not.

The Ducks and Geese will Happily Clean-up Dropped Feed.
You want the Shortest Swan/Cygnet to be able to reach.

Having the Feed OUT of Reach of the Wild Migrating Geese may
Discourage them from Hanging Around your Pond.
 This may be a Temporary Problem during Annual Migration  Seasons. You will NOT be Feeding ALL the Wild WaterFowl.

We often see the Swans trying to Chase the Geese away from their Food.
The Geese tend to Distract and Divide..
Sneaking in from Different Directions Grabbing the Food.
After a Short Time the Food-Feed is all Gone and the Swans did not get to Eat.

Migrating Birds, Ducks, Geese, etc…may Carry Diseases to your Pond.

 Best if they just keep Moving to their Far Off Destinations.
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Putting Feed on the Ground is Difficult for Swans to Pick-up.
Plus they may “Choke” on Dry Feeds without Water Available.

NOTE: If a Swan tries to Eat TOO Fast..
the Dry Feed may get STUCK in their Esophagus and Block Swallowing.
Forming a Condition called “CHOKE.”
         This could be an Emergency… 

Supply Water with DRY Feed Mixtures.

  Having Feed Mixture in a Contain is Better for them.

Grabby Ducks and Geese will OverWhelm the Swans.
Feeding Your Swans may take some Imagination so the Swans get ALL the Nutrients
and Calories they Need.
Try Different Feeding Ideas until you Find the One/Ones that Work the BEST for Your Swans.
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Place this Feeder in a Location you can get to **SAFELY**during the Winter Months.

Consider the most Common Direction of the Rain in your Location.
Try to Place in a Semi-Shady Place.

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Before Installing – Check all the Feeder’s Surfaces:

Check the EDGE of the Push Door for Rough Spots..

Check the EDGE of the Feed Tray for Rough Spots.
An Emory Board will Smooth any Sharp Spots.

A Swan’s Beak is covered by a Dense Skin.. it Scratches.
It is not a HARD Horn like Surface.

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Mounted on a Round Pole makes it easier to Adjust the Height..
And Move the Unit from Left to Right.
BUT it is Difficult to Reinforce the Back on a Round Pole.

If during the Year the Water Level of your Pond Rises during Wet Weather and
the Water Level Drops during Dry Summer Months, you may want to Adjust the Feeder’s Height.

Mounted on a Square Wood Post: Not as easy to Adjust Height – more Permanent.
Mounted to a Free Standing Post…  Difficult to keep Straight-Stable.

   Mounted to a Solid Structure more Stable..
The Push Door Works Better.

On a Square Post Something can be put inside to help Support the Back
of the Container to keep it from Sagging when Filled..

I used a 6 x 10 x 3/4 inch Poly Vinyl Cutting Board.
I found this Perfect Size at a Restaurant Supply Store.

I found this Perfect Size at a Restaurant Supply Store.

* * * * * *DO NOT use Wood, it will become Moldy.
* * * * * *DO NOT use Metal, that will contaminate the Feed.
WaterFowl are Very Sensitive to Metal Poisoning.
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It is BEST NOT to Fill the Container.
Put enough in for maybe One-Two-Three Days at Most.

The Poly Vinyl Material is thin and the Container Sags if it is Filled.
Try Half-way or Less and Adjust as you see Fit.

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ALSO, when the Container is TOO FULL…
The Push Door has trouble – either NOT Opening.. OR, it Will NOT Close.

A Bathroom Brush is a Handy Tool to Clean the Feed Tray.

If the (Inside) Black Divide-Slide Plate gets off the “Nubs” – the Feeder Jams.

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These Feeders were Designed for Dog Food to be in an Inside area.
They are NOT WaterProof.

They Leak in many Places around the Lid and Into the Push Door.
Water/Rain can Spoil the Feed Mixture inside.

 Check for Moldy, Clumped, Lumpy, Sour Smelling Feed..    DISCARD.

One Pond has mounted a Picnic Table Umbrella over theirs
to try to keep the Feed from getting Wet.

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When you First Install-Mount an Aut-O-Dine 25 Feeder for your Swans,
they may not know there is Feed inside.

It is Helpful to Tuck Romaine Lettuce Leaves in the Push Door.
The Sight of these Large Green Leafy Treats will Attract them.
The Swans will Find the Lettuce and Quickly Learn this is where to Find Food..

Once One Swans figures it Out, the Others
will be Watching and before Long it is being Used as you Planned.
Watch to be Sure all your Swans are able to Reach the Feed.
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We like to Put a Mixture of Floating WaterFowl Pellets and Whole Dry Corn in these Feeders.

The Dropped Pellets Float… and the Dropped Corn will Soften.
The Swans will get to Eat most of this Mixture..

Cute Little Ducks are Welcome to do the Clean-up.
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Another UNWELCOME Pond Creature
SNAPPING TURTLES
One BAD things, any Snapping Turtles will Quickly learn
there may be TidBits of Feed or Corn in this Location and Lurk there.

Snapping Turtle cause TERRIBLE Injuries to WaterFowl.
The Life of this Young Cygnet was Destroyed.      Sadly Euthanized.

Try to REMOVE any Snappers.. In any way you find Acceptable.

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NOTE::: NOTE:::
If you see Muddy Foot Prints on the Feeder
YOU MAY have a Raccoon trying to get inside.

A Hungry Raccoon may Challenge your Swans for the Feed.
A Squirrel or Chipmunk may try Chewing into the Lid..
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The Swans dip their Beak into the Water with each Bite.
They get Dirty Pond Water into the Bottom of the Feed Tray Area.
The Feed gets Wet and Spoils or becomes Caked Solid … or Freezes.
Frequent Cleaning is needed to removed Nasty, Spoiled Feed.
Soured Feed can make your Swans SICK..

A Bathroom Brush is a Handy Tool to Clean the Feed Tray.
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HOT Summer Days.. Insects may lay Eggs in the Soft Warm, Damp Feed.
In Several Days there will be Maggots in the Feeder.. YUCK !!!
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So, One or Two Days of Feed is most Practical.
Check the Bottom inside the Push Door before you add Feed.

 If it does get Lumpy-Wet-Smelly..
Toss that out into the Water for the Fish..       Or Discard-Toss Away..

ONE Thing we are trying is to put a Staggered Line of 1/4 Inch Holes in the Bottom
of the Tray to allow Drainage and some Air to Dry this Area.

This does not seem to make Much Differences.
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Make sure the Lid is “Snapped on Snug” after Filling.
NOTE::::
The Top/Lid comes off TOO Easily and can Blow Out into the Pond..
They seem to Sink out of Sight.
There is NOTHING that Connects the Lid to the Unit.

Consider some type of Attachment for the Lid.
Maybe something like a Short Length of Picture Frame Wire
threaded through the Top and the Unit.. with Knots inside.

I have seen a Brick placed on the Top of One and a Chunk of Wood on Another
to keep the Lid on. This is RISKY…  The Brick or Wood could Fall on a Swan’s Head.

Bungees are Frequently Wrapped around the Entire Feeder-Lid.

>>>> This is a Very Nicely Attached Lid..  Very Nice Jim.

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If the Lid is Lost during the First 12 Months..
Coastal Pet Products has been good about Replacing the Lid..

NO Longer Made by Bergan Pet Products..
NOW Coastal Pet Products, Inc.                       As of Dec. 2017
(“BLITZ) – Aut-O-Dine 25 Feeder Used for Swans.
www.Coastalpet.com                      1 (800) 321-0248
Customer Service –                        Debbie Ext. 356 (Dec 2017)
Toll Free Phone Number:              1 (866) 217-9607
Mailing Address:         911 Leadway Ave.   Alliance OH 44601

You can arrange for Replacement Parts through Coastal Pet Products.

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The Aut-O-Dine 25 can be found Online on various Websites.
Cost and Shipping varies.
If Purchased from an ONLine Store… and Shipped.
*** When the Box arrives Check the Unit for any Damage or Defects.

We have receive Two Feeders that had broken Lids.

I called the Manufacturer, sent Photo Images..  Both Lids were Replaced..
and they sent a Replacement         -No Charge.. Warranty is One Year.

One Feeder was Crushed in Shipment and replaced NO Question.
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Our Tractor Supply has these (Dog) Feeders available.
If you purchase a Unit from Tractor Supply or from an OnLine Store…
if it has defects or damage.. You may need to return it to that Store..

OR… first Call Coastal Pet Products,
they may help you if the Unit was Damaged when you Opened the Box.

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Available From Stromberg’s Catalog “Chicks & Gamebirds Unlimited.”
Price Varies Year to Year.

Stromberg’s Chicks & Gamebirds Unlimited
P.O.Box 400  Pine River, MN 56474

Call Toll Free: 1 (800) 720-1134
Order OnLine at: www.strombergschickens.com
Phone: 1 (218) 587-2222     FAX: 1 (218) 587-4230

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If you Find Ways to Improve the Function of this Feeder..
Please Share…                 We Learn from each other.

If You have any Questions.. I will be Happy to Share Ideas..
Thanks,        PA SwanLover Linda
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This Information is a Work in Progress…..
As I learn more I will add to this Page…
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Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger        UpDates    Date NOVEMBER  2021

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