Third Field Test, Ongoing (Success)

The feeder's robustness is markedly improved.  I made several changes before putting it out for its latest field test, and it's run for several days without trouble.

Trophy for a Successful Field Test

I added a piece of thick cardboard inside the bucket to direct the feed towards the hopper.  This was a fun reminder that process often trumps planning.

Second Field Test

I made several improvements to address the most pressing failures in the first field test.  I used a piece of PETE from a water bottle to form a cover for the gear train.  Because this plastic can be deformed when hot, I warmed it in hot water and then molded it to match the motor mount before hot gluing it in place.  I also changed the mounting of the limit switch to better align it with the drive wheel.

Clear plastic shield over the gear train and motor

Leaky Bottles

Someday I hope to tell a skeptical child that cold bottles sweat because the bottles leak.  The fun part would be explaining away objections and attempts to prove this assertion false.

Leaky bottle of delicious ginger beer

If you lick the bottle, the stuff on the outside doesn't taste like the stuff on the inside.  Of course not, the bottle acts like a filter, letting the little water molecules through, while filtering out the big sugar, alcohol, and flavor molecules.  Sugars are long chains of hydrocarbons, while water is much smaller.

Assembly

Cut out the slot in the feed bucket, attached the blue box to it using three strips of the bucket material and wood screws.  Tested operation and verified everything works, then mounted the electronics in their enclosure.  Placed it out with the chickens, who incapacitated it within twenty four hours, I suspect by jamming the drive train with dirt.