Best Deer Feed Troughs (2026): 7 Picks for Corn, Protein & Cottonseed
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The short answer
The best deer feed trough for most hunters in 2026 is the Tectonic Daytime Deadfall Feeder. It is the only trough here that physically opens and closes on a timer: open it for daylight hours and it shuts at night, which trains deer to feed while you can hunt them and locks hogs, raccoons and squirrels out of the feed after dark. It holds 300 lb, needs no ladder to fill, and its natural-log body disappears against deadfall and brush. If you feed protein pellets free-choice on a big property instead, skip to the Lamco Timed Trough or the MB Ranch King Mighty Buck.
Every pick below was checked against the manufacturer’s own pages or dealer spec listings on October 22, 2026 — including the uncomfortable finding that most famous feeder brands don’t actually sell a trough at all. The comparison table is next; the full reasoning, trough heights and running costs follow it.
Three fast choices
Pick by your feeding program. Read the trade-off before opening the retailer.
Disclosure: Some shopping links may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tectonic Daytime Deadfall Feeder
The daylight-only trough: a solar-powered door serves feed by day and seals at night, so nocturnal hogs and raccoons find nothing open.
Caution: it’s a premium, fixed-station program feeder — overkill for casual corn feeding.
Lamco Timed Trough
Metered protein delivery on a timer, from the Texas trough specialist — portion control that open troughs can’t give you.
Caution: a timed mechanism means a battery to manage — budget the power side, not just the trough.
MB Ranch King Mighty Buck
The big-property timed protein feeder: large capacity means fewer refill trips across a long season.
Caution: capacity cuts both ways — the first fill is a serious feed bill.
Deer feed troughs at a glance
| Product | Best for | Capacity | Type | Price signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tectonic Daytime Deadfall | Daylight feeding; hog & raccoon country | 300 lb | Timed opening trough | Check Price → |
| Lamco Timed Trough (500 lb) | Protein programs, portion control | 300 / 500 / 800 lb | Timed trough | Check Price → |
| MB Ranch King Mighty Buck | Big herds, four-sided feeding | 600 / 1,000 lb | Timed trough | Check Price → |
| All Seasons Corn Pro | Corn now, protein later — one feeder | 600 / 1,000 lb | Broadcast ⇄ timed trough | Check Price → |
| All Seasons Cottonseed Feeder | Whole cottonseed feeding | Roofed trough (see review) | Covered free-choice trough | Check Price → |
| All Seasons EZ Tree Feeder | Small properties, tight budgets | 60 lb protein / 85 lb corn | Gravity trough, tree-mounted | Check Price → |
| All Seasons EZ Block Feeder | Mineral & supplement blocks | Standard blocks | Covered block trough | Check Price → |
Prices move and several troughs are sold through dealers rather than Amazon. Where we quote a number in this guide it is the manufacturer’s own price, checked on the date shown in the cost section — treat the Amazon button as the live price check.
Which trough fits your feeding program?
Step 1 — Are hogs or raccoons emptying feed at night? If yes, you need a trough that closes or meters feed: the Tectonic Daytime Deadfall (physically shuts) or a timed trough (Lamco, Mighty Buck). An open free-choice trough in hog country is a hog feeder.
Step 2 — What are you feeding? Protein pellets on a schedule → Lamco or Mighty Buck. Whole cottonseed → the ASF Cottonseed Feeder, built for a feed that won’t flow through spinners. Mineral or supplement blocks → the EZ Block Feeder.
Step 3 — How big is the program? One station on a small property → EZ Tree Feeder. Multiple stations or a whole-herd protein program → 600 lb and up: Mighty Buck or Corn Pro.
Step 4 — Do you also broadcast corn in season? If one unit has to do both jobs, the Corn Pro converts between broadcast corn and timed trough protein feeding. Everything else on this page is a dedicated trough.
How we picked
We built this list from manufacturer product pages and dealer spec listings checked on October 22, 2026, the extension guidance on trough feeding from Oklahoma State University and the National Deer Association, and the structure of the pages that currently rank for “deer feed trough” — which turned out to be a manufacturer collection page with no buying guidance at all. Three things shaped the picks:
- A trough has to solve the trough problem. Open feed at ground level spoils in rain and feeds every animal on the property. Picks earned their place by metering feed (timers), covering it (roofs), or closing entirely — not by being a box that holds corn.
- Specs or it didn’t happen. Capacities, trough heights and feed rates below come from the maker’s page or a dealer listing of the maker’s specs, and we say which. Where a manufacturer doesn’t publish a number (the ASF Cottonseed Feeder’s capacity), we say that too instead of borrowing one from a forum.
- We did not field-test these feeders. No invented testing, no borrowed star ratings. Scores are our editorial ranking of design, capacity and varmint strategy for the job each trough is built for.
The best deer feed troughs, reviewed
1. Tectonic Daytime Deadfall Feeder — best deer feed trough overall · 9.0/10
The Daytime Deadfall solves the oldest trough problem — everything eats at night — with a lid on a timer. Program when it opens and closes and the 300 lb trough is available in daylight and sealed after dark. Tectonic’s pitch is aimed at mature bucks that have gone nocturnal: feed only exists during legal shooting hours, so deer that want it have to show up in the light. The same closed lid is the varmint strategy: Tectonic states that closing at night prevents squirrels, raccoons, possums, birds and hogs from eating the feed overnight, which no open trough can claim.
The honest limits: 300 lb is mid-size, the mechanism is one more thing to keep powered (it runs on a 12V battery — a 7.5 Ah unit per Tectonic’s FAQ — with a solar charger accessory available), and a determined hog can test any ground-level feeder, which is why Tectonic sells a 15-inch Lift Kit to raise it and Defender strips to discourage climbers. Start it open around the clock until deer accept it, then tighten the window to daylight — that is the manufacturer’s own setup advice, and it matches how deer learn any new station.
✅ Pros
- Only trough that physically opens and closes on a timer
- Closed at night: feed is locked away from hogs and raccoons
- 300 lb capacity filled at ground level — no ladder
- Natural-log body blends into deadfall and brush
❌ Cons
- Needs a 12V battery (and ideally the solar charger) to run
- Lift Kit and Defender strips are extra-cost accessories
- One feeding station — big programs need several
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 300 lb of dry feed |
| Feed control | Digital timer — programmable open/close windows |
| Power | 12V battery (7.5 Ah fits, per Tectonic FAQ); solar charger accessory |
| Varmint strategy | Sealed at night; optional Lift Kit (+15 in) and Defender strips |
| Price checked | $649.99 at tectonic-usa.com, October 22, 2026 |
Skip it if: you feed free-choice protein year-round and never hunt the station — a timed lid solves a problem you don’t have.
2. Lamco Timed Trough — best timed trough for protein programs · 8.8/10
Lamco’s timed trough line (300, 500 and 800 lb) is the rancher’s answer to free-choice waste: a hopper meters feed into an open trough on a schedule — up to 6 feed times a day on the 300 lb model, delivering a set amount per cycle — so pellets sit in the trough for hours, not days. That matters for protein: less time exposed means less rain damage, less mold risk and less feed eaten by whatever walks up at 2 a.m. The trough itself sits low — 14 inches on the 300 and 800 lb models, a height Lamco markets as reachable by fawns — and the machinery is defended instead of the feed: an internal 12V motor and enclosed conduit keep raccoons and weather out of the works, and sealed motor units keep moisture away from the feed path.
The 500 lb model is the sweet spot for most properties: 16-gauge galvanized steel, all-welded, on heavy-duty skids, with an 18-inch trough height. The trade-offs are distribution and price transparency — Lamco sells through dealers, publishes no price on the listings we checked, and you will not find the line on every marketplace. Budget for the complete setup: the 800 lb ships as a kit with battery, digital timer and solar panel; confirm what the smaller models include before you order.
✅ Pros
- Timed delivery portion-controls protein — up to 6 feedings/day
- Low 14–18 in troughs that fawns can reach
- Enclosed conduit and internal motor resist varmints and weather
- All-welded galvanized steel on skids; three sizes to 800 lb
❌ Cons
- Dealer-sold; no published price on the listings we checked
- Trough is open between feedings — rain discipline still applies
- Freight-class size at 500 lb and up
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 300 lb (TTP300) · 500 lb (500-TTF) · 800 lb (TTP800) |
| Trough height | 14 in (300/800 lb) · 18 in (500 lb) |
| Feed control | Up to 6 timed feedings/day; set amount per cycle |
| Construction | 16-gauge galvanized steel, all-welded, skid-mounted |
| Power | 12V; solar panel included on 300/800 per dealer listings |
Skip it if: you want a feeder under $200 or need to order and receive it this week — dealer lead times vary.
3. MB Ranch King Mighty Buck Timed Protein Feeder — best large-capacity trough · 8.6/10
The Mighty Buck is the heavy end of timed trough feeding: 600 and 1,000 lb models built from 16-gauge all-welded steel, feeding into a four-sided trough so several deer can eat at once without the pushing and antler clashes a single-face trough causes. The 12V system — battery, motor, solar panel and Ranch King’s “The Timer” unit — runs up to six feedings a day, and the solid “Eliminator” spinner plate is designed to move protein pellets smoothly with minimal breakage, which matters because crushed pellets are what cake and bridge in wet weather.
Ranch King protects the machine the way Lamco does: wiring and components are concealed, which the company states helps protect against raccoons and hogs and reduces feed loss. A seamless one-piece lid and access door keep rain out of the hopper. What you don’t get is a published price — Ranch King sells through its dealer network and lists none on the product page — and at 1,000 lb this is a set-it-with-equipment, leave-it-for-the-season station, not something you reposition on a whim. An optional remote-control system is available if you want to trigger or adjust feedings without walking in.
✅ Pros
- Four-sided trough — multiple deer feed without crowding
- 600 and 1,000 lb capacities for season-long programs
- Up to 6 timed feedings/day; pellet-friendly spinner plate
- Concealed wiring and components vs raccoons and hogs
❌ Cons
- No price published — dealer quote required
- Heavy, permanent station; needs equipment to place
- Overkill for a single small-property station
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 600 lb · 1,000 lb |
| Trough | Four-sided, fed by an Eliminator spinner plate |
| Feed control | Up to 6 feedings/day (“The Timer”) |
| Construction | 16-gauge steel, all-welded; seamless one-piece lid |
| Power | 12V battery + solar panel included per manufacturer |
Skip it if: your “program” is one feeder behind the house — the EZ Tree Feeder does that job for a tenth of the commitment.
4. All Seasons Feeders Corn Pro — best dual-purpose feeder · 8.5/10
The Corn Pro is the one feeder on this page that refuses to choose. All Seasons’ patent-pending dispersant housing lets a single unit run whole corn as a broadcast feeder, then — with a simple adjustment to the control unit — convert to a timed trough-style protein feeder. For properties that broadcast corn through hunting season and switch to a protein program in spring, that is one purchase, one station and one scent footprint instead of two.
It comes in 600 and 1,000 lb sizes in Realtree camo, at $1,150 and $1,450 direct from All Seasons (checked October 22, 2026) — premium money, but priced against buying two separate feeders. The compromises are the ones any convertible carries: in trough mode it is a timed dispenser over a tray rather than a purpose-built four-sided trough, and the conversion is a manual adjustment, not a setting you change from an app. If you only ever feed one way, a dedicated unit (Lamco for protein, a broadcast feeder for corn) is the simpler buy.
✅ Pros
- Broadcast corn and timed trough protein in one feeder
- 600 and 1,000 lb capacities
- One station to site, fill and maintain
- Heavy-duty steel ASF construction
❌ Cons
- Premium price: $1,150–$1,450 at ASF direct (Oct 22, 2026)
- Trough mode is a tray conversion, not a purpose-built trough
- Manual conversion — no app or remote switching
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 600 lb · 1,000 lb |
| Modes | Broadcast corn ⇄ timed trough-style protein |
| Feed types | Whole corn or protein pellets (patent-pending housing) |
| Finish | Realtree camo |
| Price checked | $1,150 (600 lb) / $1,450 (1,000 lb) at allseasonsfeeders.com, October 22, 2026 |
Skip it if: you feed protein only — the Lamco line gives you a true trough for the same program.
5. All Seasons Cottonseed Feeder — best for whole cottonseed · 8.3/10
Whole cottonseed is one of the best deer supplements there is — high protein, high energy fat — and one of the worst feeder feeds: it doesn’t flow, auger or spin, so it has to be served from a trough. ASF’s Cottonseed Feeder is the purpose-built answer in its “Trough Feeders with Roofs” line: a covered, free-choice trough that keeps rain off a feed that mats and spoils when wet, with room for deer to pull seed from the pile the way they do at a cotton gin.
Two honest caveats. First, ASF does not publish a capacity for this feeder on the pages we could verify, so we won’t invent one — the price range, $619–$899 at ASF direct (checked October 22, 2026), reflects size variants; confirm the variant dimensions with ASF or a dealer before ordering. Second, a free-choice trough is open to everything: cottonseed’s saving grace is that raccoons and hogs work it less enthusiastically than corn, but in hog country a covered trough still needs a pen or a plan. If cottonseed isn’t your feed, this feeder has no second job — it’s a specialist.
✅ Pros
- Purpose-built for whole cottonseed — a feed spinners can’t serve
- Roofed trough keeps rain off a moisture-sensitive feed
- Free-choice access suits cottonseed’s slow, steady intake
- Part of ASF’s established trough line, $619–$899
❌ Cons
- Capacity not published by ASF on the pages we verified
- Open free-choice design — no hog or raccoon exclusion
- Single-purpose: cottonseed only
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Covered free-choice trough |
| Feed | Whole cottonseed |
| Capacity | Not published by the manufacturer (verified October 22, 2026) |
| Price checked | $619–$899 (variant range) at allseasonsfeeders.com, October 22, 2026 |
Skip it if: you don’t have a reliable cottonseed supply — a trough built for one feed is a lawn ornament without it.
6. All Seasons EZ Tree Feeder — best small trough · 8.1/10
The EZ Tree Feeder is the trough idea stripped to its minimum: a steel gravity trough that straps to a tree or post, holds 60 lb of protein pellets or 85 lb of corn (manufacturer specs, as summarized in retailer reviews of the unit), and feeds free-choice at about deer-head height — ASF’s suggested mounting height is 38 inches. A clear sight glass shows the feed level from a distance, so a camera check or a glass check replaces walking in and lifting a lid. At $150 at ASF direct (checked October 22, 2026), it’s the cheapest way on this page to start a protein station.
Gravity means no portion control: whatever the trough holds is available day and night, to deer and to raccoons alike, and 60 lb disappears fast where deer density is high. The heavy-gauge steel body with powder coating is built to live outside, but the straps and mount are the wear points — check them each refill, the same advice we give for any tree-mounted feeder. Think of it as a satellite station feeder: excellent as a second or third site, undersized as a property’s only protein source.
✅ Pros
- $150 — the lowest-cost real trough feeder here
- No power, no timer, nothing to program
- Sight glass shows feed level without opening it
- Mounts to a tree or post in minutes
❌ Cons
- Free-choice: no portion or night control
- 60 lb protein capacity empties quickly at busy sites
- Straps and mount need checking every refill
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 60 lb protein · 85 lb corn · 80 lb rice bran |
| Dimensions | 20 × 12 × 12 in; suggested mount height 38 in |
| Construction | Heavy-gauge steel, powder-coated; clear sight glass |
| Feed control | None — gravity free-choice |
| Price checked | $150 at allseasonsfeeders.com, October 22, 2026 |
Skip it if: hogs work your property — a free-choice trough at 38 inches is within their reach and routine.
7. All Seasons EZ Block Feeder — best for supplement blocks · 7.9/10
Not every trough feeds loose feed. The EZ Block Feeder is a covered housing built for standard livestock supplement blocks — protein, mineral, salt and wormer blocks — holding the block up in a trough-style enclosure instead of on the ground, where a block dissolves into the mud, gets urinated on and is gone in a week of rain. At $65 at ASF direct (checked October 22, 2026) it is the cheapest feeder on this page by a wide margin.
Owner signal is genuinely mixed in an instructive way: a verified buyer on ASF’s own review page reports deer “were curious and avoided it at first but they are hitting it now” — the standard pattern for any new object at a feed site, and a reminder to place a block feeder where deer already travel rather than expecting it to pull them somewhere new. It does one job, for one feed form. If you don’t run blocks, it has nothing to offer you; if you do, it pays for itself the first time a block survives a wet month.
✅ Pros
- $65 — blocks stop dissolving into the mud
- Covered housing keeps rain off the block
- Fits standard protein, mineral, salt and wormer blocks
- No power, no moving parts
❌ Cons
- Blocks only — no loose feed
- Deer may take days to accept a new object at the site
- Open access: every animal can work the block
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Covered block trough |
| Holds | Standard livestock supplement blocks |
| Feed control | None — free-choice |
| Price checked | $65 at allseasonsfeeders.com, October 22, 2026 |
Skip it if: you feed loose corn or pellets — that’s every other pick on this page.
Honest note: the big brands don’t sell troughs
Shoppers cross-shopping the famous names should know what we found checking each line on October 22, 2026: Texas Hunter, Boss Buck, Banks Outdoors and On Time do not sell a trough feeder. Their protein feeders are port-style gravity units — deer eat from downward ports, not from an open trough — and their corn feeders are broadcast spinners. Neither is a criticism: ports beat troughs on rain and varmints. But if your program calls for a trough — cottonseed, blocks, fawn access, or timed tray feeding — you are shopping the specialist makers on this page, not the big catalogs. One more naming trap: the well-known Capsule feeder is a ground-level broadcast feeder. It sits on the ground, but deer eat spun feed off the ground around it, not out of a trough — a different tool, covered in our main feeder guide.
Watch: trough feeder setup
Tectonic’s own setup walkthrough for the Daytime Deadfall — timer windows, placement and first-fill routine.
Trough-specific video is thin compared with tripod feeders; we’d rather embed one verified manufacturer walkthrough than pad this section with general feeder clips.
What a deer feed trough really costs
| Cost item | What owners report | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tectonic Daytime Deadfall | $649.99 at Tectonic direct | Checked October 22, 2026. Battery and solar charger are accessories — the Kitchen Sink bundle with lift kit, defender strips, battery and solar was $799.99 the same day. |
| ASF Corn Pro | $1,150 (600 lb) / $1,450 (1,000 lb) | At allseasonsfeeders.com, checked October 22, 2026. Compare against buying separate broadcast + protein feeders. |
| ASF Cottonseed Feeder | $619–$899 depending on variant | At allseasonsfeeders.com, checked October 22, 2026. |
| ASF EZ Tree Feeder | $150 | At allseasonsfeeders.com, checked October 22, 2026. |
| ASF EZ Block Feeder | $65 | At allseasonsfeeders.com, checked October 22, 2026. |
| Lamco Timed Trough / MB Ranch King Mighty Buck | Dealer-quoted | Neither maker published a price on the pages we checked October 22, 2026 — get the full kit quote (battery, timer, solar) in writing. |
| Feed itself | The real budget line | A 500 lb trough program eating free-choice can burn several bags a week; timed delivery is as much a feed-budget tool as a deer tool. |
| Spoilage losses | Wet feed is thrown away, not eaten | Extension guidance is blunt: moldy or clumped feed gets buried or burned, never fed. Roofs, timers and small batches are spoilage insurance. |
The takeaway: trough hardware ranges from $65 to roughly $1,450, but the feeder is the cheap part of a trough program. Feed throughput and spoilage decide the real cost, which is why four of our seven picks meter or cover the feed instead of simply holding more of it.
How to choose a deer feed trough
Trough height: low is the point
A trough’s advantage over a port feeder is access. Lamco builds its timed troughs at 14 inches (300 and 800 lb models) and 18 inches (500 lb), marketing the 14-inch height as reachable by fawns — compare the roughly 40-inch feed height of a gravity port feeder, which shuts fawns and smaller does out. If drawing family groups and feeding a whole herd matters, low and wide beats high. The same low profile is the trough’s weakness: what a fawn can reach, a hog can root in, which is why hog country pushes you toward timed delivery or a closing lid.
Rain, mold and aflatoxin: the trough owner’s real job
Oklahoma State University Extension’s guidance on feeding grain to wildlife is the operating manual for any open trough: don’t feed grain when rain or high humidity is expected, remove uneaten feed promptly — especially if it is wet or moldy — and never feed grain that is moldy or clumping; bury or burn it. Piling feed holds moisture and raises aflatoxin risk, so dispense limited amounts and spread feed rather than heaping it. The National Deer Association and MSU Deer Lab add the cleaning protocol: scrub the feeder with soap and water, then a solution of 1 part household bleach to 6 parts water, let it dry fully before refilling, and only put out what deer will finish within about three days. Texas A&M AgriLife adds a metal-feeder warning: condensation forms inside metal hoppers as temperatures swing, so steel trough programs need cleaning before and after the season at minimum. Timed troughs, roofed troughs and small batches are how you follow that guidance without living at the feeder.
Hogs and raccoons: three strategies, ranked
An open free-choice trough cannot exclude anything — plan accordingly. The market’s three answers, in order of strength: (1) a trough that physically closes (the Daytime Deadfall, sealed at night); (2) timed delivery, so little feed sits exposed between feedings (Lamco, Mighty Buck, Corn Pro in trough mode); (3) defending the machinery — enclosed conduit and concealed wiring (Lamco, Ranch King) — which protects the feeder rather than the feed. A feeder pen with a jump gate is the fourth answer and the only one that makes a free-choice trough safe in serious hog country. Our varmint guard guide covers the protection options for conventional feeders.
Trough vs gravity ports vs broadcast: which feeding style?
Choose a trough for cottonseed, blocks, fawn access, or a timed protein tray — feeds and situations the other styles can’t serve. Choose gravity ports (gravity feeder guide) for free-choice protein with the best rain and varmint behavior and zero power. Choose broadcast (automatic feeder guide) for corn attraction during season, patterning deer to shooting light. Many mature programs run two styles: broadcast for hunting season, trough or ports for the spring protein months. Our protein feed guide covers what goes in them.
Trough feeder resources
- Best Deer Feeders — our main guide to all 16 top feeders
- Deer Feeder Reviews — the hub for every feeder type
- Best Protein Feed for Deer — what to put in a trough
- Best Gravity Deer Feeders — the port-style alternative
- Best Automatic Deer Feeders — timed broadcast picks
- Best Deer Feeder Varmint Guards
- Best Deer Feeder Parts & Accessories — timers, batteries and solar
- Deer Feeder Not Working? — diagnosis and fixes
- Where to Place a Deer Feeder
- Are Deer Feeders Legal in Texas?
- What to Feed Deer Instead of Corn
- Shop — the full product catalogue
- Oklahoma State Extension — Aflatoxins in Wildlife Feed
- National Deer Association — Aflatoxin in Corn: 3 Steps
Deer feed trough FAQs
What is a deer feed trough?
A deer feed trough is a ground-level feeder that holds feed in an open or covered tray — a trough — that deer eat directly from, rather than a spinner that broadcasts feed or a port feeder deer pull pellets from. Troughs are used for protein pellets, whole cottonseed and supplement blocks, and are built open, roofed, or timed.
What is the best deer feed trough in 2026?
For most hunters, the Tectonic Daytime Deadfall: its lid opens and closes on a timer, so feed is available in daylight and locked away from hogs and raccoons at night. For large protein programs, the Lamco Timed Trough and MB Ranch King Mighty Buck meter feed into a trough up to six times a day at 300–1,000 lb capacities.
Are trough feeders good for deer?
Yes, for the jobs they’re built for: feeding cottonseed and blocks that spinners can’t serve, giving fawns ground-level access, and running timed protein programs. Their weakness is exposure — feed sits open to rain and non-target animals — so roofed, timed or closing designs outperform a plain open trough.
How high should a deer feed trough be?
Low. Purpose-built troughs run about 14–18 inches at the feeding edge — Lamco’s timed troughs are 14 inches on the 300 and 800 lb models and 18 inches on the 500 — specifically so fawns and does can reach the feed. That is far lower than the roughly 40-inch feed height of gravity port feeders.
Do trough feeders attract hogs and raccoons?
An open free-choice trough feeds whatever can reach it, including hogs and raccoons. The fixes are a trough that closes at night (Tectonic Daytime Deadfall), timed delivery so little feed sits out (Lamco, Ranch King), protecting the feeder inside a pen, or choosing port-style gravity feeders instead.
Can you put corn in a trough feeder?
Yes — corn is commonly trough-fed, and the ASF EZ Tree Feeder is rated for 85 lb of corn. But corn in an open trough is the highest-spoilage, highest-varmint combination there is; follow the extension rule of putting out only what deer will finish within about three days, and never leave wet or moldy corn in the trough.
What feed works best in a trough?
Protein pellets, whole cottonseed and supplement blocks — feeds that broadcast spinners handle badly or not at all. Cottonseed is the classic trough feed in Texas: it doesn’t flow through feeder mechanisms, so a covered trough is the standard way to serve it.
How do you keep feed dry in a trough?
Buy a roofed or closing design, site the trough on drained high ground, dispense small timed batches instead of filling it, and clean it on the extension schedule: empty, scrub with soap and water, disinfect with a 1:6 bleach-to-water solution, and let it dry fully before refilling.
How much does a deer feed trough cost?
From $65 for ASF’s EZ Block Feeder to $1,450 for the 1,000 lb Corn Pro, with the Tectonic Daytime Deadfall at $649.99 — all manufacturer-direct prices checked October 22, 2026. Dealer-sold lines like Lamco and Ranch King don’t publish prices; get a full kit quote including battery, timer and solar.
Why don’t Moultrie, Texas Hunter or Boss Buck sell trough feeders?
Their protein lines are port-style gravity feeders and their corn lines are broadcast spinners — designs that beat troughs on rain and varmints but can’t serve cottonseed or blocks and exclude fawns. Troughs are a specialist category, sold mainly by All Seasons Feeders, Lamco, Tectonic and MB Ranch King.
Is a trough feeder better than a gravity feeder?
Neither is better outright. Troughs win for cottonseed, blocks, fawn access and timed tray feeding. Gravity port feeders win on weather protection, varmint resistance and zero-power free-choice protein. Many properties run both: ports for year-round protein, a trough for cottonseed season.
Is it legal to feed deer from a trough?
Legality depends on your state and often your county — many states restrict or ban baiting and feeding, especially in chronic wasting disease zones, and the rules can change mid-season. A trough is legally the same as any other feeder. Check your state wildlife agency’s current regulations before you buy.
Final verdict
Buy the Tectonic Daytime Deadfall if you hunt your feed station and fight night-time feed loss — a trough that closes is a genuine category of one. Buy the Lamco Timed Trough for a serious protein program on a normal property, the MB Ranch King Mighty Buck for the same program at herd scale, and the ASF Corn Pro if one feeder has to broadcast corn in season and trough-feed protein out of it. Feeding cottonseed? The ASF Cottonseed Feeder is the purpose-built tool. On a budget or a small property, the EZ Tree Feeder and EZ Block Feeder start a real trough program for $150 and $65. And if your ground has hogs and no pen, be honest with yourself: a port-style gravity feeder will serve you better than any open trough — start with our gravity feeder guide.
Prices in this guide are manufacturer-direct snapshots checked October 22, 2026 and will move; the Amazon buttons show live prices. Feeding and baiting rules vary by state and county — check yours before ordering. Last updated: October 22, 2026.
