I'm having trouble with the store bought feeders. They waste a lot of food plus they are constantly having to be filled. Anyone got advice or ideas on something more efficient.

You're not stating what type of feeder and the manufacture.

Most feeders have a timer that sets run time and the allotted amount of food dispensed.

I have an old KENCO Tornado that shoots feed out on three sides that I have had now since 2002. The time is set to despense the feed 1/2 before sunrise and 1/2 hour before sunset. I can also set the run time from 2 seconds up to 1 minute. I run it on 5 seconds and it holds 250 pounds of corn and I still have corn in it.

I loaded the corn up in November of 2013.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm