Fields of Mistria Auto Feeder Guide: Unlock, Use, and Feed Conversion

Overview

The Fields of Mistria auto feeder is a late-game ranching upgrade that automatically fills troughs in large barns and coops each morning. This guide explains exactly how to unlock it, where to place it, and how it handles animal feed conversion.

Direct outcome: By the end of this guide, you will know the Ranching Level requirement, the placement restrictions, how the daily feeding timer works, and which input items convert to which feed types. You will also learn a recovery trick for moving auto feeders between buildings.

Requirements

Before you can use an auto feeder, you must meet these conditions:

Steps to Unlock and Use

Follow these steps in order:

1. Reach Ranching Level 45. Level up by feeding animals, collecting products, and completing ranching-related tasks.
2. Build or upgrade to a Large Barn or Large Coop. The auto feeder cannot function in smaller buildings.
3. Obtain the auto feeder. Unlock it through the crafting menu once your Ranching Level qualifies.
4. Place the auto feeder inside the large barn or coop. Position it near the trough so it can deploy feed.
5. Stock the auto feeder with edible items (Hay, Grass Seed, or other animal feed).
6. Wait for the morning cycle. The auto feeder deploys feed automatically each day.

How the Auto Feeder Operates

The auto feeder runs on a daily cycle with a specific timing rule:

• Daily deployment: Each morning, the auto feeder deploys animal feed into the trough. The amount corresponds to the building size.
• 10 AM cutoff: If the trough has enough food and you have not called animals outside before 10 AM, all animals are marked as "fed" for the day.
• Manual override: Calling animals outside before 10 AM may prevent the auto feeder from marking them as fed, so plan your morning routine accordingly.

Feed Conversion Table

The auto feeder converts input items into feed matching the building type. Based on community testing and wiki documentation, here is the confirmed conversion data:

Important notes on conversion:

• The exact conversion mechanics for other items are currently unclear and may vary by patch version.
• It is unknown whether using the auto feeder produces Shiny Beads, and if so, how the drop rate compares to hand-feeding.
• The auto feeder may convert Small Animal food to Large Animal food (and vice versa) to match the building type, but this has not been fully verified.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these errors when setting up your auto feeder:

• Placing in a small or medium building. The auto feeder only works in Large Barns and Large Coops. Double-check your building size before placing.
• Calling animals outside before 10 AM. If you let animals out early, they may not register as fed, wasting the auto feeder's daily cycle.
• Running out of input items. The auto feeder needs a steady supply of Hay, Grass Seed, or other feed. Stock up before you rely on it daily.
• Assuming all feed types convert identically. Not all items have confirmed conversion behavior. Stick to Hay for barns and Grass Seed for coops until more data is available.

Advanced Tips

• Recover your auto feeder on demolition: Since v0.15.2, auto feeders drop as items when you destroy a coop or barn containing one. This means you can safely relocate your auto feeder to a new building without losing it.
• Pair with the Animal Sprite Statue: While the auto feeder handles daily feeding, the Animal Sprite Statue (unlocked much later) acts as an auto-petter that keeps animal friendship high. Together, they eliminate the two most time-consuming daily chores on a large ranch.
• Stock strategically: Keep a mix of Hay and Grass Seed in inventory so you can quickly refill both barn and coop feeders without visiting storage.
• Plan your morning routine: If you need to let animals outside early for any reason, hand-feed them before releasing them to ensure they count as fed for the day.

Related Guides

• Fields of Mistria Animal Breeding Guide
• Fields of Mistria Animal Colors
• Fields of Mistria Barn Upgrade
• Fields of Mistria Chicken

Sources

• Auto Feeder - Fields of Mistria Wiki
• How to get Auto Petters (Animal Sprite Statues) in Fields of Mistria - YouTube

Related Fields of Mistria Guides

• Fields of Mistria Animal Colors: How to Breed Every Color Tier
• Fields of Mistria Chicken Guide: Raising, Breeding & Colors
• Fields of Mistria Farm Layout: Step-by-Step Planning Guide
• Fields of Mistria Farm Planner Online: How to Design Your Dream Layout