I use feeders like you are talking about. My thoughts are this. If you are going to check it once a week or so I would only set it for 5 seconds twice a day. when they find it I only run it for 8 seconds twice a day. If you get to much on the ground what you are wanting to feed may not eat it if it spoils/sours. When you show up and cleaned up then you may want to boost the timer. Save money by saving feed. lol