it goes from the hand winch to a limb above with a block back to the barrel. the distance from the top of the barrel to ground about 4to 5 feet the reason so I don't get little cube s trying to climb in the hole. i don't put it down low or on the ground any more because one time they broke the chain and rolled the feeder down the hill about 500 yards I thought someone stole it looked for me 2 weeks to find it..