A feeder for a harvesting machine such as a combine harvester is provided, comprising a feeder housing (18) of improved design with a first floor portion (44-46), a second floor portion (50) obliquely angled to the first floor portion and conveying means (26) adapted to convey crop material in a first direction across the first portions and in a second direction oblique to the first direction across the second portion. Object ejecting means (40, 48) are provided in the feeder floor between the first and second portions thereof in a manner so that, when actuated by a non-frangible object, a discontinuity in the floor is created, and the non-frangible object, moved in the first direction across the first floor portion continues moving along this first direction and out of the feeder housing upon reaching said discontinuity and prior to reaching the second portion (50) of the floor.