Sloppy chickens!!

I purposely switched over to pellets because of this but it hasn't helped. Yesterday I filled the hanging feeder with pellets (not the first time) and today the entire feeder contents, all 3 lbs. of it, was scattered around the pen. Should I just ignore this behavior and let them forage for the food on the ground? Three leghorns!

Feed them enough feed for one day and then don't feed them again until it is all cleaned up.

Feed the pellets to them wet in dishes. There won't be any waste whatsoever.

enola is right, just give them enough for the day & let them "forge" for what they scatter until the next day.

Have you heard of FF/fermented feeding? I switched over to FF when I got my 4 chicks/pullets last Nov. LOVE IT! May take a bit more time but sure saves on waste & it's beneficial (nutritional & sanitary). Read the (long) thread but summing it up, it's a ratio of 1:1 (feed : unchlorinated water) mix & let sit for 3 - 4 days. Feed will EXPAND so mix in a large glass or plastic container, use NO metal dish nor utensils. You will see it "bubble" up, you just spoon out to feed chickens. I drain (plastic strainer) mine for half hour prior, it's said "as much as they'll eat in 30 mintues" but I feed mine 2x day, 3 scoops in the morning & 2 in the afternoon. There are times they won't eat all the afternoon one so I leave it in their Run & in the morning its gone. I like my consistency like mush/oatmeal...

It's said they absorb more nutrition as it's broken down, there is less poop, it's firmer and less stinky, shiny feathers & egg quality 'better'...I wouldn't know as mine haven't started laying yet. I LOVE the less poop, firmer & not so stinky since I live in the city.

There are feeders that help limit spillage; Premier has some good ones. There are also directions for homemade feeders that work well. Hanging the feeder helps too. Mary

Well I tried the fermented way and while they ate it, filling the feeder everyday is not enjoyable, so I went back to the hanging feeder and let they eat til it's gone. Never had chickens so messy. BTW, I dumped the rest of the FF into a large bowl and put it out for the deer. They thumbed their noses at it.

I had one of the cheep feeders from Rural King and was putting in 7 pounds and it was lasting a day to 2 days max. I built one of the 5 gallon bucket feeders with the PVC elbows. So far I love it. I put 25 pounds in a week ago and as of last night it was close to half full still. Plus it was cheaper then the store bought feeder.