hanging water and food feeders?

red123 · Feb 4, 2012

i cant seem to find an answer in other sections so ill just ask. in looking at different coop designs(which so many of you have amazing coops) ive noticed some of you have your water and food feeders hanging where its slightly off the ground. i was just wondering why? is there pro's/con's for this. thanks

1muttsfan · Feb 4, 2012

It keeps them from kicking bedding into the water, and scratching food out of the feeder

7L Farm · Feb 4, 2012

I hang mine to keep them from getting dirty.

Ridgerunner · Feb 4, 2012

I generally hang my feeders but raise my waterers to get them up where the chickens do not scratch things in them and make a mess. It depends on the kind of waterer you have, but I generally don't hang waterers to help keep them from spilling it by getting it swinging. I use a home-made vacuum type where air pressure holds the water in the reservoir. If it does not stay level, I can lose that water in the reservoir real quickly. Feed does not spill like that for me.

I think it is fun looking at the different types of coops, nest boxes, and feeders and waterers we have. I'm impressed at how some people can combine a real imagination with practicality and make it work.

dorkings · Feb 4, 2012

I too love my feed and water hanging, I would never put it on the floor again.

Oneacre Homestead · Feb 4, 2012

Hi,
Does anyone know if the hanging feeder stop mice from eating the food?

bigspringshatchery · Feb 4, 2012

Do you have any problems with the handles with the water? I was thinking about hanging my 5 gal but was worried that 5 gallons of water would weight to much and might break or crack the handle.

7L Farm said:
I hang mine to keep them from getting dirty.

SportChick · Feb 4, 2012

I hang the food because the hens make much less mess when it hangs. I purchased a special bucket with 3 small dispensers on the bottom that the can peck at to get water. They loved it for about a year and it was great because I could fill it with fresh water once or twice a week and the lid kept it clean. Now the hens strongly prefer a dog bowl that I have to fill every day and pretend they never knew how to use the other one. I guess they aren't really very smart. Maybe they did forget

. I don't like the dog bowl method nearly as much as they do!!!

crazyhen · Feb 4, 2012

I love the hanging feeders. The water is another thing altogether. I had one that did not let the water down into the pan one day. Needless to say if I had not checked it midday in the summer they would have been in trouble. I since just raise a bucket up slightly and the water is always available. In the winter I set it on a warmer made with a cookie container. I learned to use a tiny bulb. It does not make the water warm but keeps it just unfrozen. Good luck with yours. Oh, mice and rats can jump even to hanging containers. They also can climb down the ropes. I built a shoe box style catcher box with a trap in it. The top lifts to remove the critters. But it keeps the chickens out. No problem for a long time now. ?? I could have had help from the feral cats that keeps coming around, too. Gloria Jean

Dutch552 · Feb 4, 2012

I hang both to minimize spillage on the floor. The bedding stays drier and cleaner. For the 3.5 gallon fount, I sit it on a cinder block and then run a chain from the handle to the rafter to keep anyone from getting on top of it and pooping in the water.

hanging water and food feeders?

More options

red123

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1muttsfan

Up Northerner

7L Farm

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Ridgerunner

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dorkings

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Oneacre Homestead

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bigspringshatchery

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SportChick

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crazyhen

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Dutch552

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