Show Me Your Feeders!!

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We are currently using a store bought 11 lb feeder for our girls, but they have started scattering their food EVERYWHERE!! We have gone through 40lbs of pellets in 3 weeks for 4 girls and the mess is attracting flies and mice, despite the daily cleaning.
I ordered chicken nipples to help with the water and we are building the waterer this Saturday... but we are stumped on the feeder... we need something that will make it harder to scatter and waste... something that will fill somewhat automatically (fill a hopper and have it funnel down type thing)... Cheap and effective!!
Please help as we have lots of ideas, but not sure which way to go as these are our first ladies...
I am doing this with my chicks although I would make wood on all four sides if I had to do it again. So I used a plastic tub, attached wire to 2 pieces of would I would use 4 pieces just to make it easier to clean. So all of the droppings in my box I clean and throw in there. I have also found they poop there a lot also. then I just take that out and add it to my compost, wash it and start over. Totally saved me with clean water and no mess, kept the food clean also. I am going to hang my waterer and food when we move to the coop. I wanted to make the pvc waterer and feeder we might make one I found it on youtube. Other wise I might use this same concept under food and water still not sure.
 

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I just spent some time reading all the previous posts. There are some great ideas. However, I have never experienced any problem with the hanging feeder. What are the reasons others stopped using them? I have it about 4 inches off the ground hanging by a chain inside the coop so it doesn't get wet. I don't see any waste and I don't see any poop on or in it. We have 9 ISA Browns that are about 8 months old with 9 more that are nearby and waiting to move in, they are only about 2 months old. When I move in the new ones I plan to just get a second feeder. 20200526_194552.jpg 20200526_194603.jpg
 
I use a hanging feeder, too, and I love it. I started using it when the chicks were 3 weeks old, when I moved them to the coop. They are 5 weeks old now. I can't hang it very high yet or they can't reach well, but it's high enough that they don't scatter any food outside the feeder, or poop in the food. They sometimes kick some shavings in it, but when I raise it more as they grow, that won't be as much of a problem.

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I don't see any waste and I don't see any poop on or in it.
Cool that the the trough can be adjusted for feed level.
You must just be blessed that they don't perch on top of it.
I believe billing out is less of a problem with pelleted feed,
if they do bill it out they probably eat it off the ground.

but it's high enough that they don't scatter any food outside the feeder, or poop in the food.
If they can get their beak into the feed, they can bill it out.
 
We are currently using a store bought 11 lb feeder for our girls, but they have started scattering their food EVERYWHERE!! We have gone through 40lbs of pellets in 3 weeks for 4 girls and the mess is attracting flies and mice, despite the daily cleaning.
I ordered chicken nipples to help with the water and we are building the waterer this Saturday... but we are stumped on the feeder... we need something that will make it harder to scatter and waste... something that will fill somewhat automatically (fill a hopper and have it funnel down type thing)... Cheap and effective!!
Please help as we have lots of ideas, but not sure which way to go as these are our first ladies...
maybe you should get a feeder that is closed on all sides & only opened on one side?
sorry your chickens r spilling everything
 
I was thinking of doing the PVC pipe for food as well but was worried about leaving food out all night long and attracting predators all that much more? It would be nice to put a large amount of food out and not have to fill it daily but I thought I'd end up bringing the food inside every night to keep away the critters as much as I can.
 
Tried EVERYTHING then found this idea at BYC. This is PRICELESS. No waste. Cheap to build. 3" PVC and 3" Y. That's all there is to it! Just made a second one tonight because it works so well!



Do you leave it standing in the coop or run?
 

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